• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

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.

Course After Effects CS4 Beyond the Basics Author Chad Perkins SKU ISBN Release Date 2009-06-26 Duration 8.49 hrs / 148 tutorials Work files Yes Price $ 49.95 Retail price $ 99.95 Language Tags After Effects, CS4 Required software After Effects CS4

1. Introduction Welcome 01:03 Using the exercise files 00:45 Detonation films and Greenlayers.com 02:03 2. Efficiency-Increasing Tips and Tricks Using this chapter 00:20 Two methods for selecting layers quickly 01:04 Finding a lost CTI 00:55 Jumping to the in/out point of layers 00:47 Making the work area match layer duration 01:27 Making the work area the size of multiple layers 00:57 Jumping to the beginning or end of the work area 00:59 Trimming a comp to the work area 01:02 Visually adjusting the pixel size of a comp 02:17 Filling time gaps between footage 02:36 Isolating layers 01:40 Cleaning up the Timeline panel 02:38 3. Color Correction Creating a reference monitor 04:46 Performing instant color correction 05:31 Adjusting hue and saturation 04:27 Using levels to adjust brightness 03:23 Using levels with individual channels 06:57 Understanding curves 04:37 Working with the Info panel 02:18 A few "rules" about color correction 03:12 Using color balance 02:37 Creating a "day for night" effect 05:03 About bit depth 04:11 Using HDR/32-bit float point color 04:22 Ensuring that comps have video-safe color 02:33 4. Color Correction in Camera Raw Why use Camera Raw with After Effects? 03:16 Adjusting luminance in Camera Raw 06:12 Adjusting color in Camera Raw 05:13 Editing images using Camera Raw 05:23 Understanding Camera Raw "sidecar" files 01:46 5. Blending Layers and Compositing Using lights to aid compositing 03:25 Working with adjustment layers 02:38 Using adjustment layers in compositing 02:03 Using motion and cameras in compositing 03:31 Working with blend modes 02:11 Blending objects with a black background 03:34 Blending objects with a white background 03:18 Blending textures with blend modes 02:50 Comparing layers and frames with Difference 02:13 Changing the color of an object 02:21 6. Advanced Effects Controlling effects with other layers 04:33 Bringing photos to life with displacement 08:59 Understanding the importance of effect order 02:11 Creating animation presets 02:41 7. Making Particles What are particles? 01:58 Creating sparkles with CC Particle Systems II 10:40 Creating snow with Foam 07:15 Creating a cyclone with Particle Playground 03:39 8. Creating Common Motion Graphics Elements Creating staggered video with photos 03:53 Creating ink spatter 07:27 Creating watery textures 06:01 Creating clouds and fog 05:06 Looping animated textures 05:21 Creating the slow motion matrix effect 05:33 Turning a layer into 3D cards 06:47 Creating a lightsaber 04:53 Making "whips" of light 06:43 Making silhouettes in After Effects 03:03 Creating a background of animated bars 04:01 Creating an "army" 08:05 9. Advanced Animation Adjusting speed in the Graph Editor 11:52 Adjusting value in the Graph Editor 07:45 Animating with the puppet tools 06:50 Extending and shortening entire animations 01:57 Creating temporarily roving keyframes 00:45 10. The Principles of Animation Introducing this chapter 00:50 Creating anticipation 04:44 Creating follow-through 01:44 Being conscious of object weight 02:12 Squashing and stretching objects 01:03 Exaggerating animation 02:12 Creating smooth arcs 01:19 11. Working with Photoshop Files

Working with Live 3D objects from Photoshop 04:42 Creating precomps in Photoshop 01:57 Creating shape layers from Photoshop shapes 03:42 Exporting After Effects frames as layered Photoshop files 02:33 12. Project: Animating Elements from a Photo Setting up the project 00:57 Cutting out the pieces 06:26 Filling in the holes 13:38 Creating displacement maps 04:55 Importing the PSD into After Effects 02:00 Displacing the layers 02:47 Reloading altered footage 04:17 Positioning layers in 3D 07:22 Using a null object 04:08 Animating the layers 05:59 Enhancing color 06:21 13. Advanced 3D Creating depth of field 04:46 Creating stained glass shadows 00:54 Changing an object's material type 03:02 Orienting objects to a camera 01:48 Creating a virtual set 03:02 Locating missing 3D layers 01:16 Working in 3D with precomps 02:39 Faking 3D volume 03:51 Changing the camera lens 03:28 14. Mastering Masks and Shape Layers Blending masks with mask modes 02:20 Creating Bezier paths with the Pen tool 02:25 Adjusting handles and corner points 04:49 Creating shape layers from custom shapes 04:21 Using Auto-trace to create masks 04:41 Working with RotoBezier paths 02:52 "Tweening" mask shapes 02:30 Advanced mask shape animation 03:41 Converting motion paths to masks 03:04 Creating a mask instantly 01:13 15. Playing with Time Stretching time 01:53 Making smooth slow-motion shots 03:04 Creating an echo effect 01:27 Creating a "suspended time" effect 03:24 16. Intermediate Expressions Understanding important expressions concepts 03:40 Working with expression syntax 04:26 Using an array 04:20 Using variables 04:11 Creating randomness with the wiggle expression 05:35 Creating randomness with the random expression 03:33 Using the index expression 02:50 Using the time expression 06:06 Using Expression Controls effects 07:25 Using resources for expressions and scripting 03:02 17. Introducing Mocha Setting up a new Mocha project 02:52 Tracking footage elements 03:28 Creating the tracking surface 01:40 Proofing the track with the grid 03:00 Using Mocha data in After Effects 01:49 18. Mastering Output Creating Render Queue templates 01:46 Rendering with OpenGL 02:53 Outputting an alpha channel 03:01 Shortening render times 02:16 19. Optimizing and Tweaking After Effects Correctly interpreting footage 02:59 Disabling previews temporarily 02:21 Pre-rendering layers 03:21 Using proxies to work faster 03:24 Using a smaller preview area 01:26 Understanding render order 02:43 Replacing layers while maintaining adjustments 02:19 Using the Flowchart 03:11 Transferring AE projects to another machine 02:11 Freeing system resources 01:01 Conclusion Goodbye 00:14