Total Training for Adobe After Effects CS4 Essentials introduces you to the wonderful world of motion graphics and the fundamentals of After Effects. After watching this training, you'll know all about creating basic animations, text animation, tracking and stabilizing, basic keying and compositing, basic 3D animation. Plus, you'll get an insider's view of some of the new features of After Effects CS4. Whether you are new to After Effects, or brushing up on a technique, this series is just what you need to get up to speed fast.

Highlights

• Learn animation basics including keyframing and interpolation.
• Discover best practices for working with masks.
• See how to use the Puppet Tools.
• Get an introduction to working with the 3D Engine.
• Learn about applying layer blending modes.

Course Outline

Chapter 1: WHAT'S NEW IN ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS CS4 (14 min)

1. Working with Photoshop® 3D Layers
2. Using Dynamic Link to Remove Noise in Soundbooth®
3. The New Timeline Search Feature & Pre-comp Flow Chart
4. Introducing the Cartoon Effect

Chapter 2: INTRODUCTION TO AFTER EFFECTS (46 min)

1. Basic Video Concepts
2. Importing Files
3. Project Panel Overview
4. Creating a New Composition
5. Placing Footage in the Composition
6. Creating a Film Strip Effect with Multiple Movies
7. Timeline Panel Overview
8. Timeline Switches, Time Ruler & Work Area
9. Composition Panel Overview

Chapter 3: ANIMATION BASICS (33 min)

1. Exploring the Transform Properties
2. Introduction to Keyframing
3. Interpolating Keyframes
4. Practicing Interpolation
5. Copying & Pasting Keyframes
6. Creating a Loop

Chapter 4: WORKING WITH MASKS (44 min)

1. Introduction to Masks
2. Animating Masks
3. Working with Mask Interpolation
4. Rotoscoping
5. Using Masks for Position Keyframes
6. Creating a Simple Animation Using Masks

Chapter 5: ANIMATING TEXT (29 min)

1. An Introduction to Text in After Effects
2. Using Text Presets
3. Creating Text on a Path
4. Creating a Preset
5. Animators: Range Selector
6. Animators: Add Property
7. Animators: Two or More Range Selectors
8. Animators: Adding a Wiggly Selector
9. Working with Text from Photoshop

Chapter 6: ANIMATION HELP 29:54 min)

1. Using Motion Sketch & the Smoother
2. Using the Wiggler
3. Working with Auto-Orient & Split Layer
4. Time Remapping
5. Animating Stills Using the Anchor Point

Chapter 7: PARENTING & BASIC EXPRESSIONS (39 min)

1. Parenting Basics & Null Objects
2. Animated Man Exercise
3. Stacking Ruler Exercise
4. Text Animation Exercise
5. Introduction to Basic Expressions
6. Applying Expressions for Wiggle & Loop
7. Using Expressions with Audio Files

Chapter 8: BASIC COMPOSITING (38 min)

1. Applying Layer Blending Modes
2. Creating a Track Matte
3. Keying & Keylight
4. Compound Effects: Gradient Wipe & Displacement Map
5. Compound Effects: Wave World & Caustics
6. Pre-composing & Nesting

Chapter 9: STABILIZING & TRACKING (27 min)

1. Stabilizing a Shot
2. Tracking a Point
3. The Tracker Panel & Motion Tracker Options
4. Corner Pin Tracking
5. Mocha for After Effects

Chapter 10: PARTICLES & PAINT (21 min)

1. Introduction to Particle Playground
2. Breathing Tiger Exercise
3. Introduction to Paint
4. Creating an Invisible Pen Effect

Chapter 11: INTRODUCTION TO THE 3D ENGINE (33 min)

1. Introduction to Camera Angles & Monitor Views
2. Creating 3D Text with Lights & Shadows
3. Setting Up a 3D Scene
4. Animating a 3D Scene
5. Working with Vanishing Point

Chapter 12: SHAPE LAYERS & THE PUPPET TOOLS (20 min)

• Creating a Shape Layer
• Animating Shapes with Repeater & Brainstorm
• Using the Puppet Pin & Puppet Starch Tools
• Using the Puppet Overlap Tool
• Animating with the Puppet Tools

Chapter 13: RENDERING & EXPORTING (17 min)

1. Using the Render Queue
2. Working with Adobe Clip Notes
3. Exporting for Flash®
4. Credits

Platform: Windows & MAC OS

Format: DVD-ROM & Online

Running Time: 6.5 Hrs, 1 DVD

Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Project Files: Included