Lesson 1: Introduction to After Effects

CMM204CMM204 – Digital Media Effects– Digital Media Effects

Chapter ObjectivesChapter Objectives

• Able to understand compositions and its features

• Able to identify the different panels and frames

• Able to organize panels• Able to save custom workspaces

Topics to be coveredTopics to be covered

• Introduction• Compositions and its features• Components of an application window• Overview of the tools panel• Project panel and its features• Adobe Bridge• Re-sizing frames and panels• Re-Organizing panels• Opening new panels• Workspaces

After EffectsAfter Effects

• Digital motion graphics and compositing software

• Main purpose is for film and video post-production

IntroductionIntroduction

• Source materials have to be imported in– Importing does not copy the actual source

but creates a link to the source

• Source material is known as footage– Audio– Video– Still image

• After Effects project file will have a file extension .aep

Compositions and its featuresCompositions and its features

• Compositions is a major building block

• Known as comp for short• Layers are footage items that are

added to a comp– Solids– Text– Shapes

Compositions and its featuresCompositions and its features

• The same footage item can be used multiple times and in multiple compositions in the same comp

• Comps are live, you can go back and alter any settings

• Comps are non-destructive

Components of an application windowComponents of an application window

• Contains panels and frames– Tools– Project– Composition– Timeline– Audio– Info– Controls

Overview of the tool panelOverview of the tool panel

• Strip along the application window• Contains a number of icons• Most tools have popup menu which

allows you to choose sub tools• Some tools automatically open

related panels when you select them

Project panel and its featuresProject panel and its features

• Contains all the footages and comps• Displays info in a series of columns

(eg. File type, size and location)• Able to create folders for house-

keeping purposes

Importing footages into a projectImporting footages into a project

• File > Import > File or Ctrl+I• Able to import file as single or

multiple files• You can also import files as a folder

Footage PanelFootage Panel

• Footage items always open in the footage panel

• Able to study the footage before deciding to use it in your comp

Adobe BridgeAdobe Bridge

• An application that is shared by many Adobe programs

• Helps to search, preview and rank content

• Gives easy access to the template projects and animations presets and other assets such as Adobe Stock Photos

Resizing Frames and PanelsResizing Frames and Panels

• When you select a panel a yellow outline will appear after which you can resize it

• Tabs displays the comp names in the timeline panel

Re-OrganizingRe-Organizing

• Allows for re-organizing of panels to create custom workspace

• You can drag panels and drop them to your desired locations

Opening New PanelsOpening New Panels

• By Default After effects only opens a few panels

• You can open more using the window menu

WorkspacesWorkspaces

• After organizing the panels and frames to your liking you have to save the workspace

• Click on the workspace pop-up and select new and name the workspace

• After saving, if you were to change anything accidently, you can always reset the workspace to its original form

Thank You!Thank You!