
Adobe After Effects 5/5.5 Essentials
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.
Course content
Introduction11 lessons
- Welcome1:54Free
- What is After Effects?0:39Free
- Should I Learn After Effects or Something Else?1:23Free
- Why You Should Learn After Effects2:12Free
- The Best Way to Learn After Effects2:19Free
- Assumptions I have Made About You1:54Free
- How This Course Works2:32Free
- Get Your After Effects Notebook0:57Free
- What You'll Learn1:57Free
- What's New in AE 5.00:54Free
- Lets Get on with It!0:07Free
Basics4 lessons
Details2 lessons
Extra Tips: Essential De-Interlacing4 lessons
Compositions5 lessons
Effects10 lessons
- The Coolest Part of AE1:311 credit or ad
- Applying Hue / Saturation and Fast Blur5:461 credit or ad
- Changing the Values2:371 credit or ad
- Deleting or Hiding Effects and RAM Preview1:441 credit or ad
- Assignment #1!2:181 credit or ad
- Adding Effects to Solid Layer Text and Glows4:241 credit or ad
- Quality Switches1:001 credit or ad
- Adding the Glow2:401 credit or ad
- Adding Effects to Adjustment Layers3:341 credit or ad
- Assignment Two!1:271 credit or ad
Animation15 lessons
- Basics Learning to Keyframe Scale and Position6:091 credit or ad
- Opacity0:491 credit or ad
- Easy Ease0:321 credit or ad
- Fade Out0:371 credit or ad
- Adjusting Keyframes Proportionately1:301 credit or ad
- Reversing Keyframes and Copy / Paste2:151 credit or ad
- Animation Keyboard Shortcuts2:451 credit or ad
- Using Exponential Scale4:041 credit or ad
- Animating Opacity1:331 credit or ad
- Animating the Anchor Point and Setting Work Area Moving Layers5:571 credit or ad
- Animating a Blur Effect2:251 credit or ad
- Using Motion Blur3:001 credit or ad
- Lets Preview!0:231 credit or ad
- Rendered End Result0:141 credit or ad
- Assignment #3 Create Something Personal1:551 credit or ad
RAM Previews and Time Controls10 lessons
- RAM Preview2:381 credit or ad
- Shift RAM Preview1:441 credit or ad
- Preview Keyboard Shortcuts0:581 credit or ad
- Ctrl (CMD) RAM Preview Saves the Preview1:071 credit or ad
- Region of Interest Tool1:531 credit or ad
- Dynamic Resolution2:191 credit or ad
- Audio Preview Preferences0:411 credit or ad
- Setting the Work Area B and N keys0:531 credit or ad
- Frame By Frame Shortcuts0:501 credit or ad
- Overview Shortcuts1:491 credit or ad
Rendering Basics6 lessons
Timeline and Layers12 lessons
- Customizing the Timeline3:331 credit or ad
- Area View1:271 credit or ad
- Adding Comp Markers1:421 credit or ad
- Layer Management1:531 credit or ad
- Reordering Layers2:131 credit or ad
- Using Numbers0:451 credit or ad
- Layer Markers1:551 credit or ad
- Nesting Compositions Grouping Layers5:581 credit or ad
- Centering and Aligning Layers1:371 credit or ad
- Copying and Pasting Attributes2:111 credit or ad
- AV Features1:061 credit or ad
- Solid Layers2:071 credit or ad
Switches8 lessons
Editing Layers11 lessons
- Editing Layers0:151 credit or ad
- Sequencing Layers6:321 credit or ad
- Straight Cuts0:441 credit or ad
- Sequencing and Dissolves4:251 credit or ad
- True Cross-dissolve1:161 credit or ad
- Trimming Clips and Slip Edits2:001 credit or ad
- Ripple Edit Inserts1:361 credit or ad
- Handy IBON keyboard Shortcut1:101 credit or ad
- Trimming on the Timeline Slip Edits1:441 credit or ad
- Playing a Clip Backwards1:231 credit or ad
- Time Remapping4:211 credit or ad
Work Area Extras3 lessons
Fades and Transitions3 lessons
Text13 lessons
- Basic Text3:291 credit or ad
- Animating Size and Tracking2:081 credit or ad
- Adding Glow2:201 credit or ad
- Gotcha...Don't Animate the Scale1:031 credit or ad
- Using Title Safe Guides3:461 credit or ad
- Adding the Kickback4:051 credit or ad
- Adding Horizontal Blur1:451 credit or ad
- Using Path Text for Normal Text0:471 credit or ad
- Advance Options in Path Text3:011 credit or ad
- Animating Individual Characters4:521 credit or ad
