Notice also, as I slide over different layers we can see other elements in our composition. And notice when I do that now the image has gone out of my composition. I'll go ahead and say Delete. Now I have to say getting in the habit of keeping the Project panel well organized is a very good way to keep your creative life pain-free as you continue on in your journey as an After Effects artist. Now in this project I have already organized everything into folders. In a course designed to inform and inspire beginners, instructor Mark Christiansen covers the basics of Adobe After Effects 2020. How to Use After Effects? Your Composition Window sits in the very center, which is essentially a ‘live view’ of what’s happening as you make edits. Double-click in an empty area of the Project panel to automatically open the Import dialog box without having to go to the menu bar. Here's a great video on the using our source files with After Effects! The first one I want to Import is the SummerCamp_Badge Illustrator file. We will also take a look at depth of field and a 3D particle system. Next, he covers fundamentals of working in After Effects: building compositions, working with layers, animating, adding effects, designing in 3D, and rendering. When the Open panel pops up navigate to your project files. So, if you are not sure what something is, just hover over top of it. Imported files are not embedded in your After Effects Project. Now, you may have noticed whenever you click on an object you have made it selected. So, I'm going to open up the Assets folder and in here we'll go ahead and import a couple of different assets. If I click on this Road Trip.MOV video file sure enough there's a preview in my Project panel. Adobe After Effects CC Classroom in a Book contains 14 lessons that cover the basics, providing countless tips and techniques to help you become more productive with the program. And when I let go now you'll notice it's hidden under all the other layers, so I can't see it. The first time you launch the application you'll notice the Start screen and working from the top down it's divided up into two sections, the Work section and the Learn section. See the white line under the Footage panel this is letting me preview in the Footage panel. To add this to a folder I'll just click and drag down to the New Folder button and here we can call this Footage. your media files, footage, and images etc on the left. And in this video, we will be focusing on the main elements of the interface to get you up and running quickly. So, Layer 1 is selected, when I double clicked on the composition that is selected. And I'll call this images and press Return. Browse the latest Adobe After Effects tutorials, video tutorials, hands-on projects, and more. And not only has that file been imported but I've also got a composition that matches those settings and it's already created the first layer in the composition. To get started we're going to import a couple of different kinds of files. After Effect software is used for creating compositions, Motion graphics and gives visual effect to any footage. This panel is the Project panel and I know that because its name in the upper left corner and to the right of the name you will see three lines. Getting Started. Take some of the basic After Effects fundamentals from the list above, and apply them to your titles, lower-thirds, and logos as you learn how to animate and smooth out text. Now the Project panel is where you will import and organize all the elements you will be using to build your After Effects projects. While many graphics can be created in After Effects there will be plenty of times when you'll want to animate files created in other applications like Photoshop files or Illustrator files, you know, photographs and video files. Let’s take a look at how the interface of After Effects is designed so you can begin to get comfortable navigating in the application. So, if I double click on that icon, notice now the Timeline is active and the Timeline and the Composition panel which is right here in the middle of the interface work together in conjunction. Now, it's important to note there are many different panels, buttons, switches and options to the interface. Now, it's really important that you clear out this field when you're done searching for things so that you can see everything back in the Project panel when you're finished. Cover image via “Tutorial: Getting Started with Content-Aware Fill in After Effects.”. After Effects Basics Part 1: Using the Rigid Mask Tracker - L6623a; Transforming 2D Design to 3D Animation in After Effects - S6608; After Effects Basics Part 2: Using Content-Aware Fill for Video - L6623b; After Effects Basics Part 3: Using 3D Camera Tracker - L6623c ★ After Effects basics VFX tutorial. You can press that multiple times to go back multiple steps. And since both files were selected when I let go they'll both end up in the folder. In a course designed to inform and inspire beginners, instructor Mark Christiansen covers the basics of Adobe After Effects 2021. And just press the Spacebar to stop playback. And notice even though I'm using caps for some and lower for others it really doesn't change how things are organized other than just the fact that they are capitalized or lowercase. This software is also a part of Adobe system’s creative Cloud app and maintained by Adobe system. In this video we're going to focus on how to keep things organized specifically in the Project panel. If you’re still hungry for more After Effects learning, tutorials, and tricks, check out these articles. Now I don't want to use any of these, so I'll go ahead and just click outside of that menu to hide it. After Effects Basics Follow. Let’s cover the basics so that you understand how to navigate the application. Now you may have noticed we are working in kind of a circle, starting with the Project panel, then to the Timeline, then the Composition panel, now I am on the right side in the Info panel and if we come all the way back up to the start of our circle here in the upper left area we have the Toolbar. So, when you are working in After Effects it's very important that you pay close attention to where you are clicking and what is selected because there will be different Menu options made available depending on which panel or property is currently active. https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/how-to/getting-started-after-effects.html The