Tue, Apr 09

Time-based media (animation with After Effects)

Today's objectives

• Review assignments
• After Effects basics
• Prepare for practical quiz

Preparation

• Have Adobe After Effects and ready to go.

Resources

Animation with After Effects

There are many resources online to learn After Effects. I suggest having a good grasp of the 2D basics before moving to After Effects' 3D tools.

• AfterEffects Video Tutorials
• Overview of the After Effects Interface
• Basic Overview
• Keyboard shortcuts

Our basic After Effects lesson (condensed summary)

One of many beginner tutorials on After Effects

Kinetic typography music video - done in After Effects

Fundamentals of animation

The 12 Principles of Animation: https://idearocketanimation.com/13721-12-principles-of-animation-gifs/

Animation with After Effects

After Effects is a bit like Photoshop for video. It's a huge and powerful program, and will take some time to understand. A few basic concepts:

Projects

A project is where everything associated with your particular work is located. A project has one or more compositions

Composition

A composition is a combination of graphics. A simple project may only have one composition, a complex one may have hundreds.

Layer

AfterEffects layers are similar (but not identical) to Photoshop layers. They may contain still images, motion graphics, video footage, type, effects or 3d elements.

Timeline

The timeline allows you to move through projects and compositions in time. Each layer has its own sequence of frames/

Frame

A frame is a single point on the timeline. When frames are played back rapidly, the illusion of motion is created. A typical frame represents 1/30 of a second.

Basic animation

• Transform:
• Position
• Scale
• Opacity
• Rotation
• Animate lines with trim paths
• Import from Photoshop and Illustrator
• Animate text