Intermediate Adobe After Effects CS4

Objectives

This intermediate course covers some of the more challenging aspects of working in After Effects. It aims to familiarise delegates with aspects of the software that may not be obvious, and to give delegates the confidence to apply the techniques taught in daily creative work. During training, delegates will be encouraged to explore new techniques that will greatly enhance their working knowledge of the software.


Pre-requisites:

Experience of the Windows or Macintosh operating system or previous attendance on the equivalent training course.


Course Includes:

A comprehensive set of reference notes covering course topics, follow-up telephone support and, for training on Transmedia premises, lunch and refreshments.


Course Outline


Setting up custom preferences


· Making decisions for the most important preferences


Animation


· Understanding animation rules
· Understanding Velocity and Influence
· Using the Speed graphs to perfect timing


Compositing


· Adjustment effects & colour correction
· Channel effects
· Smart Mask interpolation
· Auto-tracing Movies
· Keying tools
· Matte Tools


Motion tracking & image stabilising


· Tracking position and rotation
· Using Mocha to track motion
· Stabilising shaky footage
· Perspective corner pinning


Time-based effects


· Slow motion techniques / stop frames
· Time stretching, ramping and blending
· Animating footage to audio


Basic expressions and scripting


· Basic Expression commands
· Linking properties together
· Applying simple arithmetic
· Randomising properties






Paint


· Repairing images and movies
· Stop-frame animation techniques
· Write-on text effects and other tricks


Intermediate 3D & parenting


· Animating in 3D space
· Independent keyframing of x,y,z values
· Tricks with Lights
· Tricks with Cameras


Effects


· Effects categories explained
· Combining effects successfully
· Favourite effects
· Speeding up your workflow
· Working with Proxies



Shape Layers

Puppet Tool

Brainstorm