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After Effects Class - Introduction - Introduction rating: 5 stars from 172 reviewers
"Alex was awesome, his pace and explanation on every After Effects topic was excellent. His tone made the class exciting and made it very easy to pay attention all throughout the training. I'd highly recommend this class to any other student! I took the class online." - Olivia S
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After Effects Class - Introduction

After Effects Class - Introduction
After Effects Class - Introduction: Course Summary
Learn to use this comprehensive software tool to efficiently produce motion graphics and visual effects for film, video, multimedia, and the Web. This is the entry-level of our After Effects classes, and this two-day After Effects course will get you started using powerful tools for creating a wide range of visual and audio effects. Our classes are led by experienced motion graphics professionals who have backgrounds with broadcast, film, and online media production.
After Effects Class - Introduction: Dates and Times
This After Effects course is two full days in length, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day, with a one hour break for lunch mid-day.
This course is available individually or as part of these certificate programs:
After Effects Class - Introduction - Course Dates
All classes are led by a live instructor. Class times listed are Eastern time.
After Effects Class - Introduction
Nights
Tue, Jun 06 2023 to Thu, Jun 15 2023
Evening
June 6, 8, 13, 15
6:00pm - 9:00pm EST
After Effects Class - Introduction
Nights
Tue, Aug 01 2023 to Thu, Aug 10 2023
Evening Class
August 1, 3, 8, 10
6:00pm - 9:00pm EST
After Effects Class - Introduction: Course Topics
Digital Video basics in Adobe After Effects
- Analog versus digital
- Frame rate and resolution
- Storage space and system requirements
- Defining motion Graphics
Using the After Effects Interface
- Creating a project
- Understanding the After Effects panel system
- Organizing the Project Window
- Understanding the Composition Window
- Working in the Timeline Window
- RAM Preview vs. Standard Preview
Media Management
- Importing media files
- Importing Photoshop and Illustrator files
- Previewing footage
- Previewing stills and video
- Previewing audio
- Trimming a video clip
- Using the Interpret Footage dialog box
- Looping an audio or video file
Using Layers in Adobe After Effects
- Layer basics
- Layer options
- Creating a layer solid
- Understanding the layer switches
- Time stretch and frame blending
- Nesting compositions/layers using precomps
Using keyframes in Adobe After Effects
- Animation of layer properties using keyframes
- Using layer parenting to ease repetition
- Understanding motion paths
- Working with layer blending
- Controlling the speed of animations
- Easing principles
Using text in Adobe After Effects
- Creating text
- Character palette
- Paragraph palette
- Animating text with keyframes
- Animating text using presets
- Using Bridge with After Effects
Masking and alpha channels in Adobe After Effects
- Masking
- Animating masks
- Working with alpha channels
- Track matte
Using Effects in Adobe After Effects
- Effect basics
- Animating effects
Introduction to 3D in After Effects
- Exploring the 3D capabilities and limitations of After Effects
- Creating 3D layers
- Using multiple viewports
- Understanding 3D Transform properties
- Animating 3D layers
- Creating and using lights
Outputting in Adobe After Effects
- Rendering from a composition to various formats
- Understanding the Render Queue
- Adjusting render settings
- Duplicating jobs in the Render Queue
- Creating render templates
- Exporting a project file
- Rendering an individual frame
The introductory After Effects training course includes a copy the book developed by AGI instructors: After Effects Digital Classroom, published by AGI and Wiley provided in a digital book format. Because each course is adapted to the needs of each small group class, the topics may include additional materials not listed, or may vary slightly from those listed based upon the needs of each course section.
After Effects Class Prerequisites
We recommend you have the Adobe After Effects application before starting the class. You can purchase subscriptions to Creative Cloud or obtain a trial version from the Adobe website. If attending this class online, check system requirements to ensure you can run After Effects on your computer. Have After Effects installed before the start of class.
It is recommended that you have experience with basic Photoshop and Illustrator concepts, such as layers, vectors, and pixels.
After Effects Course - Introduction: Materials
You receive a copy of the best-selling Adobe After Effects Digital Classroom book, written by our instructors, provided in a digital format. Our team of instructors has created many official training guides and books for Adobe Systems, and you have an opportunity to learn from the authors, contributors, and editors to this well-respected After Effects training guide. Our After Effects tutorials provide examples of some of the training materials created by our team of instructors who teach all After Effects courses at American Graphics Institute.