Audience
This course is for those who want to become a professional power user of After Effects.
Prerequisites
You should consider attending After Effects Intermediate before taking this course.
Duration
2 days. Hands on.
Course Objectives
Become a professional power user after completing our advanced course. Learn visually groundbreaking special effects for film, video, web and mobile.
Delivered by an Adobe Authorised training provider.
What will I learn?
- Gain expert level of knowledge
- Confidently complete complex steps
- Use expressions for problem-solving
- Integrate with 3D software
- Learn advanced keyframe techniques
- Free digital course assets
- Free helpdesk support for 28 days
Course Content
Day One
Keyframing Techniques
• In depth with keyframe interpolation
• Better understanding of spatial vs. temporal
• More advanced graph editor use to control keyframes
• Creating “Overshoot” easily
Time Remapping – Getting Better Control
• “Blocking areas” with keyframes
• Time remap within the graph editor – a better view
• Frame blending – examining options
• Time remap effects
• Using expressions to control time flow
Expressions in Detail
• Most common expression problems
• Creating simulations with simple maths
• Linking properties in a more complex manner
• Getting better control of the values
• Using Variables
• Dimensions – How many values?
• The “Linear” expression
• “Global” or “Local” controls
• Creating complex expression set ups
• Distance checks and averages
• Making out own Depth based effects
• Creating speed based effects
• Using expressions with 3D layers
• Solving 2D and 3D layer problems
• The “toComp” expression – an essential tool
Advanced Effect Usage
• Procedural textures
• Better use of simulation effects
• Fixing effect problems using expressions
• Logo disintegrations
• Custom particle effects
• Footage analysis – what to look for
• Using effects to detect errors and compression
• Simulating Camera “Aberrations” from real cameras
• Chromatic aberration and Specular bloom
3D Layers – Advanced Techniques
• Creating a flexible camera set up
• Better placement of layers in 3D space
• Complex movement with the Orbit Null
• 3D space problems – frames of reference
• Creating an environment
• Resolution issues
• 3D or “Camera aware” effects
• Particle systems in 3D
• Advanced Layer placement – auto orientation to camera
Questions and answers
Day Two
Render “Order”
• Understanding how After Effects processes effects and layers
• Solving the most common composition problems
• Practical examples of render order problems and solutions
Image Stabilisation's
• Understanding the Warp stabiliser effect
• Checking for perspective distortion
3D Camera Tracking – 3D with Real Footage
• Understanding the track data
• Compositing layers into a real shot
• Depth and scale issues
• Effect usage in the 3D scene
• Correct depth resolution with “toComp”
• Creating a new background plate
• Using the camera track for compositing
• Using the track to help with Rotoscope areas
• Exporting the camera for Cinema 4D integration
Creating a Procedural Custom Logo Animation Using Expressions
• Creating the logo in illustrator
• Import and setup
• Creating the expressions to “drive” the animation with no keyframes
• Random motion and rotation
• Refining the animation
• Building custom controls
• Effects and overlays
• Precomposing and then unfolding the 3D
Cinema4D Integration
• Creating assets in Cinema 4D and usage
• “2.5D” vs “Real” 3D – understanding the difference
• Compositing 3D elements into a camera track shot
Best practice in After Effects
Questions and answers