Background

Bridge the gap between being able to use After Effects and being able to create visually stunning special effects using professional post production techniques.

This course is designed to give you the skills to get the most from After Effects enabling you to produce professional motion graphics and visual effects for film, video, multimedia and the web. We also recommend this course for those planning to gain Adobe Certified Expert status.

The course covers working in 3D space, advanced layer techniques, using equations and masks, creating professional special fx, working with sound and gaining industry hints and tips from After Effects professionals.

This course is based around the Professional Edition of After Effects. If you would like an advanced course based on the Standard Edition, please call us to discuss your requirements.

Course Outline

DAY ONE

OVERVIEW OF FEATURES
Optimising your system
What exactly is Ram Preview?
Finding ways to speed up previews
Using different resolutions

WORKING IN 3D SPACE
Creating a layer in 3D space
Creating complex shapes
Understanding the limitations of 2D planes in 3D space
Using lights and cameras

ADVANCED LAYER TECHNIQUES
Using the Interpret footage dialog effectively
Parent and child relationships
Using Null layers
Understanding the Anchor Point
Using different blending modes
Advanced text animation

USING EXPRESSIONS
Why expressions are useful
Creating expressions to slave other layers
Expressions vs Parent and Child
Transferring properties in expressions

USING MASKS
Animating masks
Using stencils and silhouettes
Using RotoBezier masks
Auto-tracing alpha channels
Importing masks from Photoshop
Creating Track Mattes

Questions and answers

DAY TWO

WORKING WITH COMPOSITIONS
Using comps within comps
Pre-rendering comps
Pre-composing layers
Setting comp proxies
Importing Photoshop and Illustrator comps
Rendering order issues

RENDERING COMPS
The different Codecs in Quicktime
Rendering effectively and quickly
Understanding field order
Rendering using Alpha channels
Rendering to create a comp proxy

GENERATING PROFESSIONAL SPECIAL EFFECTS
Motion tracking
Motion stablisation
Image stablisation
Using colour keying
Using the Difference Matte effectively
Using a Garbage Matte
Using Vector Paint
Advanced keying and warping tools

AN INTRODUCTION TO PARTICLE PLAYGROUND
Using third party plug-in filters
3D channel effects

USING SOUND IN AFTER EFFECTS
Adding and previewing sound
Using sound markers to synchronise action

HINTS AND TIPS

BEST PRACTICE IN AFTER EFFECTS

Questions and answers