Download Free Tutorials: Lynda.com After Effects CS4 Beyond The Basics

Description
In After Effects CS4 Beyond the Basics, Chad Perkins explores advanced techniques for working with motion graphic elements, animation, color correction, and more. Chad provides tips for working more efficiently, and then moves on to advanced effects, detailed masking techniques, and real-world expressions. Integrating Photoshop into the After Effects workflow is also highlighted. Exercise files accompany the course.
Topics include:

* Working more efficiently in the timeline
* Adjusting color and Camera Raw
* Using multiple compositing techniques
* Using time remapping for animation
* Creating a 3D environment from a photo
* Creating realistic effects with particles
* Mastering the syntax and purpose of expressions
* Understanding Mocha for AE

Table Of Contents
1. Introduction
Welcome
Using the exercise files
Detonation films and Greenlayers.com

2. Efficiency-Increasing Tips and Tricks
Using this chapter
Two methods for selecting layers quickly
Finding a lost CTI
Jumping to the in/out point of layers
Making the work area match layer duration
Making the work area the size of multiple layers
Jumping to the beginning or end of the work area
Trimming a comp to the work area
Visually adjusting the pixel size of a comp
Filling time gaps between footage
Isolating layers
Cleaning up the Timeline panel

3. Color Correction
Creating a reference monitor
Performing instant color correction
Adjusting hue and saturation
Using levels to adjust brightness
Using levels with individual channels
Understanding curves
Working with the Info panel
A few "rules" about color correction
Using color balance
Creating a "day for night" effect
About bit depth
Using HDR/32-bit float point color
Ensuring that comps have video-safe color

4. Color Correction in Camera Raw
Why use Camera Raw with After Effects?
Adjusting luminance in Camera Raw
Adjusting color in Camera Raw
Editing images using Camera Raw
Understanding Camera Raw "sidecar" files

5. Blending Layers and Compositing
Using lights to aid compositing
Working with adjustment layers
Using adjustment layers in compositing
Using motion and cameras in compositing
Working with blend modes
Blending objects with a black background
Blending objects with a white background
Blending textures with blend modes
Comparing layers and frames with Difference
Changing the color of an object

6. Advanced Effects
Controlling effects with other layers
Bringing photos to life with displacement
Understanding the importance of effect order
Creating animation presets

7. Making Particles
What are particles?
Creating sparkles with CC Particle Systems II
Creating snow with Foam
Creating a cyclone with Particle Playground

8. Creating Common Motion Graphics Elements
Creating staggered video with photos
Creating ink spatter
Creating watery textures
Creating clouds and fog
Looping animated textures
Creating the slow motion matrix effect
Turning a layer into 3D cards
Creating a lightsaber
Making "whips" of light
Making silhouettes in After Effects
Creating a background of animated bars
Creating an "army"

9. Advanced Animation
Adjusting speed in the Graph Editor
Adjusting value in the Graph Editor
Animating with the puppet tools
Extending and shortening entire animations
Creating temporarily roving keyframes

10. The Principles of Animation
Introducing this chapter
Creating anticipation
Creating follow-through
Being conscious of object weight
Squashing and stretching objects
Exaggerating animation
Creating smooth arcs

11. Working with Photoshop Files
The importance of using Photoshop
Setting up new PSD files for After Effects
Importing at document size vs. layer size
Converting layer styles
Making Photoshop text editable
Importing Vanishing Point files
Working with Live 3D objects from Photoshop
Creating precomps in Photoshop
Creating shape layers from Photoshop shapes
Exporting After Effects frames as layered Photoshop files

12. Project: Animating Elements from a Photo
Setting up the project
Cutting out the pieces
Filling in the holes
Creating displacement maps
Importing the PSD into After Effects
Displacing the layers
Reloading altered footage
Positioning layers in 3D
Using a null object
Animating the layers
Enhancing color

13. Advanced 3D
Creating depth of field
Creating stained glass shadows
Changing an object's material type
Orienting objects to a camera
Creating a virtual set
Locating missing 3D layers
Working in 3D with precomps
Faking 3D volume
Changing the camera lens

14. Mastering Masks and Shape Layers
Blending masks with mask modes
Creating Bezier paths with the Pen tool
Adjusting handles and corner points
Creating shape layers from custom shapes
Using Auto-trace to create masks
Working with RotoBezier paths
"Tweening" mask shapes
Advanced mask shape animation
Converting motion paths to masks
Creating a mask instantly

15. Playing with Time
Stretching time
Making smooth slow-motion shots
Creating an echo effect
Creating a "suspended time" effect

16. Intermediate Expressions
Understanding important expressions concepts
Working with expression syntax
Using an array
Using variables
Creating randomness with the wiggle expression
Creating randomness with the random expression
Using the index expression
Using the time expression
Using Expression Controls effects
Using resources for expressions and scripting

17. Introducing Mocha
Setting up a new Mocha project
Tracking footage elements
Creating the tracking surface
Proofing the track with the grid
Using Mocha data in After Effects

18. Mastering Output
Creating Render Queue templates
Rendering with OpenGL
Outputting an alpha channel
Shortening render times

19. Optimizing and Tweaking After Effects
Correctly interpreting footage
Disabling previews temporarily
Pre-rendering layers
Using proxies to work faster
Using a smaller preview area
Understanding render order
Replacing layers while maintaining adjustments
Using the Flowchart
Transferring AE projects to another machine
Freeing system resources

Conclusion
Goodbye

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