AFTER EFFECT MANUAL E-BOOK. Startoffonthe rightfootusing Adobe AfterEffectsbynavigatingthe workspace andlearningkey terms and basic features that willhelpyoubecome proficient. ALIFF NAJMAN BIN MAHADI 18DCV23F1084 2024 Adobe After Effect
THE CON T I N T R O E D U C T I O N N T O A F T T E R E F F E C T - W H A T I S A D O B E A F T E R E F F E C T - D E V E L O P E R O F A F T E R E F F E C T G E T T I N G S T A R T E D - A F T E R E F F E C T I N T E R F A C E F U N C T I O N - T O O L S F U N C T I O N T E C H N I C A L D E F I N I T I O N A N D D E S C R I P T I O N S P E C I F I C A T I O N R E Q U I R E M E N T S E T O F I N S T R U C T I O N T O U T I L I S E F U N C T I O N - C R E A T I N G P R O J E C T A N D I M P O R T I N G F O O T A G E - C R E A T I N G C O M P O S I T I O N A N D A R R A N G I N G L A Y E R - A D D I N G E F F E C T S A N D M O D I F Y I N G L A Y E R P R O P E R T I E S - R E N D E R I N G A N D E X P O R T I N G Y O U R C O M P O S I T I O N Ebook | Page 1 2 0 2 4
Adobe After Effects is a 2.5D animation software used for animation, visual effects, and motion picture compositing. After Effects is used in film, TV, and web video creation. Adobe After Effects is a digital visual effects, motion graphics, and compositing application developed by Adobe it is used in the post-production process of film making, video games and television production. Among other things, After Effects can be used for keying, tracking, compositing, and animation. It also functions as a very basic non-linear editor, audio editor, and media transcoder. This software is used in the postproduction phase, and has hundreds of effects that can be used to manipulate imagery. This allows you to combine layers of video and images into the same scene. Adobe After Effects takes a different approach for creating movement. Motion graphics animation works by manipulating vector and rasterized art to create and tell a story. You can integrate physical based media as well through photographs and videography. After Effects uses a variety of tools, coding, and user input to manipulate the media being used in a project. You can move, twist, scale, rotate, and much more in order to transform your images and videos. WHAT IS ADOBE AFTER EFFECT ? Ebook | Page 2
1992 1990 Greg Deocampo David Foster David Herbstman David Simons Rhode Island, United States Company of Science and Art (CoSA) was a small software company headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1990 by Greg Deocampo (also a member of the video art collective Emergency Broadcast Network), David Foster, David Herbstman, and David Simons. William J. O'Farrell became its CEO in 1990. It operated for slightly less than three years. However, during its brief existence, CoSA created the category-defining After Effects desktop animation and compositing program, releasing version 1.0 in 1992. In 1993, CoSA was acquired by the Aldus Corporation Aldus was in turn acquired by Adobe in 1994. ABOUT Based In After Effect First Release Date Founder Years Founded The Developer ABOUT Ebook | Page 3
Tools Panel Interface The Tools panel can be displayed as a toolbar across the top of the application window or as a normal, dockable panel. Adobe After effect provide a consistent, customizable user interface. It also provides a different set of the panel as other application of the Adobe. We can move and group the panels in the same way in each application. Application Window: It is the main Window of Adobe After Effect. All the Adobe Application includes several predefined workspaces that optimize the layout of panels for specific tasks. We can drag and move panels in or out of a group and place them alongside each other. We can also undock a panel to keep floating in a new window above the application window. When we try to rearrange the panel, all the other panels will be resized automatically to fit in the window. After Effect Interface Ebook | Page 4
Located by default on the left side of the After Effects interface, the Tools panel houses a collection of icons representing various functionalities. Each tool serves a specific purpose in shaping and defining the visual elements within your composition. Unveiling the Tools Panel Decoding the Tools Panel Icons: The most commonly used tools within the Tools panel include: Selection Tool (V): This versatile tool allows you to select, move, rotate, and scale any layer within the Composition panel. Pen Tool (G): This powerful tool enables you to create precise vector shapes, which can be filled with colors, gradients, or textures. Rectangle Tool (M): Click and drag to create perfect rectangles, with options to adjust corner radius and fill properties. Ellipse Tool (L): This tool allows you to create ellipses and circles with precise control over their dimensions and fill properties. Polygon Tool ©: Click and drag to create polygons with a specific number of sides, offering further customization options. Line Tool (): Draw straight lines with this tool, defining their thickness, color, and endcap styles. Freehand Tool (Shift + V): This tool allows you to draw freehand paths, offering more organic and hand-drawn aesthetics. Text Tool (T): Click and drag to create text layers, allowing you to input and edit text content, choose fonts, and adjust text styles. Zoom Tool (Z): Magnify specific areas of your Composition panel for detailed work or zoom out to get a full view of your composition. Hand Tool (H): Drag this tool around the Composition panel to navigate and reposition your view within the larger composition. Rotate Tool (R): Precisely rotate layers around their anchor point with this tool. Beyond the Basics: Advanced Tools The Tools panel offers additional functionalities for specific tasks: Eyedropper Tool (I): Sample colors, gradients, or stroke styles from other layers and apply them to the selected layer. Paint Bucket Tool (K): Fill enclosed areas within a shape layer with a chosen color or gradient. Content-Aware Crop Tool ©: Intelligently crop and resize your composition while maintaining the visual content within the frame. Mask Tools: After Effects offers tools specifically designed for creating and modifying layer masks (defining visible and invisible areas). These include the Brush Tool (B), Eraser Tool (E), and Refine Edge Tool (R). Ebook | Page 5
