After Effects CS4: Advanced

DAY ONE

Overview of features

• Optimising your system
• Finding ways to speed up previews
• Using different resolutions
• Using Adobe Clip Notes

Advanced layer techniques

• Using the Interpret footage dialog effectively
• Parent and child relationships
• Using Null layers
• Understanding the Anchor Point
• Using different blending modes
• Advanced text animation
• Using the Puppet tool

Working with compositions

• Nesting comps
• Pre-rendering comps
• Pre-composing layers
• Setting comp proxies
• Importing Photoshop and Illustrator comps
• Rendering order issues

Using masks

• Animating masks
• Using stencils and silhouettes
• Using RotoBezier masks
• Auto-tracing alpha channels
• Importing masks from Photoshop
• Creating Track mattes
• Using Keylight for Bluescreen and Greenscreen mattes

Generating professional special effects

• Motion tracking
• Motion stabilisation
• Image stabilisation
• Using colour keying
• Using the Difference Matte effectively
• Using a Garbage Matte
• Using Vector Paint
• Advanced keying and warping tools
  Colour management tools

DAY TWO

Working in 3D space

• Creating a layer in 3D space
• 3D text animations
• Creating complex shapes
• Understanding the limitations of 2D planes in 3D space
• Using lights and cameras
• Using Nulls to control cameras

Using expressions

• Why expressions are useful
• Creating expressions to slave other layers
• Expressions vs Parent and Child
• Transferring properties in equations

Rendering comps

• The different Codecs in Quicktime
• Rendering effectively and quickly
• Understanding field order
• Rendering using Alpha channels
• Rendering to create a comp proxy

An introduction to Particle playground

• A guide to effects in After Effects
• 3D channel effects

Using sound in After Effects

• Adding and previewing sound
• Using sound markers to synchronise action

Hints and tips

• Creating PDF video files

Best practice in After Effects

Questions and answers