After Effects CS4 Beyond the Basics Training DVD

1. Introduction

• Welcome Demo
• Using the exercise files
• Detonation films and Greenlayers.com Demo

2. Efficiency-Increasing Tips and Tricks

• Using this chapter Demo
• Two methods for selecting layers quickly Demo
• Finding a lost CTI Demo
• Jumping to the in/out point of layers Demo
• Making the work area match layer duration Demo
• Making the work area the size of multiple layers Demo
• Jumping to the beginning or end of the work area Demo
• Trimming a comp to the work area Demo
• Visually adjusting the pixel size of a comp Demo
• Filling time gaps between footage Demo
• Isolating layers Demo
• Cleaning up the Timeline panel Demo

3. Color Correction

• Creating a reference monitor Demo
• Performing instant color correction Demo
• Adjusting hue and saturation Demo
• Using levels to adjust brightness Demo
• Using levels with individual channels Demo
• Understanding curves Demo
• Working with the Info panel Demo
• A few "rules" about color correction Demo
• Using color balance Demo
• Creating a "day for night" effect
• About bit depth
• Using HDR/32-bit float point color
• Ensuring that comps have video-safe color

4. Color Correction in Camera Raw

• Why use Camera Raw with After Effects?
• Adjusting luminance in Camera Raw
• Adjusting color in Camera Raw
• Editing images using Camera Raw
• Understanding Camera Raw "sidecar" files

5. Blending Layers and Compositing

• Using lights to aid compositing
• Working with adjustment layers
• Using adjustment layers in compositing
• Using motion and cameras in compositing
• Working with blend modes
• Blending objects with a black background
• Blending objects with a white background
• Blending textures with blend modes
• Comparing layers and frames with Difference
• Changing the color of an object

6. Advanced Effects

• Controlling effects with other layers
• Bringing photos to life with displacement
• Understanding the importance of effect order
• Creating animation presets

7. Making Particles

• What are particles?
• Creating sparkles with CC Particle Systems II
• Creating snow with Foam
• Creating a cyclone with Particle Playground

8. Creating Common Motion Graphics Elements

• Creating staggered video with photos
• Creating ink spatter
• Creating watery textures
• Creating clouds and fog
• Looping animated textures
• Creating the slow motion matrix effect
• Turning a layer into 3D cards
• Creating a lightsaber
• Making "whips" of light
• Making silhouettes in After Effects
• Creating a background of animated bars
• Creating an "army"

9. Advanced Animation

• Adjusting speed in the Graph Editor
• Adjusting value in the Graph Editor
• Animating with the puppet tools
• Extending and shortening entire animations
• Creating temporarily roving keyframes

10. The Principles of Animation

• Introducing this chapter
• Creating anticipation
• Creating follow-through
• Being conscious of object weight
• Squashing and stretching objects
• Exaggerating animation
• Creating smooth arcs

11. Working with Photoshop Files

• The importance of using Photoshop
• Setting up new PSD files for After Effects
• Importing at document size vs. layer size
• Converting layer styles
• Making Photoshop text editable
• Importing Vanishing Point files
• Working with Live 3D objects from Photoshop
• Creating precomps in Photoshop
• Creating shape layers from Photoshop shapes
• Exporting After Effects frames as layered Photoshop files

12. Project: Animating Elements from a Photo

• Setting up the project
• Cutting out the pieces
• Filling in the holes
• Creating displacement maps
• Importing the PSD into After Effects
• Displacing the layers
• Reloading altered footage
• Positioning layers in 3D
• Using a null object
• Animating the layers
• Enhancing color

13. Advanced 3D

• Creating depth of field
• Creating stained glass shadows
• Changing an object's material type
• Orienting objects to a camera
• Creating a virtual set
• Locating missing 3D layers
• Working in 3D with precomps
• Faking 3D volume
• Changing the camera lens

14. Mastering Masks and Shape Layers

• Blending masks with mask modes
• Creating Bezier paths with the Pen tool
• Adjusting handles and corner points
• Creating shape layers from custom shapes
• Using Auto-trace to create masks
• Working with RotoBezier paths
• "Tweening" mask shapes
• Advanced mask shape animation
• Converting motion paths to masks
• Creating a mask instantly

15. Playing with Time

• Stretching time
• Making smooth slow-motion shots
• Creating an echo effect
• Creating a "suspended time" effect

16. Intermediate Expressions

• Understanding important expressions concepts
• Working with expression syntax
• Using an array
• Using variables
• Creating randomness with the wiggle expression
• Creating randomness with the random expression
• Using the index expression
• Using the time expression
• Using Expression Controls effects
• Using resources for expressions and scripting

17. Introducing Mocha

• Setting up a new Mocha project
• Tracking footage elements
• Creating the tracking surface
• Proofing the track with the grid
• Using Mocha data in After Effects

18. Mastering Output

• Creating Render Queue templates
• Rendering with OpenGL
• Outputting an alpha channel
• Shortening render times

19. Optimizing and Tweaking After Effects

• Correctly interpreting footage
• Disabling previews temporarily
• Pre-rendering layers
• Using proxies to work faster
• Using a smaller preview area
• Understanding render order
• Replacing layers while maintaining adjustments
• Using the Flowchart
• Transferring AE projects to another machine
• Freeing system resources

Conclusion

• Goodbye