Learning any new piece of software can be as frustrating as it is rewarding – especially if you are unfamiliar with how it works or what a book is trying to tell you to do. Although we know you’re probably anxious to jump right in, please take a few moments to read these introductions – we promise they will help reduce your stress level: • This Getting Started section explains how to use this book and its associated files.
• The following Pre-Roll section will help familiarize you with the lay of the land inside After Effects including the user interface, plus explain how projects are structured.
In a program as broad as After Effects, there are features you will use almost every day, and those you may use only once a year or less. The exercises in this book are designed to familiarize you with the core tools and features in After Effects (plus a few important “gotchas”), preparing you for many of the real-world tasks you will encounter.
When you’re ready to move to the next level, we have another book for you: Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects (“CMG” for short). Features covered in one or two pages here get their own sections or entire chapters in CMG – so it’s definitely your next step. Additionally, we create online training that is featured at Lynda.com; if you are not already a member, go to www.lynda.com/go/chrisandtrish for a free 7-day pass and check it out.
Lesson 1 – Basic Animation .
Lesson 2 – Advanced Animation
Lesson 3 – Layer Control
Lesson 4 – Creating Transparency
Lesson 5 – Type and Music
Lesson 6 – Parenting and Nesting
Lesson 7 – Expressions and Time Games
Lesson 8 – 3D Space
Lesson 9 – Track and Key .
Lesson 10 – Paint and Puppet
Lesson 11 – Shape Layers
Lesson 12 – Final Project