Introduction to Adobe After Effects – Getting Started with Motion Graphics

After Effects is the leading professional motion graphics and visual effects software. Never used it before? Interested in getting started? With this class, you’ll learn your way around the program and the core functionality that matters to your work–now or in the future.

We’ll cover the fundamental building blocks of After Effects in a way that’s useful to every student and enthusiast, whether you’re interested in become full-time motion graphics designer, starting a new hobby, or even giving creative direction to someone else operating the program.

As a final project, we’ll create a lower 3rd, the animated banner that rolls over existing footage to display extra information to viewers, such as a speaker’s name or location.

Ready for After Effects? This class is the one to get you started!

First, we’ll cover the essential aspects of the software, including how to navigate the interface, understand the tools and windows of the program, and import footage.

Second, we’ll learn how to create assets such as text, shapes, masks, vector objects, and more to create visual interest and solid design.

Third, we’ll make those assets move. This will include key framing and an introduction to using expressions to automate simple animation properties.

Lastly, we’ll cover exporting your project. It’s important to share your work!

What You’ll Learn

Importing and Laying Out Assets. Bring in footage, trim, crop, and color correct. Lay out shapes and text using guidelines.
Animating Layers. Make your layers move and introduce some basic animations to properties over time.
Editing Text. Explore the fundamentals of text layers and animations.
Adding Embellishments. Blend elements and complete the look of graphics by adding secondary animation and stylistic effects like drop shadows, distortions, and glows.
Exporting. Take your animations out of the program and and explore settings for the next potential steps in your workflow.

What You’ll Make

You’ll learn how to create a lower 3rd to put over existing footage elements. A lower 3rd is the animated banner that rolls over existing footage to display extra information to viewers, such as who is speaking, what they are speaking about, are where they are. This is a great project for beginner students to get a feel for the software and how basic animations are made.