- Final Touches2:041 credit or ad
- Normal Path Text6:201 credit or ad
- Number Generator2:371 credit or ad
Typography7 lessons
- Basic Typography Intro / Serif Vs. Sans-Serif Fonts2:151 credit or ad
- Categories: Handwritten / Brush Scripts0:241 credit or ad
- Categories: Techno Type Fonts0:381 credit or ad
- Where to Find Fonts0:501 credit or ad
- General Design Guidelines4:021 credit or ad
- Further Resources: Books2:321 credit or ad
- Further Resources: Websites1:341 credit or ad
Importing From Photoshop12 lessons
- Examining a Layered PS File5:131 credit or ad
- Importing Into AE as Composition3:511 credit or ad
- Modifying Layers3:281 credit or ad
- Importing with Alpha Channels1:581 credit or ad
- Creating an Alpha in Photoshop4:541 credit or ad
- Working with Pre-Multiplied Alpha Channels2:021 credit or ad
- Creating a Straight Alpha the Best Kind!1:571 credit or ad
- Multi-colored Straight Alpha Channels1:421 credit or ad
- Working with B&W Scans2:491 credit or ad
- Play Around with These0:401 credit or ad
- How to View the Alpha Channel in AE1:271 credit or ad
- Saving Out to a Layered PS Document2:011 credit or ad
Illustrator6 lessons
- Difference Between a Raster Item and a Vector Item2:441 credit or ad
- The Vector Language0:501 credit or ad
- Working in Illustrator / Problems when Importing2:101 credit or ad
- Using Crops to Define Your Final Output in AE1:241 credit or ad
- Viewing Alpha Channel of Illustrator Files0:151 credit or ad
- Applying Effects - Continuously Rasterize Solution4:161 credit or ad
Masks14 lessons
- Creating Simple Masks1:381 credit or ad
- Adding Feather1:541 credit or ad
- Modifying Masks2:041 credit or ad
- Editing Mask Points0:561 credit or ad
- Selecting Multiple Points0:501 credit or ad
- Deselecting Points0:271 credit or ad
- Adjusting Bezier Curves1:541 credit or ad
- Mask Interaction Multiple Masks4:031 credit or ad
- Drawing Masks with the Pen Tool3:091 credit or ad
- Learning to Trace with the Pen Tool6:351 credit or ad
- Freeform Drawing with the Pen Tool1:391 credit or ad
- Importing From Illustrator2:351 credit or ad
- Adding Effects1:571 credit or ad
- Animating the Masks2:321 credit or ad
Track Mattes7 lessons
- Introduction to Track Mattes1:571 credit or ad
- Applying a Moving Luma Matte to a Movie2:381 credit or ad
- Pre-Composing to Add Effects2:171 credit or ad
- How the Mattes Were Created0:301 credit or ad
- Replacing Mattes0:571 credit or ad
- Improving the Bad Design2:151 credit or ad
- Alpha Track Mattes2:461 credit or ad
Transfer Modes15 lessons
- Introduction to Transfer Modes0:431 credit or ad
- Dropping Out White1:521 credit or ad
- Dropping Out Black2:371 credit or ad
- Inverting Line Art1:531 credit or ad
- Review1:011 credit or ad
- Another Example of Dropping Out White2:231 credit or ad
- Adding Effects0:441 credit or ad
- Creating the Look of Heaven / Film / Instant Sex Photoshop Example3:131 credit or ad
- Some Alternatives1:541 credit or ad
- Using it in After Effects1:421 credit or ad
- Color Boost Defeating JPG Artifacting4:091 credit or ad
- Color to Black and White Fade1:241 credit or ad
- Difference Trick2:151 credit or ad
- Compositing Stock Effects Over Footage with Screen and Add Modes2:271 credit or ad
- Compositing Smoke Using the Screen Mode0:581 credit or ad
Audio13 lessons
- Introduction to Audio Formats / Sample Rates and Bit Rates2:131 credit or ad
- Importing Audio1:351 credit or ad
- Previewing Audio1:191 credit or ad
- Previewing Shortcuts1:461 credit or ad
- Viewing the Waveform2:301 credit or ad
- The Audio Palette3:281 credit or ad
- Spotting Audio Setting Layer Markers2:171 credit or ad
- Adding a Script layer1:181 credit or ad
- Working with Markers in Pre-comps1:271 credit or ad
- Audio Effects4:391 credit or ad
- Stereo Mixer Effect1:591 credit or ad
- Looping a Music Track1:171 credit or ad