Ebook | Page 6 ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS TECHNICAL DEFINITION AND DESCRIPTION TECHNICAL DEFINITION: Adobe After Effects is a digital visual effects, motion graphics, and compositing application developed by Adobe Systems. It is used in the post-production process of film making, video games, and television production. After Effects provides a wide range of tools for keying, tracking, compositing, and animation. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: User Interface and Workflow: Panels: The After Effects interface is composed of multiple panels, such as the Project panel, Composition panel, Timeline panel, and Effects & Presets panel. These panels can be rearranged to suit the user’s workflow. Timeline: Central to the workflow, the Timeline panel allows users to manage layers, keyframes, and timing of animations and effects. Composition: A composition is a container where all media, effects, and animations are combined. Users can nest compositions within each other for complex projects. Import and Export: Supported Formats: After Effects supports a wide range of media formats for import, including video files (e.g., MP4, MOV), audio files (e.g., MP3, WAV), and image files (e.g., JPEG, PNG). Export: Users can export their projects in various formats suitable for different platforms, such as H.264 for web videos or QuickTime for high-quality playback. The Adobe Media Encoder can be used for more advanced export options. Layers and Effects: Layer Types: After Effects uses a layer-based system. Types of layers include video, audio, text, shape, solid, and null layers. Adjustment layers are used to apply effects to multiple layers. Effects: The software includes a wide range of built-in effects for color correction, blurring, distortion, stylization, and more. Users can apply and animate effects using keyframes. Presets: Effects & Presets panel offers pre-built animations and effects that can be applied to layers for quick results. Animation and Keyframing: Keyframes: Keyframes are used to define the start and end points of animations. After Effects interpolates the values between keyframes to create smooth transitions. Expressions: Expressions are snippets of code written in JavaScript that allow for complex animations and interactions between layer properties. Performance and Rendering: AM Preview: Allows users to preview compositions in real-time by caching frames to RAM. Rendering: The process of exporting the final video. Users can render compositions directly in After Effects or use the Adobe Media Encoder for more advanced options.
Minimum Specifications Ebook | Page 7 Recommend Specifications Intel or AMD Quad-Core Processor Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit) V20H2 or later 16 GB of RAM 2 GB of GPU VRAM 15GB of available hard-disk space; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on removable flash storage devices) 1920 x 1080 Internet connection and registration are necessary for required software activation, validation of subscriptions, and access to online services.* PROCESSOR OPERATING SYSTEM RAM GPU HARD DISK SPACE MONITOR RESOLUTION INTERNET Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit) V20H2 or later Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit) V20H2 or later 32 GB recommended 4GB or more of GPU VRAM recommended Additional disk space for disk cache (64GB+ recommended) 1920x1080 or greater display resolution Internet connection and registration are necessary for required software activation, validation of subscriptions, and access to online services.* WINDOWS
Minimum Specifications Ebook | Page 8 Recommend Specifications Intel, Native Apple Silicon, Rosetta2 Supported Quad-Core Processor macOS Big Sur v11.0 or later 16 GB of RAM 2 GB of GPU VRAM (Draft 3D requires discrete GPUs that are compatible with Apple Metal 2) 15GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on a volume that uses a casesensitive file system or on removable flash storage devices) 1440x900 Internet connection and registration are necessary for required software activation, validation of subscriptions, and access to online services.* PROCESSOR OPERATING SYSTEM RAM GPU HARD DISK SPACE MONITOR RESOLUTION INTERNET 8-Core or above for MultiFrame Rendering macOS Monterey v12.0 or later 32 GB recommended 4 GB of GPU VRAM Additional disk space for disk cache 64GB+ 1440x900 or greater display resolution Internet connection and registration are necessary for required software activation, validation of subscriptions, and access to online services.* MACOS
Only one project can be open at a time. If you create or open another project file while a project is open, After Effects prompts you to save changes in the open project, and then closes it. After you create a project, you can import footage into the project. To create a project, choose File > New > New Project. To open a project, choose File > Open Project, locate the project, and then select Open. An After Effects project is a single file that stores compositions and references to all the source files used by footage items in that project. Compositions are collections of layers. Many layers use footage items (such as movies or still images) as a source, though some layers—such as shape layers and text layers—contain graphics that you create within After Effects. A project file has the filename extension .aep or .aepx. A project file with the .aep filename extension is a binary project file. A project file with the .aepx filename extension is a text-based XML project file. The name of the current project appears at the top of the application window. A template project file has the filename extension .aet. BASIC INSTRUCTION TO UTILISE FUNCTION OF AFTER EFFECT CREATING PROJECT AND IMPORTING FOOTAGE Ebook | Page 9 You can also create and open a project from the Start screen. To create a project, select New Project. To open a project, select Open Project and navigate to the location of the project. Done
