Introduction to Adobe After Effects June 20, 2011

Who should attend:
Video, animation and graphics professionals who need an essential working understanding of Adobe After Effects.

Course Outline:
Note: The curricula below comprise activities typically covered in a class at this skill level. The instructor may, at his/her discretion, adjust the lesson plan to meet the needs of the class.

Lesson 1: Understanding Motion Graphics
RGB color model
Frame size
Resolution
Pixel Aspect Ratio
Alpha Channels
Frame Rate
Time Code
Interpreting Footage
Lesson 2: Getting to Know the Workflow
How After Effects Works
The Project Panel
The Timeline Panel
The Monitor Panel
The Info Panel
Other Panels
Customizing the workspace
Lesson 3: Importing Files and Creating Compositions
Importing Video Clips
Importing Stills
Importing a Sequence of Stills (Interpreting)
Importing Multilayered Photoshop and Illustrator Files
Creating a composition and arranging layers
Changing parameters globally
Previewing your work
Lesson 4: Creating a Basic Animation
Using animation presets
Understanding Position and Anchor Point
Animating Position
Using the Keyframe Navigators (J and K)
Animating Scale, Rotation and Opacity
Keyframe Interpolation
Temporal & Spatial Interpolation
Auto, Continuous, Bezier Interpolation
Roving in Time
Lesson 5: Working with Masks
About masks
Creating a mask with the Pen tool
Editing a mask
Feathering the edges of a mask
Replacing the content of the mask
Mask Interpolation
Mask for position Keyframes
Using Masks from Illustrator and Photoshop
Lesson 6: Using Masks for Animation
Masks for Position Keyframes
Animating a stroke
Using Paths from Illustrator
Animating a Signature
Lesson 7: Text Basics
About text layers
Point Text Vs. a Text Box
Creating and formatting text
Using a text animation preset
Lesson 8: Animating Text Manually
Text on a Path
Adding Animators
Using the Range Selector
Adding a property
Adding a range selector
Using the Wiggly selector
Animating imported Photoshop text
Lesson 9: Working with Shape Layers
Creating custom shapes
Creating Stars
Understanding properties of Shape Layers
Adding Effects
Using Brainstorm to experiment
Lesson 10: Puppet Pin Tool
Using the Puppet Pin Tool
Animating the Pins
Puppet Starch Tool
Puppet Overlap Tool
Lesson 11: Other Effects
Time Remapping
Motion Sketch
The Smoother
The Wiggler
Auto Orient
Splitting a layer
Adjustment Layers
The Effects and Presets Panel
Lesson 12: Rendering and Outputting
The Render Queue
Creating templates for the rendering process
Creating templates for output modules
Exporting to different output media