You have probably worked with some design or video editing applications to create imagery, either static or animated. However, you now need to create more sophisticated video clips than you have before, either for broadcast or for the Web. In this course, you'll use Adobe After Effects to create high quality 2-dimensional motion graphics by combining multiple media files and effects. This course is for those who wish to work in the video field or who currently works in the field, or an Adobe application user looking to expand his or her skills, looking to add effects to video projects. Some students may be mainly interested in creating video primarily for the Web, and others for film, but the majority are preparing more for work in broadcast video.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Create 2D compositions with sequenced media clips
• Create layers with animation
• Create transparencies and effects for media files
• Render video output for either broadcast or internet distribution

Prerequisite(s):

• To register for this course students must either take, or have the equivalent working knowledge of basic functions of their computer's operating system such as creating folders, launching programs, and working with windows. Students should also have basic Windows application skills, such as copying and pasting objects, formatting text, saving files, etc. Students typically have experience using a video editing application such as Adobe Premiere or Apple Final Cut Pro, as well as at least basic experience in graphics applications such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

The Career Center Course Curriculum for Adobe After Effects:

Lesson 1: Creating a Sequence of Media Clips

• Topic 1A: Create a Composition
• Topic 1B: Import Media
• Topic 1C: Create Layers from Footage Items
• Topic 1D: Position Layers in Time

Lesson 2: Animating Layers and Effects

• Topic 2A: Animate Transform Properties
• Topic 2B: Duplicate Properties
• Topic 2C: Control Appearance of Vector Graphics
• Topic 2D: Create Animated Text
• Topic 2E: Apply Effects
• Topic 2F: Apply Text Animation Presets
• Topic 2G: Set Blending Modes for Layers
• Topic 2H: Create Solids

Lesson 3: Sequencing Layers Precisely

• Topic 3A: Replace the Footage Within a Layer
• Topic 3B: Set a Layer's In and Out Points
• Topic 3C: Slip Edit Layers
• Topic 3D: Control a Layer's Playback Rate
• Topic 3E: Loop a Footage Item
• Topic 3F: Nest Compositions
• Topic 3G: Pre-compose Layers

Lesson 4: Creating Transparency

• Topic 4A: Assign Track Mattes
• Topic 4B: Create Masks

Lesson 5: Outputting Video Files

• Topic 5A: Create a Render Settings Template
• Topic 5B: Create an Output Module Template
• Topic 5C: Render a Composition
• Topic 5D: Export a Composition

Appendix A: Supported Media File Types

Appendix B: Methods for Navigating in Time

Appendix C: Color Blending Modes

Appendix D: Effect Types