Introduction to Adobe After Effects
Welcome to After Effects! I think you're going to find working inside of After Effects very similar to working with Photoshop. Both applications utilizes the process of working with layers to create complex, dynamic animations and designs. On the other hand, however, After Effects produces a number of new navigation and workflow paradigms that are specific to working with After Effects. The learning curve isn't steep, but it will be apparent during the first few projects in the class. Don't worry, though, After Effects might seem like a beast at the beginning but I know you'll be able to master of the workflow and interface in no time.A basic After Effects workflow follows six steps: importing and organizing footage, creating compositions and arranging layers, adding effects, animating elements, previewing your work, and rendering and outputting the final composition so that it can viewed by others. Whether you are using After Effects to animate a simple DVD title sequence or to create complex special effects, you generally follow the same basic workflow. The After Effects interface facilitates your work and adapts to each stage of production. This week, we will be creating simple animation that highlights this workflow, and, along the way, you'll learn your way around the After Effects interface.
Dance Battle (50pts)
Project Due: Week 03
In this assignment, you will be exploring the interface of After Effects and learning how to work in a "layered" work environment. Build your animation using the quicktime movies, audio files and graphics with the assets provided to you in Chapter 1. Please follow the directions in Chapter 1 of the Adobe After Effects Classroom in a Book for specific instructions on completing this project. Please ensure your project includes the following required elements before you complete this assignment:- Frame Size: 720x486 pixels
- Duration: 00:00:00;30 (1 second)
- Pixel Aspect Ratio: Square
- Frame Rate: 29.97fps
- Format (the codec) of Rendered Movie: H.264
Examples of Successful Projects
Check out this example video of how this project is supossed to look when you are done. Play close attention to the layering of all of the media assets, their on-screen position and timing. Good stuff!
All Finished with your Homework?
After you have saved the project file on your personal external storage device (like a thumb drive), please upload your After Effects Project File (.aep) and your rendered Quicktime Movie (.mov) to the Dance Battle dropbox on D2L.
Before you upload your files to D2L, please ensure your files meet the following naming conventions:
Submit Your Assignment- lastname_gcom_390_dance_battle.aep
- lastname_gcom_390_dance_battle.mov
Butterfly Open (25pts)
Project Due: Week 03
Before we can create complex animations and effects in After Effects, we must first be able to quickly import multiple assets and footage in to the program. Establishing a good internal structure of elements allows the artist to quickly locate and animate specific media files.
For this exercise, import all of the assets included in the supplied materials in After Effects. Then, animate the elements to match the Butterfly Open Finished Example found on this page. Once you have completed the animation of all of the media elements, render out your animation using the H.264 codec and upload your materials to D2L.
Examples of Successful Projects
Check out this example video of how this project is supossed to look when you are done. Play close attention to the layering of all of the media assets, their on-screen position and timing. Good stuff!All Finished with your Homework?
After you have saved the project file on your personal external storage device (like a thumb drive), please upload your After Effects Project File (.aep) and your rendered Quicktime Movie (.mov) to the Butterfly Open dropbox on D2L.
Before you upload your files to D2L, please ensure your files meet the following naming conventions:
Submit Your Assignment- lastname_gcom_390_lab_butterfly_open.aep
- lastname_gcom_390_lab_butterfy_open.mov
Important Documents
Check out these awesome learning resources! I've collected a number of assets that I think will help you conquer this week's homework and laboratory assignment. Please download the following materials to your local hard disk or flash storage device (AKA thumb drive).
