After Effects is a powerful tool that can help enhance videos through the addition of animation and motion graphics. You can turn basic video introduction credits into expressive, creative and professional looking animations through the addition of motion graphics and visual effects (VFX) using After Effects. You can also use After Effects to enhance static PowerPoint and Keynote presentations through the addition of motion graphics, or build interactive prototypes for websites and apps, all with After Effects.
Because of its versatility, After Effects is frequently used by professionals in the film, television, and video production industries during the post-production process. Whether you are an aspiring filmmaker, video editor, motion graphics designer, or content creator looking to enhance your work, learning After Effects can be a game-changer.
Independent video producers that know After Effects have a better chance at securing high-budget jobs because this expanded skill set allows them to provide more services beyond simply capturing video and editing projects. Those who can create high-quality motion graphics have the ability to stand out amongst other filmmakers, and get noticed by potential clients, helping to secure more work.
There are many career paths for individuals who know After Effects, including employment as a motion graphics designer, film and video editor, special effects artist, or animator. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of film and video editors is projected to grow 12% by 2031, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
BLS also reports that employment of multimedia artists and animators is projected to grow 5% through 2031, which is similar to the average for all occupations. The employment growth for motion graphics artists is due to increasing demand for animation and visual effects in movies, video, television, video games, and online media. The latest Federal job data shows the median annual wage for multimedia artists and animators, which includes those who work in After Effects, is $78,790. The wages for motion graphics artists can vary widely based on the industry, job location, and level of experience. You can learn more about motion graphics and video editing jobs, wages, and career outlook of jobs that use After Effects at indeed.com and bls.gov.
Working in After Effects
Whether you want to create a simple intro for a YouTube channel or a complex animation for a short film, After Effects helps make projects more professional and engaging. After Effects provides the ability to create visual effects, compositing, 3D animation, and motion graphics to title sequences and within video. After Effects is complementary to Premiere Pro, which is used for video editing.
After Effects is a widely used post-production tool for video, and knowing how to effectively use it opens a wide range of career opportunities. Many video production companies and studios require their employees to have a working knowledge of After Effects in addition to video editing tools. Freelancers who are skilled with After Effects can also offer a broader range of services and attract more clients. Learning After Effects provides the opportunity to discover new job opportunities, including taking on post production work for other video editors as you can add motion graphics and visual effects.
The American Graphics Institute offers After Effects courses and training. You can learn from a team of digital video and motion graphics professionals who authored the After Effects Digital Classroom textbook and have been teaching After Effects courses for more than a decade. You can benefit from small-group public courses or private After Effects training workshops, while learning from a live instructor.
What is After Effects
After Effects is a motion graphics and animation software tool available on Mac and Windows computers. It is used for creating special effects, animation, and motion graphics. Projects created in After Effects can be exported and used for a variety of formats, including broadcast, TV, and social media. After Effects is widely used by professionals working in TV and film post-production.
After Effects is not a video editing software, and is primarily used to apply effects, such as animations or motion graphics, to video footage that has already been edited. The robust capabilities of After Effects makes it a useful complement to other video editing software tools such as Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro.
Resources for learning After Effects
Even experienced video editors and designers familiar with other Creative Cloud apps need help learning After Effects, as it has a steep learning curve. Fortunately there are in-person courses and online training available from schools such as American Graphics Institute. These options help you learn After Effects more quickly and provide an opportunity to learn from experienced professionals in the fields of broadcast, film, and digital media.
The American Graphics Institute (AGI) offers several After Effects courses for individuals and corporate groups, all of which are available in person or online, and led by live instructors. For wanting to master the basics of After Effects, the introductory After Effects course covers foundational motion graphics and visual effects skills, such as nesting compositions, working with layer blending, and controlling the speed of animations. The advanced After Effects course teaches more complex techniques like time remapping, frame blending, and color correction. The After Effects bootcamp provides a comprehensive program for learning After Effects from start to finish. If you’re uncertain of which course to take, the best After Effects courses provides a detailed guide on various training options.