Mesmerize: Create Mind-Bending GIFs with After Effects and Photoshop

In this class we’re going to learn about looping mesmerizing animations, the theory behind creating them, and how to create them using Adobe After Effects and Photoshop. You’ll not only learn to create seamlessly looping animations, but you’ll learn how to to make 1 or 2 second GIFs feel like they last forever. We’ll discuss how to create illusions; learn how to animate with both After Effects and Photoshop; and even learn how to code a bit inside After Effects.

By the end of the class we’ll have created some really short animations that, once looped, will feel like they could be watched for hours. It’s not just about GIFs, but really about mesmerizing animation. It’ll be a great way to get into motion graphics and animation as well.

Experience with the Adobe apps will help you in this class, but it’s not necessary. If you feel like preparing yourself a bit more take my Illusions of Depth layer art class – it’s a great primer for what we’re going to cover in this class.

Here's a few examples of what you'll be able to create after taking the class:

If you want to learn even more about animation, here are some of my other animation classes:

• Introduction
• Looping Theory
• Simply Seamless
• Photoshop Export
• Principles of Mesmerization
• Opposites Rotate
• A Unit of Animation
• Twirly Whirly
• Rolling Flowers
• Falling Flowers
• Endless Ripples
• Inspiration and Reference
• Your Turn
• Bonus: Working With Illustrator and Photoshop Files
• Bonus: Auto Sequence Your Layers
• Bonus: Effects and Expressions
• Bonus: Animating in Photoshop
• Bonus: Parenting, Easing, Inverse Masks
• The End