how did you learn after effects?
- Thread starter RebelD
- Start date
No, but it depends on your learning style. If you learn best by interacting with an instructor, then it will be worth it to you. Ask about class size, course objectives, and time for follow-up. Otherwise, check out the free tutorials on Creative Cow and Youtube. Read "Creating Motion Graphics With After Effects" by Chris and Trish Meyer. Consider lynda.com. Chad Perkins, Aharon Rabinowitz, and Andrew Kramer are excellent instructors. The program seems very intimidating at first; learning it is time well-invested.
Larry Rutledge
Fest Master
I learned most of my AE stuff from Video Copilot (http://www.videocopilot.net/), there's a great beginning tutorial series there (http://www.videocopilot.net/basic/) and then all the other targeted tutorials. The best part is its all free.
Hawk Teflon
Veteran
I'll second what Larry says. Kramer is amazing. Don't start at the top. Start at the bottom with sky replacement or whatever it is, and work your way up. I guarantee you will get lost the first time you watch it. So follow along. He supplies project files so you can do it with him. That's a HUGE help. Not just watching, but doing.
His basics are really cool. I had been a follower of his years before they came out, though, so I don't know how they work for someone who has never used AE.
His basics are really cool. I had been a follower of his years before they came out, though, so I don't know how they work for someone who has never used AE.
Not where to learn the basics of after effects, but there are a lot of tricks you will see guys doing in their tutorials.
http://ae.tutsplus.com/
http://ae.tutsplus.com/
david_kuznicki
Well-known member
After effects is the easy part. I suggest taking some graphic design classes and pick up some books on design. Not just how to use photoshop/illustrator but design fundamentals and history. You can learn AE on your own through the internet and books.
Bravo! Someone finally said something that's been on the tip of my tongue for years and years...
AE is a kick-ass tool, to be sure. But it's only a tool. If you don't branch out beyond the tutorials (and not knocking VCP, AETuts, or anyone else... I still use some of their stuff!), you're not going to learn to do anything beyond the tutorials.
I get demo reels all the time where I see people using these tutorials WITHOUT changing them one bit. It drives me nuts.
Bravo! Someone finally said something that's been on the tip of my tongue for years and years...
AE is a kick-ass tool, to be sure. But it's only a tool. If you don't branch out beyond the tutorials (and not knocking VCP, AETuts, or anyone else... I still use some of their stuff!), you're not going to learn to do anything beyond the tutorials.
I get demo reels all the time where I see people using these tutorials WITHOUT changing them one bit. It drives me nuts.
Thomas Lew
Well-known member
He said this well.
RodThompson
Veteran
I found video copilot a few days ago, and have since learned AE. Last night I spent 5 hours just running through some tuts and testing some limits. Having a working knowledge of photoshop has aided in easier understanding, but this is still its own beast. :beer:
oneinfiniteloop
Veteran
While this is very, very true, it depends on what you want to do. AE is a unique program in that it allows many different options. It want to be a compositor, it has that, if you want to be a animator, it has that, if you want to be a motion graphics designer, it has that. So, decide on what interests you, then focus on learning the theory, i.e. the reason why, for that particular niche.
For example, you want to be a motion graphics designer? Go take some classes in design, plain old design. Learn the fundamentals of color, shape, form, balance, etc. Learn about typography, which is essential tool in any form of design. Learning the software is the easy part, learning why you're doing something is far harder.
If you want to be an animator, learn how things move. Watch people walk, watch the old Disney classics. Learn about motion and read up on the 12 rules of animation. Compositor? Read about light, art, etc. Watch how light interacts in the real world.
Etc, etc, etc...
Then, when you know why you're doing something, then learn how to do it. Reverse engineer it, think through it, try and try again. You'll make a ton of mistakes, and it'll be infinitely frustrating, but you'll learn a ton from it. How do you think the Andrew Kramer's of the world post all those great tutorials. They look at a problem and find a way to solve it. In the end, all "creative" work come right back to this: solving a problem.