Desktop Video Animation Class using AE

[cara_starr]

Hi,

I am trying to learn to use AE and have a couple of great tutorials from the Cow and Pickwhip Studios. I really want to take an actual class and found this one in the junior college catalog. Although it doesn't focus on exactly what I wish to use AE for, it is taught using AE and I thought it would help me to become familiar with the program.

The class description:
"Desktop Video Animation, concepts and techniques utilizing computers and related technologies, with the video media. Video image capture enhancement, recording and exportation for use in graphic image production/presentation, computer animation, web and cd will be explored."

What I'm wondering about is, they don't require but "Recommend for success", a satisfactory completion of basic computer graphics literacy course.

Basic course descrip:
"An introductory course in the field of computer graphics, using various applications and tools. Topics explored include, but are not limited to original image creation, photographic editing, scanning, printing, two-dimensional animation, sound digitizing pens, mouse and digital camera."

Wondering if someone can translate this and tell me if I should in fact take the Basic course in order to understand the animation class? If it is just how to capture, scan, print, etc. then I'd rather pass. I'm pretty confident in those areas! :)

[Steve_Arm]

In my opinion you should get a book and start from reading all AE's help. Unless you want a paper (diploma).

However you don't have to count on my opinion because I'm against those classes which teach you how to use software.

And there are so much free tutorials online. But real projects is the best sourve for learning.

If you see that the class suits you, and they give real tasks to accomplish then take it.

[inspire84]

I had to buy that "creating motion graphics" book by chris and trish meyer. Honestly i looked at it for a minute and put it away. I know AE pretty well from just hours of messing around with it. Personally i cant learn a program from a book. That's just how i work.

[Sacksnack]

I think the introductory course is aimed for extreme beginners with little or no computer knowledge. If you have basic skills in Photoshop and After Effects then I would skip it.

Personally I would just check out all the tutorials I could find. I would purchase After Effects Studio Techniques. I would view a lot of examples of the pros work. And I would just use the program and learn the ins and outs of it. You'll probably learn more in a few weeks on your own than you would in the class.
Here are some other After Effects related sites.

Sweet Mograph site, I love watching the reels...http://www.motionographer.com/

Our Own DVXuser After Effects Ninjas...
http://www.kylestauffer.com/
http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials.html

-Kevin

EDIT-I just Read Steve Arm's post and I realize I just repeated everything he said. I'm an idiot.

[cara_starr]

EDIT-I just Read Steve Arm's post and I realize I just repeated everything he said. I'm an idiot.

You aren't an idiot. You've all helped me with your input. I appreciate it!! I think I'll probably go ahead and take the animation class (but skip the intro to comp graphics class.) I remember WAAAAAAAYYYYY back i took a microsoft excel class for a new job I'd started. I started the job in August and the class didn't start until October. In the meantime I had to pretend I knew what I was doing and figure out the program. By the time I took it, I was telling the teacher things she didn't know about excel. So if I learn AE in the meantime, at least I'll pass the class. I have to take x amount of classes to get the grant money so why not right?

Thanks.

[cara_starr]

I had to buy that "creating motion graphics" book by chris and trish meyer. Honestly i looked at it for a minute and put it away. I know AE pretty well from just hours of messing around with it. Personally i cant learn a program from a book. That's just how i work.

I am a little compulsive :grin: and try to absorb as much as I can about whatever I'm into at the moment. I originally purchased the "After Effects Bible" and was way lost. I exchanged it for the Meyer's book and had much better success. The tutorial at the beginning of the book really helped me learn to navigate the whole interface and figure out what everything is. (like a pickwhip!) I haven't done much with the book past that first chapter. Overall, i agree that the best way to learn it is to just start using it.