Adobe After Effects 5 5 5 Essentials
Training
Provided by The Virtual Training Company
Adobe After Effects is the design application that has become the standard for 2D/3D compositing, special effects, and animation, even among video and motion graphics professionals. In this Virtual Training Company tutorial, Jayse Hansen guides you through the use of After Effects 5/5.5, taking you from the basics of creating a clip, organizing, and how to work with compositions, to working with typography, audio, effects, fades, and transitions. Other lessons involve working with 3D layers, lighting, and cameras, importing from Photoshop and Illustrator, and 3D enhancements. He includes assignments to help you apply what you are learning. And for even more assistance, he gives you additional book and web resources so that you can explore After Effects even further. To get started today, simply click one of the movie topics below.
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Adobe After Effects 5 5 5 Essentials
Introduction
- Welcome
- What is After Effects?
- Should I Learn After Effects or Something Else?
- Why You Should Learn After Effects
- The Best Way to Learn After Effects
- Assumptions I have Made About You
- How This Course Works
- Get Your After Effects Notebook
- What You'll Learn
- What's New in AE 5.0
- Lets Get on with It!
Basics
- Basic Level What You'll Learn in the Basic Level
- Example of What You'll Learn
- Get Ready to Conquer
- Quick Overview of Creating a Clip in AE
Details
- Project Window & Importing in Detail
- Organizing: Saving / Deleting / Renaming
Extra Tips: Essential De-Interlacing
- Interlacing and Fields
- Example Bad (Upper)
- How to Fix
- Example Properly De-Interlaced (Lower)
Compositions
- New Comp Settings
- Common Comp Sizes and Frame Rates to Memorize
- The Comp Window
- Time Line
- How it All Works Together Review
Effects
- The Coolest Part of AE
- Applying Hue / Saturation and Fast Blur
- Changing the Values
- Deleting or Hiding Effects and RAM Preview
- Assignment #1!
- Adding Effects to Solid Layer Text and Glows
- Quality Switches
- Adding the Glow
- Adding Effects to Adjustment Layers
- Assignment Two!
Animation
- Basics Learning to Keyframe Scale and Position
- Opacity
- Easy Ease
- Fade Out
- Adjusting Keyframes Proportionately
- Reversing Keyframes and Copy / Paste
- Animation Keyboard Shortcuts
- Using Exponential Scale
- Animating Opacity
- Animating the Anchor Point and Setting Work Area Moving Layers
- Animating a Blur Effect
- Using Motion Blur
- Lets Preview!
- Rendered End Result
- Assignment #3 Create Something Personal
RAM Previews and Time Controls
- RAM Preview
- Shift RAM Preview
- Preview Keyboard Shortcuts
- Ctrl (CMD) RAM Preview Saves the Preview
- Region of Interest Tool
- Dynamic Resolution
- Audio Preview Preferences
- Setting the Work Area B and N keys
- Frame By Frame Shortcuts
- Overview Shortcuts
Rendering Basics
- RAM Preview
- Changing Render Settings
- Saving Render Settings
- Output Module
- Saving
- Render Twirl-downs
Timeline and Layers
- Customizing the Timeline
- Area View
- Adding Comp Markers
- Layer Management
- Reordering Layers
- Using Numbers
- Layer Markers
- Nesting Compositions Grouping Layers
- Centering and Aligning Layers
- Copying and Pasting Attributes
- AV Features
- Solid Layers
Switches
- Shy Layers
- Continuous Rasterization
- Quality Settings
- Effects Switch
- Frame Blending
- Motion Blur
- Adjustment Layer Switch
- 3D Layer Switch
Editing Layers
- Editing Layers
- Sequencing Layers
- Straight Cuts
- Sequencing and Dissolves
- True Cross-dissolve
- Trimming Clips and Slip Edits
- Ripple Edit Inserts
- Handy IBON keyboard Shortcut
- Trimming on the Timeline Slip Edits
- Playing a Clip Backwards
- Time Remapping
Work Area Extras
- How Footage Affects the Initial Work Area
- B & N Keys / IBON / Shift Snap
- Trimming Comp to the Work Area
Fades and Transitions
- Cross Fade
- True Cross Fade
- Fade to Black
Text
- Basic Text
- Animating Size and Tracking
- Adding Glow
- Gotcha...Don't Animate the Scale
- Using Title Safe Guides
- Adding the Kickback
- Adding Horizontal Blur
- Using Path Text for Normal Text
- Advance Options in Path Text
- Animating Individual Characters
- Final Touches
- Normal Path Text
- Number Generator
Typography
- Basic Typography Intro / Serif Vs. Sans-Serif Fonts
- Categories: Handwritten / Brush Scripts
- Categories: Techno Type Fonts
- Where to Find Fonts
- General Design Guidelines
- Further Resources: Books
- Further Resources: Websites
Importing From Photoshop
- Examining a Layered PS File
- Importing Into AE as Composition
- Modifying Layers
- Importing with Alpha Channels
- Creating an Alpha in Photoshop
- Working with Pre-Multiplied Alpha Channels
- Creating a Straight Alpha the Best Kind!
