After Effects Apprentice: 04 Layer Control
2h 57mIntermediate2016-11-08
Authors
Chris Meyer
Principle at Crish Design
Trish Meyer
Principle at Crish Design, an award-winning graphic design studio
Course details
In this installment of After Effects Apprentice, Chris Meyer focuses on ways to edit and enhance layers in After Effects CS4 through CC 2015. Through a series of Quizzler challenges and Idea Corner examples, Chris shares alternative ways to employ modes, sequencing, and adjustment layers, while special sidebar movies cover the subjects of creating seamless loops, animating effects points, understanding pixel aspect ratios, and employing Brainstorm to explore the variety of different looks that effects can create. The course also covers tricks for enhancing boring footage and tips for converting scans into moving sequences. Exercise files are included with the course.
Learning objectives
Sliding and trimming
Slip-editing and insert-editing layers
Employing blending modes to enhance layers and composites
Applying, modifying, and saving animation presets and layer styles
Using adjustment layers to affect multiple layers
Experimenting with effects using Brainstorm
Understanding pixel aspect ratios
Learning objectives
Sliding and trimming
Slip-editing and insert-editing layers
Employing blending modes to enhance layers and composites
Applying, modifying, and saving animation presets and layer styles
Using adjustment layers to affect multiple layers
Experimenting with effects using Brainstorm
Understanding pixel aspect ratios
Skills covered
Motion GraphicsAfter EffectsRenderingMotion Graphics and VFXVisualization and Real-TimeLimited SeriesAdobeAECProduct and ManufacturingAnimation and Illustration
Concepts
Introduction
- Overview
- Software versions and exercise files
Editing Layers in Time
- Stacking and sliding layers
- Trimming layers in the Timeline panel
- Trimming in the Layer panel
- Pre-trimming and inserting layers from the Footage panel
- Slip editing
Sequencing Layers
- Applying sequence layers to footage
- Using sequence layers with objects
- Example - Sequence layers and photographs
- Creating a new composition using sequence layers
- Understanding the importance of layer order
Looping, Stretching, and Frame Blending Footage
- Looping footage
- Importing a sequence of still images
- Using Time Stretch vs. altering frame rates
- Frame blending
Blending Modes
- Applying effects
- Overview of blending modes
- Combining modes and effects
- Why apply effects to slides
Effects and Presets
- Using the Effects & Presets panel
- Applying presets
- Working with behaviors
- Creating and saving presets
- Property links and effects
Layer Styles
- Importing Photoshop files with layer styles
- Applying layer styles inside After Effects
Adjustment Layers
- Using adjustment layers
- Working with adjustment layers and alpha channels
- Applying a filmic glow treatment
Quizzlers
- Quizzler challenges
- Quizzler solution one - Pyrotechnic composite
- Quizzler solution two - Sequenced fades
Idea Corner
- Idea corner one - Adjustment layer shapes
- Idea corner two - Creating a traveling glass bar
- Idea corner three - Creating sequences from filmstrips
Sidebars
- Looping footage by crossfading
- Working with effect point paths
- Brainstorming
- Working with pixel aspect ratios
- Higher quality upscaling