After Effects 2020 Essential Training: The Basics

Explore basic techniques for using After Effects 2020, the flagship motion graphics and compositing application from Adobe.

In a course designed to inform and inspire beginners, instructor Mark Christiansen covers the basics of Adobe After Effects 2020. Mark starts by describing the core terminology of film, video, and animation before moving on to an exploration of the After Effects interface. Next, he covers fundamentals of working in After Effects: building compositions, working with layers, animating, adding effects, designing in 3D, and rendering. Mark employs these techniques to walk through a sample project, demonstrating how everything comes together in an actual workflow.

Introduction

• Amazing things happen in Adobe After Effects
• The language of After Effects
• The language of motion graphics and effects
• What is After Effects for?
• Using the exercise files and relinking footage

1. Foundations

• The six foundations of After Effects
• Exploring the After Effects user interface
• Begin with compositions
• Compositing with layers
• Animating with the timeline
• Adding effects to a layer
• Basics of 3D in After Effects
• Finishing with rendering

2. Creating a Simple Animation

• Importing a Premiere Pro sequence
• Customizing text
• Putting text in motion
• Matching a moving camera
• Distorting a layer
• Animating an Illustrator logo
• Adding dimension to a design

Conclusion

• Many ways to learn After Effects