After Effects Guru: Mastering Cameras and Lights

3h 1mIntermediate2019-01-22

Authors

Nick Harauz

Certified Adobe, Apple, and Avid Trainer

Course details

After Effects offers a world of possibilities when it comes to motion graphics and VFX. With the click of a switch, you can turn layers into 3D and interact with cameras and lights. These indispensable tools allow you to change the look and feel of a scene, adding instant depth and production value. But before you dive in, there's some fundamentals you should master. In this course, Nick Harauz teaches the essentials of working with cameras and lights in After Effects CC. Learn how to stay grounded in infinite space, navigate in viewports, and work with multiple cameras. Discover how to leverage scripts and expressions for control and efficiency, and create three-point lighting setups to add dimension and richness to your scenes. Plus, get real-world examples of cameras and lights in a professional mograph design.

Learning objectives
Making layers 3D
Comparing one- and two-node cameras
Moving and animating cameras
Using depth of field commands
Using ambient, point, parallel, and spot lights
Creating shadows
Cutting between multiple cameras
Photo projection mapping
Using expressions for cameras and lights
Leveraging useful plugins

Skills covered

Motion GraphicsAfter EffectsRenderingMotion Graphics and VFXVisualization and Real-TimeAdobeAECProduct and ManufacturingAnimation and IllustrationDeep Dive (X:Y)

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Mastering lights and cameras when animating effects in After Effects
02 - What you should know before watching this course

1. The Basics of Cameras

03 - Making layers 3D
04 - Depth without cameras (multi-planing)
05 - A quick camera primer
06 - One node vs two node cameras
07 - Choosing different lenses
08 - Working with orthographic views
09 - Adjusting custom views and framing layers
10 - Tips for moving cameras
11 - Creating an orbit null with scripts
12 - Basic tips for camera animation
13 - Adjusting camera motion paths
14 - Working with depth of field
15 - Using depth of field commands

2. The Basics of Lighting

16 - Working with ambient and point lights
17 - Working with parallel and spot lights
18 - Creating a three-point lighting setup
19 - Creating shadows
20 - Playing with a layer's material options
21 - Using lighting in the C4D renderer

3. Intermediate and Advanced Camera and Lighting Techniques

22 - Cutting between multiple cameras
23 - Animating a camera between multiple scenes
24 - Photo projection mapping
25 - Cameras and 3D photos
26 - Helpful expressions for cameras
27 - Helpful expressions for lights
28 - Volumetric lighting
29 - Mimicking camera movement from the real world
30 - Useful plugins for camera animation
31 - Using cameras with C4D Lite
32 - Using After Effects cameras in VR production

Conclusion

33 - Next steps