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  4. How Long Does It Take To Learn After Effects
How long does it take to learn After Effects
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How long does it take to learn After Effects

You can learn the basics of After Effects in two days of training, and advanced skills in several additional days if you work with a live instructor in a dedicated class environment, either in-person or online.

One of the main factors determining how long it takes to learn After Effects is your prior experience with similar applications. If you're already familiar with other video editing and compositing applications like Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, and even Photoshop, you'll find it easier to grasp the concepts and tools in After Effects. However, if you're a complete beginner with no prior experience in any similar applications, it may take longer to comfortably navigate the interface and create high-quality visual projects. For beginners, it’s useful to start with an introductory After Effects course to get a detailed explanation of the concepts and process of animation and effects.

Another factor influencing the amount of time it takes to learn After Effects is their objectives. If you're interested in learning the basics of creating simple animations or motion graphics, it may take a few days of training to get started. However, if you're aiming to become an advanced user and create complex 3D animations and special effects, it will take several additional days of training, followed by several more days of practice.

How long does it take to learn After Effects online

For individuals who enroll in live online courses with the American Graphics Institute (AGI), learning After Effects takes less than a week. AGI’s introductory and advanced After Effects courses last for two days, and its robust After Effects bootcamp is four days in length. Although each course varies in content and length, you can ask questions about the material, share your screen with their instructor, talk live to the instructor through voice or on-screen chats, and learn in small groups with no more than 10 participants per course.

How long does it take to learn After Effects in a classroom?

If you decide to take live After Effects courses with AGI in-person, it takes less than a week to become proficient in the application. AGI’s in-person training resources provide students with the opportunity to learn from experienced instructors that have written books on After Effects that are used by universities teaching digital video and motion graphics. These small classroom settings help new users to quickly learn After Effects skills, including motion graphics, animation, and integration with Premiere Pro, through hand-on exercises and projects. When attending in-person, a computer and the After Effects app are provided for you to use during the training.

How long are After Effects certificate programs

Robust certificate programs like the video editing certificate offered by AGI take somewhat longer to complete, with approximately 90 hours of class time. The video editing certificate program includes After Effects courses along with related coursework in Premiere Pro and Photoshop, and is available either part-time or full-time. In addition to learning about After Effects, this certificate program guides students through Premiere Pro and Photoshop, as well as creating digital imaging. The video editing certificate program assigns participants a dedicated career counselor to assist with job placement.

Do you learn After Effects faster if you know Premiere Pro or Photoshop

Familiarity with other Adobe applications like Premiere Pro and Photoshop makes it easier to learn After Effects. Those who have a working knowledge of frame rates, aspect ratios, media organization, and video codecs will have a solid foundation for learning After Effects. For example, someone who has used Photoshop to create and manipulate layers in a composition will feel more comfortable working with layers in After Effects.

Resources for learning After Effects

While it is possible to learn After Effects by experimenting with its tools and features, this is not a very effective option with this complex application. There are a variety of training resources that can help expedite the learning process. Those who want to create professional-grade projects without much delay should consider enrolling in an After Effects course. 

If you prefer hands-on learning, After Effects courses at the American Graphics Institute are offered on a monthly basis, and are available both in person and online. All of AGI’s After Effects courses are led by live instructors who have backgrounds in broadcast, film, and digital media. While these courses vary in length, each takes less than a week to complete.

AGI’s introductory After Effects course is a two-day crash course in fundamentals, such as layer blending, animating masks, and working with alpha channels. For users who have prior experience working with visual effects and motion graphics, AGI also offers an advanced After Effects course that covers chroma keying, motion tracking, color correction, time remapping, and other techniques used by industry professionals.

While learning a complex software application like After Effects can be challenging, training resources offered by the American Graphics Institute can make the learning process faster and easier. Regardless of the method a new user chooses to learn After Effects, it is important to set realistic goals, celebrate small victories, and keep a positive attitude.

Why learn After Effects

Individuals with After Effects skills have a wider range of career opportunities available to them than video editors alone, and can take on complex projects in the fields of motion graphics and animation, going beyond basic video editing. Freelancers who offer After Effects services relating to motion graphics and animation can attract more clients, and charge higher rates. As a powerful post-production tool, After Effects is used in film, television, and video production for creating professional-quality visual effects and motion graphics. For those interested in learning After Effects, but who are not sure where to start, there are a number of available training resources, including free tutorials, as well as live classes available in-person or online through the American Graphics Institute.
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