tools in After Effects make it very easy to build video compositions, add video effects and motion graphics … To know exactly what frame you are on, you want to look in the lower left corner of the Composition panel, here, this will tell you or in the upper left corner of the Timeline itself. I'll click here and you notice these are my project files. I will show you how to apply track mattes to layers and gain detailed control over the opacity of your layers. The Start screen contains a list of previously opened projects. Get familiar with the workspace and how to create and save your work. And that gives me a list of the recent projects that I've opened. In this tutorial we will cover the basics of 3D in After Effects. So, let's do some further investigation by right-clicking on the video file and choose Reveal in Explorer if you're on Windows or Reveal in Finder if you're on the Mac. So, for those looking to take these first steps into really understanding how After Effects works — and for those who are ready to truly unlock the power of Adobe’s flagship motion effects platform — here are seven in-depth tutorials to teach you the basics and hone your skills. 38:11. Selecting a region changes the language and/or content on Adobe.com. Tylegn May 14, 2020 21:58. The next column over is Labels. 250+ Elements for Influencers and Vloggers. I find it interesting that the JPEGs and the Vector Art have the exact same label color. So here I'll go to Columns and notice I could set up any kind of information I'd like to organize things by, like the In Point or the Out Point or the overall Duration of the file. In the Open dialog box let's look at our project files. One way to really showcase some added value is by creating your own titles with even the most basic of compositing techniques. This is especially helpful when combined with techniques from the tutorial above, and can be great for creating and using your own custom lower thirds. Now they both have switched to Orange and notice the order has changed because we still have things organized according to the Label column. By Kyle Hamrick. What you learned: Organize assets in the Project panel. Most versions of After Effects operate with the same basic interface layout from the moment you launch the application. Post questions and get answers from experts. You have your Project Files i.e. And that will load up a preview here on the top of my Project panel and it also shows me some important settings about the format of that file itself. So, in the Menu bar, I am going to go to Window, Workspace and make sure I am set to the Standard workspace. If you need to learn Adobe After Effects for the first time, it helps to break the program down to the basics. So, if I click on the Label column here notice now the files are organized according to their label colors. One of the initial challenges with After Effects is understanding the difference between Projects and Compositions. I could use drag and drop if I had an Explorer window or a Finder window and I could drop things directly into the Project panel. This is a very interesting graphics … Over on the right side you basically have your Effects and at the very bottom of your screen you’ll see your Timeline. Another way to Import is to double click in the Project panel. Well, try out this one on how to animate with trim paths! If you don't have these project files you can feel free to follow along using your own Assets. If you’re looking to try out something a little more advanced and outstanding, this tutorial by Peter McKinnon can show how to create the viral “float yourself” effect. To determine how the elements are laid out within the interface we need to first set our workspace. In this lesson, you will get familiar with After Effects Interface and Shape Layers structure and, of course, create your first animation. Experience the best TheBeat has to offer. and do your research into how to master the programs, Tutorial: Getting Started with Content-Aware Fill in After Effects, How to Animate via Audio Frequencies in Adobe After Effects, 7 Useful Ctrl and Cmd Key Shortcuts in Adobe After Effects, How to Create a Mid-’90s DV Camcorder Look in After Effects, Exporting Video With An Alpha Channel for Transparency in After Effects, 5 Tips for Starting Your Own TikTok Channel in 2021, Documentary Tips for Filming Undercover and Undetected, Breaking Down Quentin Tarantino’s Iconic Trunk Shot, An Interview with “Assassins” Cinematographer John Benam, Installing the After Effects 8-Bit Game Preset. For many video editors and aspiring visual effects artists, the allure of learning After Effects skills comes from a desire to create some of those mind-bending, jaw-dropping visuals you often see online and on social media. Now the last thing you might want to do is delete files, like let's say there is an image that you're not working with anymore, well here I'll open the images folder and I'll click on the Camper_Mtns.jpg and drag it down not to the New Folder icon but over here to the Trash icon. Adobe After Effects Basics Tutorial 5/8 – Track Mattes. When I clicked in the Timeline that panel is active. After you’ve progressed beyond AE basic training, you should check out all of the awesome tutorials found on Video Copilot’s website. Now as you can see in this After Effects project, I've got quite a lot of things going on. I don't need to Create a Composition and I'll go ahead and just click the Import button. And now that file has been brought into the Project panel and notice it's automatically selected and I'm getting a preview over a black background here in the Project panel. So, if I click once in the Search area and start to type the word camp, any footage that has the word ‘cam’ in it is going to be popped up. Adobe MAX 2020 may be over, but we've got videos from some amazing speakers to keep that inspiration going through the holidays . I am going to be working in a project I have already built but please feel free to follow along using any After Effects project. I teach digital marketing and even give consultation to businesses to help them grow with digital tools. And as you can see I've got video files in there, I've got graphics in there, let's take a closer look and figure out where these files actually are. So, I'd like to change the color for the labels for each one of these JPEG files. If you click on any one of these files you'll get information at the top of the Project panel showing you a