Course Name
Adobe After Effects CS4: Essentials
Contact Hours: 10
Course Description
Total Training for Adobe After Effects CS4 Essentials introduces you to the wonderful world of motion graphics and the fundamentals of After Effects. After watching this training, youll know all about creating basic animations, text animation, tracking and stabilizing, basic keying and compositing, basic 3D animation. Plus, youll get an insiders view of some of the new features of After Effects CS4. Whether you are new to After Effects, or brushing up on a technique, this series is just what you need to get up to speed fast.
The student will have access to this course for 1 year. This self-directed course can be completed within 90 days or sooner depending on time and learning capabilities of the student.
Outcome
By completing this course you will:
Learn animation basics including keyframing and interpolation.
Discover best practices for working with masks.
See how to use the Puppet Tools.
Get an introduction to working with the 3D Engine.
Learn about applying layer blending modes.
Assessment
Project files are included with this course to aid in your learning. There are no exams or tests.
Outline
Chapter 1: WHAT'S NEW IN ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS CS4
Working with Photoshop® 3D Layers
Using Dynamic Link to Remove Noise in Soundbooth®
The New Timeline Search Feature & Pre-comp Flow Chart
Introducing the Cartoon Effect
Chapter 2: INTRODUCTION TO AFTER EFFECTS
Basic Video Concepts
Importing Files
Project Panel Overview
Creating a New Composition
Placing Footage in the Composition
Creating a Film Strip Effect with Multiple Movies
Timeline Panel Overview
Timeline Switches, Time Ruler & Work Area
Composition Panel Overview
Chapter 3: ANIMATION BASICS
Exploring the Transform Properties
Introduction to Keyframing
Interpolating Keyframes
Practicing Interpolation
Copying & Pasting Keyframes
Creating a Loop
Chapter 4: WORKING WITH MASKS
Introduction to Masks
Animating Masks
Working with Mask Interpolation
Rotoscoping
Using Masks for Position Keyframes
Creating a Simple Animation Using Masks
Chapter 5: ANIMATING TEXT
An Introduction to Text in After Effects
Using Text Presets
Creating Text on a Path
Creating a Preset
Animators: Range Selector
Animators: Add Property
Animators: Two or More Range Selectors
Animators: Adding a Wiggly Selector
Working with Text from Photoshop
Chapter 6: ANIMATION HELP
Using Motion Sketch & the Smoother
Using the Wiggler
Working with Auto-Orient & Split Layer
Time Remapping
Animating Stills Using the Anchor Point
Chapter 7: PARENTING & BASIC EXPRESSIONS
Parenting Basics & Null Objects
Animated Man Exercise
Stacking Ruler Exercise
Text Animation Exercise
Introduction to Basic Expressions
Applying Expressions for Wiggle & Loop
Using Expressions with Audio Files
Chapter 8: BASIC COMPOSITING
Applying Layer Blending Modes
Creating a Track Matte
Keying & Keylight
Compound Effects: Gradient Wipe & Displacement Map
Compound Effects: Wave World & Caustics
Pre-composing & Nesting
Chapter 9: STABILIZING & TRACKING
Stabilizing a Shot
Tracking a Point
The Tracker Panel & Motion Tracker Options
Corner Pin Tracking
Mocha for After Effects
Chapter 10: PARTICLES & PAINT
Introduction to Particle Playground
Breathing Tiger Exercise
Introduction to Paint
Creating an Invisible Pen Effect
Chapter 11: INTRODUCTION TO THE 3D ENGINE
Introduction to Camera Angles & Monitor Views
Creating 3D Text with Lights & Shadows
Setting Up a 3D Scene
Animating a 3D Scene
Working with Vanishing Point
Chapter 12: SHAPE LAYERS & THE PUPPET TOOLS
Creating a Shape Layer
Animating Shapes with Repeater & Brainstorm
Using the Puppet Pin & Puppet Starch Tools
Using the Puppet Overlap Tool
Animating with the Puppet Tools
Chapter 13: RENDERING & EXPORTING
Using the Render Queue
Working with Adobe Clip Notes
Exporting for Flash®
Credits