AFTER EFFECTS MOTION GRAPHICS DESIGN 1

Course Setup
This course consists of 10 video-based lessons. Each lesson is approximately 30 minutes in duration and most include supplementary files and footage.
This course will be delivered on dvd via royalmail post.

As the main weapons of choice for producing Motion Graphics for Broadcast, this course is based around the principles and techniques of creating broadcast graphics with After Effects. Some of the lessons will be project based and explore different techniques to create animated sequences from beginning to end. Other lessons will look at specific areas of After Effects, such as the included particle systems and some 3rd party solutions. Other aspects of the course that will be covered include expressions, parenting, project management and workflow, working with type, shape layers and masks.

Course Outline

Lesson 1: Taking a client storyboard through to the design stages and then building the project in After Effects, creating an infinite type zoom with vector artwork, incorporating client changes and then preparing the file for output.

Lesson 2: A look into Particle systems available in After Effects, their features and some examples. Creation of a 5 second animation using some of the particle systems discussed, and a look at creating fake 3D reflections and building a simple camera rig.

Lesson 3:An exploration of some of the features of Trapcode Particular. A look at using animated custom particles, attaching particles to lights, using expressions and creating motion paths for the particles.

Lesson 4: This lesson looks at techniques for cutting up bitmap images and animating them, including using expressions to make a walk cycle.

Lesson 5: Exploring 3D multipass rendering, and how to use them in After Effects. First a brief explanation of the types of passes that can be output from most 3D applications. Then a look at some real world examples. Finally a look at using 3D passes with Trapcode Form and Particular.

Lesson 6: This lesson looks at building a 5 second promo for a TV show. We’ll track some camera motion to add a handheld feel to the AE camera. Then we’ll take this and animate some moves in 3D, adding in copy and some extra elements.

Lesson 7: A continuation of lesson 6.

Lesson 8: Methods of using 3D renders and exported data in After Effects comps. Taking multipass renders and enhancing them. Using the camera data from the 3D application to match our AE 3D layers to the 3D render. Also, pasting multiple paths into shape layers, animating shape layers and adding effects.

Lesson 9: Continuation of previous lesson. Using mattes combined with continually rasterising layers and shape layers to draw on a logo.

Lesson 10: Composite 3D renders onto After Effects 3D layers. Add in some extra details and finally prepare the animation for final output, looking at correcting unsafe colours.