Adobe After Effects 5/5.5 Tutorial

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More Tips: Essential De-Interlacing
Interlacing
The Fields
How to Fix
Example of Proper De-Interlaced - Lower

Compositions
Settings Overview
Common Comp Sizes
Memorize these Frame Rates!
Comp Window
The Time Line
Synergy Review

Effects
Overview (The Advantages Explained)
Hue Saturation
Colour Blur
Changing the Values
Adding Effects
The Quality Switches
Adding the Glow Effect
How to Add Effects to Adjustment Layers
2nd Assignment

Animation
The Basics of Keyframe Scale and Position
Opacity, Easy Ease and Fade Out
Adjusting and Reversing Keyframes
Some Animation Keyboard Shortcuts
Layers in After Effects
Working with Exponential Scale
Animate Opacity
Animate the Anchor Point and Setting Work Area
Move Layers
How to Animate a Blur Effect
The Motion Blur
Previewing
The Rendered End Result
3rd Assignment - Creating Something Personal

RAM Previews and Time Controls
Overview
Keyboard Shortcuts
ctrl (cdm) RAM Preview - Saves Preview
The Region of Interest Tool
Dynamic Resolution
Audio Preview Preferences
How to set Work Area B & N keys
Frame by Frame Shortcuts
Shift RAM Preview
Shortcuts Overview

Rendering Basics
Preview of RAM
Changing and Saving Render Settings
Output Module
Save
Rendering Twirl-Downs

Timeline and Layers
The Customisation of the Timeline
The Are View
How to Add Comp Markers
Managing Layers
Using Numbers

Layer Markers
Nest Compositions, Grouping Layers
Centering and Aligning the Layers
Copy & Paste Attributes
AV Features
Solid Layers

Switches
The Shy Layers
Continuous Restoration
Quality Settings
The Effects Switch
Effects Switch
Frame Blending
The Motion Blur
The Adjustment Layer Switch
3D Layer Switch

Editing Layers in After Effects
Overview
The Sequencing of Layers
Straight Cuts
Sequencing & Dissolves
True Cross Dissolve
How to Trim Clips & Slip Edits
Ripple Edit Inserts
Useful IBON Shortcut
How to Trim on the Timeline Slip Edits
Playing a Clip Backwards
Time Remapping

Work Area Extras
Trimming the Comp into the Workspace
B and N keys, IBON, Shift Snap
When the Footage Affects the Original Workspace

Fades and Transitions
Basic Cross Fade and the True Cross Fade
Fading to Black

Text
An Overview
Size and Tracking
How to Add a Glow to Text
Do not Animate the Scale!!
Applying Title Safe Guides
Adding the Kickback and a Horizontal Blur
Path Text - Advanced Options and Normal Text
Animating Individual Characters
Final Touches
Usual Path Text
Generating Numbers

Typography
Overview
Techno Type Fonts
Handwritten and Brush Script Fonts
Actually Finding the Fonts
Some Design Guidelines
Other Resources

Importing From After Effects to Photoshop
Overview
How to Examine a Layers Photoshop File
Import into After Effects as Composition
Modifying the Layers
Alpha Channels (the Creation of)
Using Pre-Multiplied Alpha Channels
The Creation of a Straight Alpha
Straight Alpha Channels - Multi Coloured
B & W Scans Explained
Viewing the Alpha Channel in After Effects
Examining a Layered Photoshop File

Importing From After Effects to Illustrator
Raster Item vs vector item
Vector Language Overview
Possible Problems when Importing
Using Crops
Applying Effects
Troubleshooting

Masks
The Simple Creation of
Addition of Feather
Modifying Them
Mask Points - Lesson 1
Mask Points - Lesson 2
Mask Points - Lesson 3
Adding Effects
How to Adjust Bezier Curves
Mask Interaction - Multiple Masks
Drawing Masks Using the Pen Tool - Lessons 1
Drawing Masks Using the Pen Tool - Lessons 2
Drawing Masks Using the Pen Tool - Lessons 3
How to Import From Illustrator
Add Effects
Animate the Masks
Track Mattes
Intro
Moving Luma Matte in a Movie
Pre Composing with the Aim of Adding Effects
Replacing Mattes
Improving the Original Bad Design
Alpha Track Mattes

Transfer Modes
Overview
Dropping out White and Black
How to Invert Line Art
A Review
An Example (Plus a Photoshop Example)
Adding Effects
Create the Look of Heaven / Film / Instant sex
A Photoshop Example
Alternatives
Using it in AE
Fading from Colour to Black and White
Difference Trick
Compositing Stock Effects over Footage with Screen Plus Add modes
Composite Smoke Using Screen Mode

Audio
Overview of the Formats
Sample Rates and Bit
Importing and Previewing Audio
Shortcuts Preview
Waveform Preview
Audio Palette Described
How to Spot the Audio Setting Layer Markers
The Palette
Adding a Script Layer
Some Effects with Audio
Looping a Music Track
Advanced Audio Fade!

3D Layers
Overview
Turning on 3D Layers - Views XYZ handles
Rotating Along XYZ
How to Customise Keys for Views
Orientation & Rotation Key Differences
How to Arrange in Space
Animate a Surreal Sky (PS steps)
Organising the 3D Layers
How to Add an Atmosphere
Last Render of Red Clouds

3D Lighting
Using Lights to Add Drama
Using Draft 3d Mode
Using Views to Set the Scene
New Lighting Types
New Light Positioning
Options:
• Intensity
• Colour
• Shadow Controls
A True 3D Shadow Fall-Off (Example)
Transform Properties - Point of Interest
AE 5.5 - Cautions
Negative Lighting Explained
Parenting Lights

3D Cameras
Overview
How to Create a Fly-Through Effect
The Addition of a Camera
Using Orbit: Pan and Track, Dolly Tools
Animate Camera Settings - Custom Resolution
How to Modify the Motion Path
Working with Roving Keyframes
Orient Layers Towards Camera
The Modification of the Motion Path
The Use of More than one Camera
Other Thoughts on Cameras
Adding Depth of Field
Comparing Depth of Field and Without DoF

Expressions
These are Great!
The Basics
The Properties
Java Syntax
Overview
Link Dissimilar Properties - Rotation to Opacity
How to Convert Value Ranges 100 - 360
Link Lights and Cameras to Layers with Expressions
Orientating a Camera the Right and Wrong Way
Examples
How to Offset Time Values
Using Null Objects Efficiently

New Features version 5.5
Overview
Resetting Preferences
Automated Proxy Creation and Other Details
Proxy Creation - Explained
The Creation of a Motion Proxy

New Effects in 5.5
The Effects Palette
The Four Colour Gradient
The Grid
Roughen Edges
The Cell Pattern
Advanced Lightning

New Transfer Modes in 5.5
The Shortcut
Linear
Classic
Pin Additions
New Keyboard Shortcut

3D Enhancements
Multiple Views - Overview
Coloured Shadows - Lesson 1
Coloured Shadows - Lesson 2
Coloured Shadows - Lesson 3
An Example (rendered)
Working with Expressions & Changing Lightning Settings
The Reflection Effect and Example
Coloured Shadows - Final Thought
Adjustment Lights - Explained
Key Differences Between Adjustment Lights and Adjustment Layers

SWF Import
Importing Files from Flash and LiveMotion

Demo Tips
Intro
Focus on ...
Selecting to Include
Tips for:
• Motion Graphic Designers
• Visual Effects Artists
• Compositors
Delivery Options for VHS and DVD
The Chosen Market
Advanced Tips

End Notes
What Next

Appendix - Further Resources
Heading In The Right Direction
Useful Websites
Books