- Audio Fade is Not as Straight Forward as You'd Think4:281 credit or ad
3D Layers10 lessons
- Introduction to 3D in After Effects2:051 credit or ad
- Turning on 3D layers: Views XYZ Handles3:471 credit or ad
- Rotating Along XYZ.1:061 credit or ad
- Customizing Keyboard Keys for Views1:511 credit or ad
- Difference Between Orientation and Rotation1:331 credit or ad
- Arranging in Space1:461 credit or ad
- Animating a Surreal Sky Photoshop Steps1:171 credit or ad
- Working with 3D Layers3:311 credit or ad
- Adding an Atmosphere2:471 credit or ad
- Final Render of Red Clouds0:101 credit or ad
3D Lighting13 lessons
- Using Lights to Add Drama1:581 credit or ad
- Working in Draft 3D Mode0:461 credit or ad
- Using Views to Set the Scene1:371 credit or ad
- Adding a New Light Light Types1:251 credit or ad
- Positioning the New Light1:121 credit or ad
- Options: Intensity0:541 credit or ad
- Options: Color / Cone Angle and Cone Feather0:471 credit or ad
- Options: Shadow Controls0:591 credit or ad
- Example: True 3D Shadow Fall-off0:401 credit or ad
- Transform Properties: Point of Interest0:491 credit or ad
- A Note About AE 5.50:351 credit or ad
- Negative Lighting1:361 credit or ad
- Parenting Lights3:231 credit or ad
3D Cameras12 lessons
- Introduction to 3D Cameras0:231 credit or ad
- Creating a Fly-through effect1:271 credit or ad
- Adding a Camera1:081 credit or ad
- Using the Orbit: Pan and Track / Dolly Tools1:351 credit or ad
- Animating the Camera Setting Custom Resolution2:271 credit or ad
- Modifying the Motion Path2:101 credit or ad
- Using Roving Keyframes0:511 credit or ad
- Orient Layers Towards Camera0:401 credit or ad
- Using Multiple Cameras1:421 credit or ad
- Adding Depth of Field1:471 credit or ad
- Comparisons with and without Depth of Field0:181 credit or ad
- A Note About Multiple Views in After Effects 5.50:311 credit or ad
Expressions15 lessons
- Get Excited! Expressions Are Cool1:251 credit or ad
- Four Basics You Must Learn1:381 credit or ad
- Setting Up an Illustrator Cyber-Screen0:571 credit or ad
- First Option Using Parenting0:591 credit or ad
- Better Option - Using the Pick Whip Tool to Match Properties1:391 credit or ad
- Basics of Java Syntax0:551 credit or ad
- Using Math to Alter Expressions2:211 credit or ad
- Linking Dissimilar Properties - Rotation to Opacity1:211 credit or ad
- Converting Value Ranges 100 to 3602:361 credit or ad
- Linking Lights and Cameras to Layers with Expressions4:511 credit or ad
- Orientating a Camera the Wrong Way2:481 credit or ad
- Orientating a Camera the Right Way with Expressions2:281 credit or ad
- Rendered Example0:101 credit or ad
- Offsetting Time Values5:131 credit or ad
- Efficiently Working with Null Objects5:161 credit or ad
New Features of After Effects 5.54 lessons
New Effects6 lessons
New Transfer Modes1 lessons
3D Enhancements11 lessons
- Introduction to Multiple Views2:131 credit or ad
- Colored Shadows Simple Example1:131 credit or ad
- Colored Shadows Example Two1:011 credit or ad
- Colored Shadows Example with Video0:181 credit or ad
- Rendered Example0:061 credit or ad
- Setup Explained - Using Expressions / Changing Lighting Settings0:521 credit or ad
- Creating a Reflection Effect1:281 credit or ad
- Rendered Example0:061 credit or ad
- Final Word About Colored Shadows0:251 credit or ad
- Adjustment Lights1:571 credit or ad
- How Adjustment Lights Differ From Adjustment Layers1:341 credit or ad
SWF Import1 lessons
Demo Tips8 lessons
- Introduction0:481 credit or ad
- The Most Important Thing to Focus on1:471 credit or ad
- Selecting Work to Include1:561 credit or ad
- Tips for Motion Graphics Designers2:341 credit or ad
- Tips for Visual Effects Artists / Compositors1:291 credit or ad
- Delivery Options VHS / DVD2:011 credit or ad
- Targeting Your Market2:421 credit or ad
- Tips for the Perfectionists2:281 credit or ad