Adobe After Effects 6.0 Workshop
Duration 3 days
Objectives
Adobe After Effects is a powerful software tool for the creation of visual effects, 2D & 3D compositing and motion graphics. This course will help you master the key concepts and features of After Effects that are required for the creation of content for broadcast, web, CD-ROM and film.
The course begins with an overview of the After Effects workspace and explanations and examples geared towards mastering the key functions, including masking, 2D & 3D compositing, motion controls, video and audio effects, handling and importing media and managing the project cycle.
On the final day, the skills learnt will be brought together on a complete project, which can be one of your own choosing or one which we provide for you. Either way, this final section ensures that you are able to put into practice all you have learned along the way and to resolve any aspects of the course that may remain unclear. Requirements
Good working knowledge of the current Mac or PC operating system, including file management and awareness of the different types of media such as hard drives, DVDs and magnetic tape. A good knowledge of various media types likely to be used in motion graphics. Expertise with Photoshop, Illustrator or a similar program and a leading 3D design package will be an advantage.
Course Outline
Introduction to After Effects
• About Motion Graphics, Compositing and Animation
• Introduction to the After Effects Interface
• The Project Window
• The Clip Window and Palettes
• The Composition Window
• The Timeline Window
• Time Basics and Time Display
Setting up Your Project
• Starting and Planning a Project
• Choosing the right media
• Creating a new project
• Importing footage
• Selecting 16-bpc depth
• Setting your preferences
Preparing and Importing Footage
• How After Effects works with Imported Files
• Preparing a Still image for import
• Using high image resolutions
• Setting the duration of still images
• Interpretation Rules
• Importing Stills into the Project Window
• Importing Sequences into the Project Window
• Importing Footage with Alpha Channels
• Importing Layered Photoshop Files
• Importing From Illustrator
• Importing 3D-image files
Building Compositions - The Basics
• Viewing Footage and Setting Frame Rates
• Looping Footage
• Creating a Composition
• Frame Size, Frame Rate and Pixel Apsect Ratio
• Specifying Resolution
• Setting the duration and a start frame
• Using the Composition Window
Building Compositions - Moving Forward
• Setting the Background Colour
• Transparency Settings
• Using the Timeline Window
• Understanding the Time Graph
• Setting up a work area
• Setting the current Time
Managing Layers in After Effects
• Overview of Layers in After Effects
• Adding Layers to compositions
• Creating new Layers
• Light or Camera Layers
• Duplicating Layers
• Arranging Layers
• Layers in Space and Time
• Labelling, Locking and Hiding Layers
• Using Markers
Using Text in After Effects
• Overview of Text in After Effects
• Adding text
• Formatting
• Creating a Simple text animation
• Creating an Advanced text Animation
Animation in After Effects
• Overview of Animation in After Effects
• Using Keyframes in After Effects
• Modifying a motion path
• Using Motion Sketch to draw a motion path
• Rotating a layer along a motion path
• Smoothing motion and velocity
• Understanding Parent-Child Animation
• Setting up a basic Parent Animation
• Masking in After Effects
• Using the Autotrace tool for keyframe animation
• Setting animation anchor points
• Previewing Animations
Using Graphics in After Effects
• Creating graphic elements in After Effects
• Painting and Drawing
• Animating graphics
• Distorting graphics
Working with Masks and Transparency
• Overview of Masking in After Effects
• Using footage with an alpha channel
• Working with masks
• Working with mask paths
• Feathering mask edges
• Changing the shape of a mask
• Animating a mask
• Masks and Effects
• Panning a layer behind a mask
• Track Mattes and Traveling mattes
• Creating Transparency using keying
Introduction to Special Effects
• Overview: using effects
• Applying a Basic Effect and Effect Properties
• Placing effects using effect points
• Changing Effects over time
• Adjustment Layers and Effects
• Setting the Render Order
• Using Audio Effects
• Using keying effects
• Overview of effects included with After Effects
• Photoshop Layer Styles and After Effects
The New Effects in AE6
• Overview of the new effects in AE6
• Using 3D Filters
• Shape Effects
• Noise Filtering
• Distortion Effects
• Channel Filtering
Working with 3D in After Effects
• Understanding 3D and Compositing in After Effects
• Working with 3D Layers
• Working with 3D Transform Properties
• How 3D views work in After Effects
• Setting up Cameras
• Positioning and Editing Objects and Materials
• Positioning and Editing Lights
• 3D Compositing with Effects
• 3D Compositing with Masks
• Previewing and Rendering 3d
Expressions in After Effects
• Overview of Expressions
• Using and Creating Expressions
• The Pick Whip
• Sample Expressions
• > Wiggle
• > 3D and Expressions
• > Other Expressions
• About writing Expressions
Outputting your Project
• Rendering Movies
• Using the Render Queue
• Compression Options
• Single Frame Outputs
• Testing with low resolution versions
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