Adobe After Effects
Level 2: Advanced Production Techniques

Our Level 2 Adobe After Effects training provides you with the right solution to help you go even farther with Adobe After Effects . Check our schedule for class dates and prices for Adobe After Effects training in Dallas, Texas or call us for private After Effects training at your site.

In this class students advance to learning advanced topics in Adobe After Effects through the completion of several projects. This Dallas, Texas course assumes the student is already using After Effects and is familiar with concepts such as creating compositions, key-framing, using nested compositions, applying animation presets, applying and modifying effects.

After Effects is offered on both Mac and Windows platforms. Indicate your preference when you register.

Topics covered in this two-day class include:

Review of new features added to After Effects Creative Cloud

• Copy and Link Properties between layers and compositions
• Greatly enhanced snapping options
• Using the Detail Preserving Upscale Effect
• Using the Mask Tracker
• Using the Refine Edges tool

Using effects to “create something from nothing” and introduction to ‘paper-doll’ animation and the puppet tool

• Create and animate a fire texture using a simple shape, an animated mask and effects
• Import and modify layered artwork for traditional keyframe animation using parenting - “paper-doll” animation
• Using parenting for complex animations
• Using the Puppet tool to animate a layer organically
• Using Shy Layers to control layer visibility

Using Adjustment Layers

• Understanding how Adjustment layers allow effects to be applied to multiple layers
• Adding a mask to an adjustment layer
• Using Adjustment layers in place of pre-composing

Track Mattes

• Understanding the function of a track matte
• Alpha and luma mattes
• Animating mattes and fill
• Understanding render order of effects
• Precomposing when using track mattes
• Using a matte to create a transition

3D Space

• Understanding Z-Space
• Using the universal camera tool
• Using Orientation vs. Rotation in 3D space
• Understanding local, view, and camera axis modes
• Moving in 3D space using multiple views
• Understanding camera settings
• Modifying camera view options

Lighting in 3D

• Understanding light types
• Using surface options
• Enabling shadows
• Modifying shadow settings
• Creating Gels and Gobos
• Using 3D lights to ‘re-light’ a scene

Cameras in 3D

• Understanding one and two node cameras
• Using different focal lengths
• Enabling depth of field
• Understanding focus distance
• Creating a ‘rack-focus’ effect
• Flying a 3D camera through Z-space

Nested Compositions (Precomposing)

• Understanding nested compositions
• Precomposing an existing layer
• Understanding rendering order
• Using collapse transformations
• Continuously rasterizing vector artwork

Light Effects

• Creating volumetric light using fractal noise
• Glows and similar effects
• Creating laser beams

Tracking and Stabilization

• Understanding tracking and stabilization
• Setting up a tracker
• Tracking an area over time
• Using the new Mask tracker effect
• Tracking techniques - optimizing footage for tracking using a pre-comp
• Using a tracker to blur part of an image
• Using a tracker to replace keyframes for effects
• Stabilizing footage