Best way to learn After Effects?

[mickeloaf]

So I've received my Adobe Video Collection 2.5 Pro with After Effects 6.5 and realized that I didn't even know the basics to get started. I need some kind of tutorial or good training materials to get me started.

Mostly I want to use it for movie special effects. (i.e. travelling matte, chroma work, etc.)

Can anyone recommend a good book, tutorial, dvd, etc. that caters to this topic?

[BLUESPIDER]

well you can learn some stuff here, go can also go online or the adobe websites and check out their tutorials. creativecow.com is where i used to go to for some AE tips. Just search around or you can just put up a post here and people here can help. I can help you, whada you need?

[tufty]

Best way is to take the total training course Brian over there is an expert and it is about 40hrs long. Not cheap but the best.

[kai]

or get the trish & chris meyer books, take a long weekend, and play play play

[Shooter]

The 'Classroom in a Book" for AE is a bit "dry" but it certainly gets you inside the interface and its functions. Good starting point because it also shows and promotes some vital workflow and project management skills.

I am 2/3rd through this book now and it has been invaluable. I have been able to take the new skills into my own (paying) projects very quickly. This application is too hard to learn without something like these books.

DVD training is cool but difficult to work with along side your computer where a book can sit there and keep up with your pace..

[fixitinpost]

The help files, www.adobeevangelists.com, and actually using it to do a project. That's how I learned it.

[mickeloaf]

Wow, thanks for all the excellent posts. It's strange how a thread just suddenly comes to life after lying dormant for months...

[matthewd5]

i have just about everything out there...

in order of ease of use

#1 total training dvd's
#2 class room in a book
#3 trish meyer books
#4 those hands on training books

i personally like the dvd's because its just easier than trying to hold open a book and work the mouse and keyboard!

in general you can't go wrong with ANY of the classroom in a book series.

i got the big mother of all total training packages, premiere-audition-encore-after effects pro and that one that goes from shooting to output.

i just love the way they do those and its helpful for me at least, to just watch the dvd chapter before i ever even try to do it.

matthew

[DVX100Shooter]

I have the Photoshop www.good-tutorials.com site bookmarked on my computer for some really cool tutorials. Is there anything like this for AE?

actually I just found some at www.toolfarm.com

[Sofa_King_Smart]

Nike has the answer...

JUST DO IT! ;D

[Karate_Media]

Let me join in the praise of Trish and Chris Meyer's books. I think "Creating Motion Graphics With After Effects" vol. 1 is a good introductory book -- it's well-written and jumps headfirst into easy-to-understand tutorials that will make you feel like a pro in hours (you won't be one, but you'll *feel* like one :) ) And it comes with some free plug-ins (both full-version and demo-only), as an added bonus.

[DVX100Shooter]

I just bought that book the other night! I am probably going to have to use the DVD tutorial it comes with to help get me up to speed.

[BLUESPIDER]

forget the books, total training dvd's are the way to go. ;D

[kai]

forget it all!!!! Just let chance take it's toll and fumble through it until you get the program to do something... that's the MAN's way of learning! ;)

[Mino]

Damned straight....Just like MYST!