Syllabus Fall 2014
After Effects (COMD 411-01)
Thur 6:30 - 9:20pm
Engineering Build, Room 206
INSTRUCTOR
Yuliya Parshina-Kottas
yparshin@pratt.edu | 1-646-733-6502 | Skype: yuliya.parshina
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this class we will cover the basics of Adobe After Effects and dive into more complex motion graphics techniques. You will develop an understanding of timing, rhythm and composition, learn to create unique effects and apply them with taste, master various methods of animating text and manipulating videos, explore After Effects 3d tools, and watch a lot of animation!
ONLINE RESOURCES
www.videocopilot.net
www.adobe.com/support/aftereffects
www.motionographer.com
www.lynda.com (paid subscription) lynda.com
PRINT RESOURCES
Books are not required for the class, but are a great resource to keep in mind
After Effects Apprentice: Real World Skills for the Aspiring Motion Graphics Artist (Chris & Trish Meyer)
Adobe After Effects CC Classroom in a Book (Adobe Creative Team)
Motion Graphic Design: Applied History and Aesthetics (Jon Krasner)
The History of Motion Graphics (Michael Betancourt)
REQUIREMENTS
External hard drive
You must own an external hard drive large enough to contain all your projects. Bring it to every class with your latest work.
Vimeo account
If you havenʼt already, please sign up for a free Vimeo account (www.vimeo.com). You will upload all your projects to Vimeo and send me the links.
GRADING
Weekly projects = 70%
Final project = 15%
Attendance & Participation = 15%
TUTORING
If you are having trouble with any aspect of After Effects or related software, please let me know ASAP and I will arrange an in-person or online tutoring session.
Summary
WEEK 1
Introductions and class overview
Lesson: After Effects basics
- Project organization
- Interface: Project, Composition, Timeline, Tools and Preview windows
- Composition settings: resolution, aspect ratio, frame rate, duration
- Understanding different formats for various project types
- Importing media: still images, video, audio
- Reloading media
- Working with layers on a timeline: duplicating, cutting/pasting, duration
- Understanding frames
- Transform properties: anchor point, position, scale, rotation, opacity
- Using audio waveforms as a rhythm guide
- Rendering
WEEK 2
Troubleshooting /reloading media
Lesson: Animating—theory and keyframes
- Working with keyframes
- Motion path
- Auto-orient
- Motion theory
- Types of keyframes: linear, ease in-out/easy ease, hold, rove Working with the graph editor
- Parenting: layers, null objects
- Planning your animation—creating thumbnail sketches and prepping a soundtrack
WEEK 3
Lesson: Imported and AE native media
- Importing Photoshop layers
- Bitmaps vs. Vectors: Continuously Rasterize
- Importing Illustrator layers
- Solid layers
- Masks
- Shape Layers
Lesson: Precomposing and Nesting
- Precomposing/nesting
- Collapse transformations
- Keeping comps organized
WEEK 4
Lesson: Digital Puppetry
Rigging a basic character
Animation techniques
WEEK 5
Lesson: Type (part 1)
- Importing text from Photoshop and Illustrator
- Converting to editable text
- Creating text in After Effects
- Character and paragraph tools
- Manual text animation: text guides; animating back to front
WEEK 6
Lesson: Type (part 2)
- Animating source text
- Animating text with paths
- Text animators
WEEK 7
Lesson: 3D Layers (part 1)
- 3D layers: z dimension in transform properties
- Using 3D cameras
- Pre-comping/nesting with 3D layers
- Using 3D lights
- Casting shadows
- Material options
WEEK 8
Lesson: 3D Layers (part 2)
- Bringing 2D images to life using 3D layers
- Projecting
WEEK 9
Lesson: Blending modes—creating manual effects
Using and combining blending modes
Working with organic materials
Collapsing transformations and blending modes
Lesson: Working with video footage
Import settings in detail (interpret footage)
Manipulating speed: time stretch, time reverse, time remapping
WEEK 10
Lesson: Effects
Overview of all effects categories
Applying effects: working with adjustment layers
Effect controls/setting keyframes
WEEK 11
Lesson: Masking with Alpha and Luma
Blending modes: Stencil and Silhouette
Track Mattes
Lesson: Organic effects—Ink, smoke, spatter
Videos as FX and textures
Building a transition
Creating spatter using AE generated effects
Creating ink bleeds using AE generated effects
WEEK 12
Lesson: Rotoscoping
Pen tool
Roto brush tool
Rotoscoping a human figure
Lesson: Keying
Lesson: Motion tracking / Stabilizing
WEEK 13
Lesson: AE scripting basics
Drive transforms, Cycle animation, Wiggle, and much more!
WEEK 14
Final Presentations
All projects are due!
WEEK 15
Survey
