Another New AE User! WOW!

[viperfour]

I have finally bought After Effects Pro 7.0 to add to my tools to use. Watching the DVD videos that came with the program I am so very impressed with this program and what it can do. Of course with me reading about After Effects for a while now I have been impressed with AE for a while now and have been wanting to get this program for a long time.

I searched and it seems everyone holds a high regard to Trish and Chris Meyer books, but want to ask this before I buy my first book I am looking at to get:
Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects, Vol. 1: The Essentials (3rd Edition, Version 6.5) by Trish and Chris Meyer.

For the people that have used both AE 6.5 and 7.0 is there really any major difference since I have AE Pro 7.0 and the book shows 6.5 examples or can I still easily follow along in the book regardless?

Does anyone know when the new 7.0 book is suppose to be out by Trish and Chris Meyer? Or if there is even going to be one. I'm sure they will eventually make one.

I know about creative cow and will be having a friend download some videos on there to learn with as well.

Thank You for your help! :dankk2:

:-)
Dave

[oneinfiniteloop]

Well, there are some pretty big differences in AE 7 & 6.5, but depending on what kind of work you do, you may never encounter them. The biggest (IMO) is the ability to work in 32bit float. If you're into AE for motion graphics you may not use this right away, but it will be helpful to learn.

What do you plan on using AE for?

[viperfour]

I just plan on using the AE for motion graphics and small special effects right now for my rocket videos. Like flying in text to describe each rocket and its flight of how high it went and put some stuff between shots of the rockets like the curtain (or other really cool magna or flowing graphics that AE has in it) that is in AE and put animated Text in there as well like AE can do.

I know AE is a very deep program and I have a lot of stuff to learn with it. I am not going to be adding fire to make a non-burning building look like it is burning or anything like that just yet.

There is a tutorial online I think I saw it in Creative Cow to make your text blow away in the wind like sand blowing away. I think that would be a really cool effect. That is the stuff I want to learn first with the text motion graphics like that and other smaller effects I have seen in the book I want to get.

I was just concerned if I would be able to follow along since they are talking about 6.5 in the book and I have 7.0. 7.0 should be able to do everything that is in the book, right? I know 7.0 changed big time from 6.5, but I never used 6.5 so I do not have any experince with it.

Thank You for your help!

:-)
Dave

[oneinfiniteloop]

You should be fine with the 6.5 book. From what I can remember, there are no huge changes that will make the tutorials obsolete.

[Matt Grunau]

If you are going to be doing visual effects work of ANY kind, I suggest After Effects Studio Techniques by Mark Christansen also. I have the Meyer's books and the Studio Techniques one. Where the Meyer's books are really great for motion graphics, the Studio Techniques is great for work dedicated to film/video.


Both are great books. They are for versions up to 6.5, but the theory translates right through.

Get them both. You will be glad you did.

[oneinfiniteloop]

If you are going to be doing visual effects work of ANY kind, I suggest After Effects Studio Techniques by Mark Christansen also.

Hands down one of the best written books on After Effects, though not for motion graphics. I've read and reread this book time and time again, and the best thing, IMO, is that it gives you the technique and the building blocks to create your own effects, not tutorials of somebody else's.

[viperfour]

I ordered the Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects, Vol. 1: The Essentials (3rd Edition, Version 6.5) by Trish and Chris Meyer book from Amazon earlier and getting it tomorrow since I did the special $3.99 overnight shipping thing they do.

I have also been checking into the After Effects Studio Techniques by Mark Christansen as well and have been reading people recommending Meyer's books more, but will get the After Effects Studio Techniques by Mark Christansen as well soon. I want to learn as much as I can with this AE program. I would love to get the Total Training DVD's as well, but at $550.00 USD for the whole set for AE that will take some time to get them.

Thank You for everyone's help. I am very excited to finally begin my learning process with AE. This is one amazing program.

:-)
Dave

[MrPolarBare]

I had a T&C Meyer book for AE 5.5. It was pretty good. But, I really learned AE with the DVDs from Total Training. It is a more expensive route, but I really like watching somebody do something, instead of reading how to do it. Another thing to think about is that it is kindof hard reading if you are new to this. A seasoned AE user could read through the book, pick up some info and be on his/her way, but a newbie such as yourself might get hung up a little. Thats, why I like watching the DVDs. You actually see them do it, so there is no doubt how it is done.

[x-angel]

I got the T&C Meyer Book. I was already familar with a lot of the basics of AE, but it still helped me build a good foundation for things. I am still not done with it... and I plane to order the 2 VOL of it.

I am also considering getting the "After Effects Studio Techniques by Mark Christansen" since it seems to have such high ratings here.

Right now I am on AE 6.5, and I will go to 7.0 when I feel comfy with 6.5, as 7.0 seems to be above my needed level right now.

[Matt Grunau]

I'll say it again: If anyone is interested in Visual Efects for film and Video, get the Studio Techniques book. Yes it is that good and it's all about CG effects. No motion graphics, just effects. BUY IT

[viperfour]

I had a T&C Meyer book for AE 5.5. It was pretty good. But, I really learned AE with the DVDs from Total Training. It is a more expensive route, but I really like watching somebody do something, instead of reading how to do it. Another thing to think about is that it is kindof hard reading if you are new to this. A seasoned AE user could read through the book, pick up some info and be on his/her way, but a newbie such as yourself might get hung up a little. Thats, why I like watching the DVDs. You actually see them do it, so there is no doubt how it is done.

I am actually the same way, I can pick up on things and do it a lot better if I have someone show me how to do it rather than reading a book. BUT, I don't have that kind of money to spend right now for what they want for the DVD's so the book(s) will have to do for now. I even checked on classes and they are VERY expensive.

I am going to do this book Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects, Vol. 1 to get started learning.

and then these are the other books I have on my list I want to get also:

After Effects Studio Techniques by Mark Christansen
Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects, Vol. 2
Adobe Classroom in a Book for After Effects 7.0I can get them a lot cheaper on Amazon so that will help. I am going to see if I can nab a video or two off of eBay as well for AE 7.0 as I found some that were reasonably priced but used.

I can see why people say AE is a very deep program to learn now. :)

OK, the learning process is started! :)

:-)
Dave

[BEENYWEENIES]

"I'll say it again: If anyone is interested in Visual Efects for film and Video, get the Studio Techniques book. Yes it is that good and it's all about CG effects. No motion graphics, just effects. BUY IT"



I concur. I worked with Mark on two films and not only is he the coolest guy ever, he's one of the smartest with respect to AE and film work. I LOVE this book, it's one you can read many times over.

[surf]

After Effects Studio Techniques :D