Intro to Adobe After Effects – Motion Design for Beginners by Chris Zachary

Welcome to the Skillshare class dedicated to kickstarting your journey in designing and animating professional-quality motion graphics using Adobe After Effects. In this course, we’ll focus on creating your first impactful animation—a logo reveal—complete with seamless shape morphing and polished compositing.

My goal with this course is to equip you with the essential skills needed to embark on your Motion Design journey using After Effects.

Throughout the course, you’ll:

• Familiarize yourself with the After Effects interface, learning to navigate its tools efficiently.
• Dive into designing and animating using shape layers and mastering keyframes for smooth and engaging motion.
• Explore the power of the graph editor, a vital tool for refining animations and achieving professional-grade fluidity.
• Optimize your workflow by utilizing precomposing and null objects for enhanced efficiency.
• Elevate your animation’s style and finesse through the effective use of compositing effects.
• Master the export process to seamlessly share your animations with the world.

An important highlight of this course is the emphasis on utilizing THE GRAPH EDITOR to impart a professional, smooth, and refined quality to your animations. This is a crucial skill in the world of Motion Design, setting your work apart from amateur efforts.

We’re not delving into complex VFX or creating elaborate Instagram videos. Instead, we’re focusing on foundational After Effects techniques and workflows commonly used in professional motion design. These techniques are ones that I apply daily in my role as a Motion Design Director and Animator.

This class is perfect for beginners, requiring no prior experience with After Effects. If you’re eager to learn animation in After Effects and master a professional approach to crafting simple yet polished animations, I’m excited to have you on board.”

This description aims to offer a clear outline of the course, highlighting the specific skills and techniques that learners will acquire while emphasizing the professional industry applications of the knowledge being imparted.