After Effects Apprentice: 14 Shape Layers
2h 20mIntermediate2016-11-11
Authors
Chris Meyer
Principle at Crish Design
Trish Meyer
Principle at Crish Design, an award-winning graphic design studio
Course details
In this course, author Chris Meyer shows how to create and animate vector-based artwork directly inside Adobe After Effects. The course covers the ins and outs of working with shape layers, including creating shape paths, applying shape effects, and reordering shape operators. The course also contains a series of exercises on creating common motion graphics elements using shape layers.
Learning objectives
Drawing parametric shapes and pen paths
Creating multiple shape groups
Exploring Wiggle Paths and the Wiggle Transform effect
Defining gradient fills
Creating a swarm
Blending multiple shapes into a texture
Crafting and animating dotted and dashed lines
Combining effects, layer styles, expressions, and the Brainstorm tool with shape layers
Showing tips for stylizing sidebars
Learning objectives
Drawing parametric shapes and pen paths
Creating multiple shape groups
Exploring Wiggle Paths and the Wiggle Transform effect
Defining gradient fills
Creating a swarm
Blending multiple shapes into a texture
Crafting and animating dotted and dashed lines
Combining effects, layer styles, expressions, and the Brainstorm tool with shape layers
Showing tips for stylizing sidebars
Skills covered
Motion GraphicsAfter EffectsRenderingMotion Graphics and VFXVisualization and Real-TimeLimited SeriesAdobeAECProduct and ManufacturingAnimation and Illustration
Concepts
Introduction
- Welcome
- Software versions and exercise files
Drawing Shapes
- Shape tool overview
- Drawing parametric shapes
- Drawing pen paths
- Convert to Bezier paths
Multiple Shape Paths
- Creating multiple shape groups
- Creating multiple paths in the same group
- Creating compound paths
Shape Effects
- Exploring shape effects
- Wiggle Paths
- Repeater
- Wiggle Transform
- Combining Wiggle Transform with the Repeater
Crosshair Exercise
- Editing gradients
- Creating open paths
Abstract Texture Exercise
- Automatic animation
- Creating a swarm
- Blending multiple shapes into a texture
Map Path Exercise
- Creating a RotoBezier path
- Dashes and gaps
- Animating a line
Animated Logo Exercise
- Using the Repeater to create an end pose
- Using Brainstorm to create an animation
Ray-Traced 3D and Shapes (CS6 only)
- Geometry options (new in CS6)
- Material options (new in CS6)
- Animating a 3D shape (new in CS6)
Sidebars
- Tips for stylized bars
- Additional shape presets
- Convert vector layers to shapes (new in CS6)
- Convert type to shape layers