- Multi-colored Straight Alpha Channels
- Working with B&W Scans
- Play Around with These
- How to View the Alpha Channel in AE
- Saving Out to a Layered PS Document
Illustrator
- Difference Between a Raster Item and a Vector Item
- The Vector Language
- Working in Illustrator / Problems when Importing
- Using Crops to Define Your Final Output in AE
- Viewing Alpha Channel of Illustrator Files
- Applying Effects - Continuously Rasterize Solution
Masks
- Creating Simple Masks
- Adding Feather
- Modifying Masks
- Editing Mask Points
- Selecting Multiple Points
- Deselecting Points
- Adjusting Bezier Curves
- Mask Interaction Multiple Masks
- Drawing Masks with the Pen Tool
- Learning to Trace with the Pen Tool
- Freeform Drawing with the Pen Tool
- Importing From Illustrator
- Adding Effects
- Animating the Masks
Track Mattes
- Introduction to Track Mattes
- Applying a Moving Luma Matte to a Movie
- Pre-Composing to Add Effects
- How the Mattes Were Created
- Replacing Mattes
- Improving the Bad Design
- Alpha Track Mattes
Transfer Modes
- Introduction to Transfer Modes
- Dropping Out White
- Dropping Out Black
- Inverting Line Art
- Review
- Another Example of Dropping Out White
- Adding Effects
- Creating the Look of Heaven / Film / Instant Sex Photoshop Example
- Some Alternatives
- Using it in After Effects
- Color Boost Defeating JPG Artifacting
- Color to Black and White Fade
- Difference Trick
- Compositing Stock Effects Over Footage with Screen and Add Modes
- Compositing Smoke Using the Screen Mode
Audio
- Introduction to Audio Formats / Sample Rates and Bit Rates
- Importing Audio
- Previewing Audio
- Previewing Shortcuts
- Viewing the Waveform
- The Audio Palette
- Spotting Audio Setting Layer Markers
- Adding a Script layer
- Working with Markers in Pre-comps
- Audio Effects
- Stereo Mixer Effect
- Looping a Music Track
- Audio Fade is Not as Straight Forward as You'd Think
3D Layers
- Introduction to 3D in After Effects
- Turning on 3D layers: Views XYZ Handles
- Rotating Along XYZ.
- Customizing Keyboard Keys for Views
- Difference Between Orientation and Rotation
- Arranging in Space
- Animating a Surreal Sky Photoshop Steps
- Working with 3D Layers
- Adding an Atmosphere
- Final Render of Red Clouds
3D Lighting
- Using Lights to Add Drama
- Working in Draft 3D Mode
- Using Views to Set the Scene
- Adding a New Light Light Types
- Positioning the New Light
- Options: Intensity
- Options: Color / Cone Angle and Cone Feather
- Options: Shadow Controls
- Example: True 3D Shadow Fall-off
- Transform Properties: Point of Interest
- A Note About AE 5.5
- Negative Lighting
- Parenting Lights
3D Cameras
- Introduction to 3D Cameras
- Creating a Fly-through effect
- Adding a Camera
- Using the Orbit: Pan and Track / Dolly Tools
- Animating the Camera Setting Custom Resolution
- Modifying the Motion Path
- Using Roving Keyframes
- Orient Layers Towards Camera
- Using Multiple Cameras
- Adding Depth of Field
- Comparisons with and without Depth of Field
- A Note About Multiple Views in After Effects 5.5
Expressions
- Get Excited! Expressions Are Cool
- Four Basics You Must Learn
- Setting Up an Illustrator Cyber-Screen
- First Option Using Parenting
- Better Option - Using the Pick Whip Tool to Match Properties
- Basics of Java Syntax
- Using Math to Alter Expressions
- Linking Dissimilar Properties - Rotation to Opacity
- Converting Value Ranges 100 to 360
- Linking Lights and Cameras to Layers with Expressions
- Orientating a Camera the Wrong Way
- Orientating a Camera the Right Way with Expressions
- Rendered Example
- Offsetting Time Values
- Efficiently Working with Null Objects
New Features of After Effects 5.5
- Awesome New Features
- Resetting Preferences - Tip of the Day
- Automated Proxy Creation Awesome!
- Details Behind Proxy Creation - Creating a Motion Proxy
New Effects
- The New Effects Palette
- Four Color Gradient
- Grid
- Roughen Edges
- Cell Pattern
- Advanced Lightning
New Transfer Modes
- Linear / Classic /Vivid / Pin Additions and New Keyboard Shortcut
3D Enhancements
- Introduction to Multiple Views
- Colored Shadows Simple Example
- Colored Shadows Example Two
- Colored Shadows Example with Video
- Rendered Example
- Setup Explained - Using Expressions / Changing Lighting Settings
- Creating a Reflection Effect
- Rendered Example
- Final Word About Colored Shadows
- Adjustment Lights
- How Adjustment Lights Differ From Adjustment Layers
SWF Import
- Importing Files From Flash or Livemotion
Demo Tips
- Introduction
- The Most Important Thing to Focus on
- Selecting Work to Include
- Tips for Motion Graphics Designers
- Tips for Visual Effects Artists / Compositors
- Delivery Options VHS / DVD
- Targeting Your Market
- Tips for the Perfectionists
End Notes
- What Now?
Appendix Further Resources
- Keep Moving Forward!
- Some Favorite Learning Websites
- Some Favorite Useful Websites
- Some Favorite After Effects Books
About The Training Provider: The Virtual Training Company
The Virtual Training Company - The Virtual Training Company started in California's Silicon Valley in 1996.
VTC grew quickly over the next three years and relocated first in 1999 to the beautiful town of Winchester, Virginia; and six years later to Stephens City, Virginia.
The company was founded by British born Mark Vernon who started producing CD-based training for Apple software. The format on the CDs - narrated...