little bit about that file. When you have multiple files selected, like I have here in the Project panel, notice you can manipulate those files at the same time with one click like how we change the label color. Follow along with the tutorial above, and be sure to download the free project file here. So, I am going to go down to the bottom folder where it says Video Footage, and to look in that folder I will click the triangle to the left of the folder and then I will just click once on the top video clip. Seems easy, isn't it? You can follow the book from start to finish or choose only those lessons that interest you. You can use this effect for any of the following: In this tutorial by Michael Tierney, we go over some of the very basic and easy ways to work with motion tracking in After Effects. I'll click on the first one, hold down Shift and click on the next one and they're both selected. The Toolbar allows you to add different elements to your projects, for example, I could add a Rectangle into here or I could add Cameras, I could add Paint Brush Strokes, you get the general idea. What you learned: Import media into a project. Dragging an element in the Project panel down to the trash icon will delete the file from the project. Click once in the Project panel to make it active and I know it's the Project panel because it says Project in the upper left-hand corner. So, if I didn't want to do that I can just press Ctrl + Z on Windows or Command + Z on the Mac to undo but now you know how to actually delete files in your Project panel. And it’s not as tricky as you might think. In looking at the different files we have in the Project panel you'll notice we have a bunch of different kinds of files. In the meantime, even this simple technique is a great way to round out your After Effects skills, and it can really up the value of your projects and is great to add to client videos. So, I'll click on that and drag it down to the New Folder button and here I can go ahead and name this Vectors. Beyond the Basics of Adobe After Effects: Intermediate Skills - S6604 Kyle Hamrick is an Emmy-winning motion designer, video editor and software trainer. However, as you continue to grow — and do your research into how to master the programs — you quickly learn that video editing using After Effects skills can actually be pretty straightforward and fun. Looking for a fun and simple tutorial to dive into while working with After Effects? This tutorial goes over the following eight tools: You can follow along with this full write-up here. Here are some tutorials that teach all the basic knowledge you’ll need for working with the program. The search field in the Project panel can help you find specific assets. The way I have organized things on my hard drive I created a folder called Assets and anything that I thought I was going to import into any of these After Effects projects, I put in the Assets folder. If we click directly on the Type column you get the idea it's organized according to Type. All right, so I used a lot of what you might call buzzwords in those previous sentences. It's always a good idea to keep things organized whenever you're working in After Effects. This is the panel where you will import and organize all the assets that you'll be using in your different After Effects projects. Read up on the full step-by-step article here. When you build graphic builds like this they'll be built in something called a Composition which is represented here in the Composition panel and down here in the Timeline. In this 2 part tutorial we will take a basic to advanced look at creating titles in After Effects. And I'll double click on the Project panel one more time to make that panel smaller again. I was working with an After Effects template for my music video, and I needed to make some changes. Ranging from beginner to advanced, these tutorials provide basics, new … So, if I want to select a layer I can just click once on that layer and I know it's selected because it's bright white. Then, once you think you have everything figured out, you’re introduced to the powerful behemoth of digital video effects, motion graphics, and compositing that is Adobe After Effects. With this tutorial, you’ll have a complete understanding of how to use After Effects and start improving your own videos in no time. When first getting started in the world of video editing, NLE editors like Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro can seem like the be-all-end-all of video editing knowledge. Now usually when I get started I click on the New Project... button. In this accessible and simple beginner’s guide video tutorial, you can learn some of the basic techniques of working with masking and Roto Brush tools for some simple rotoscoping tricks. Labels assigns colors to specific kinds of files. Now obviously if you've never opened an After Effects project before you probably won't have anything in your list. Notice I have four different After Effects project files and if you come over here on the right-hand side you'll notice under the Size that none of them are particularly large. Now I want you to come to the upper left portion of the interface and click once to make sure this panel is active. So grateful for this basic course! Now, let's organize the video file. If we click on that it'll organize itself from A to Z or Z to A. Notice the new Folder is already highlighted so I can just go ahead and name it. Missing some After Effects skills? But another great way is to use the New Composition From Footage button because I want to import some video footage and create a composition from that footage. So, I'll click on the New Composition From Footage button and you guess that I'm going to find a video clip, so I'll click once on this Road Trip-Camp MP4 File and I'll click Import. The best way to think about this book is as a foundational piece to building your knowledge base and your craft. Another great tool available in After Effects that, once you get to more advanced effects, you will use a lot of are track mattes. Mark starts by describing the core terminology of film, video, and animation before moving on to an exploration of the After Effects interface. Sample files to practice with (ZIP, 117 MB), Southeast Asia (Includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) - English, الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا - اللغة العربية. 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