Drag the footage item to the Create A New Composition button at the bottom of the Project panel or choose File > New Comp From Selection. Composition settings, including frame size (width and height) and pixel aspect ratio, are automatically set to match the characteristics of the footage item. Drag the footage item to the Create A New Composition button at the bottom of the Project panel or choose File > New Comp From Selection. Composition settings, including frame size (width and height) and pixel aspect ratio, are automatically set to match the characteristics of the footage item. The vertical arrangement of layers in the Timeline panel is the layer stacking order, which is directly related to the render order. You can change the order in which layers are composed with one another by changing the layer stacking order. CHANGE THE STACKING ORDER FOR SELECTED LAYERS In the Timeline panel, drag the layer names to a new position in the layer stacking order. To move the selected layers up one level in the layer stacking order, press Ctrl+Alt+Up Arrow (Windows) or Command+Option+Up Arrow (macOS); to move the selected layers down one level, press Ctrl+Alt+Down Arrow (Windows) or Command+Option+Down Arrow (macOS). CREATE A COMPOSITION AND MANUALLY SET COMPOSITION SETTINGS Choose Composition > New Composition, or press Ctrl+N (Windows) or Command+N (macOS). CREATE A COMPOSITION FROM A SINGLE FOOTAGE ITEM You can change composition settings at any time. However, it’s best to specify settings such as frame aspect ratio and frame size when you create the composition, with your final output in mind. Because After Effects bases certain calculations on these composition settings, changing them late in your workflow can affect your final output. BASIC INSTRUCTION TO UTILISE FUNCTION OF AFTER EFFECT CREATING COMPOSITION AND ARRANGING LAYER Ebook | Page 10 Arranging Layer
Drag the footage item to the Create A New Composition button at the bottom of the Project panel or choose File > New Comp From Selection. Composition settings, including frame size (width and height) and pixel aspect ratio, are automatically set to match the characteristics of the footage item. BASIC INSTRUCTION TO UTILISE FUNCTION OF AFTER EFFECT ADDING EFFECTS AND MODIFYING LAYER PROPERTIES Ebook | Page 11 After Effects includes hundreds of animation presets in simple term effects, that you can apply to your layers and modify to suit your needs, including many text animation presets. With animation presets, you can save and reuse specific configurations of layer properties and animations, including keyframes, effects, and expressions. For example, if you created an explosion using several effects with complex property settings, keyframes, and expressions, you can save all those settings as a single animation preset. You can then apply that animation preset to any other layer. Many animation presets don’t contain animation; rather, they contain combinations of effects, transform properties, and so on. A behavior animation preset uses expressions instead of keyframes to animate layer properties. ADDING EFFECTS TO VIDEOS Click on the layer of the video you want to enhance. Go to the Effects and Presets panel and select Color Correction. Once the list of options is displayed, click on Auto Color for this exercise. Drag and drop it on the layer selected to apply the effect and see how the color of your clip changes. Notice that when you apply the effect, the Effect Controls panel opens on the left of your screen. Manipulate the values in this box to your liking to get the color you want. Note that every time you add an effect, the FX box next to your layer label is activated on your Timeline. To preview your composition with the effect keep the button checked; to play it without it, uncheck it. If you try to repeat the process with other options in the list, you will find that generally, it works the same for all your layers.
Drag the footage item to the Create A New Composition button at the bottom of the Project panel or choose File > New Comp From Selection. Composition settings, including frame size (width and height) and pixel aspect ratio, are automatically set to match the characteristics of the footage item. BASIC INSTRUCTION TO UTILISE FUNCTION OF AFTER EFFECT ADDING EFFECTS AND MODIFYING LAYER PROPERTIES Ebook | Page 12 MODIFYING LAYER PROPERTIES IN THE TIMELINE PANEL Each layer has properties, many of which you can modify and animate. The basic group of properties that every layer has is the Transform group, which includes Position and Opacity properties. When you add certain features to a layer—for example, by adding masks or effects, or by converting the layer to a 3D layer—the layer gains additional properties, collected in property groups. AFTER EFFECTS: BASIC TRANSFORM PROPERTIES General Layer properties Solid, Shape and Text Layers all have the same 5 basic properties. They are listed under the Transform tab (toggle the little arrow to the left “Transform” if you don’t see them). What do they control? Anchor Point: x, y axis of the control point of the layer (the center of the composition, by default) Position: x, y axis of the layer on the composition Scale: width, height of the layer’s content Rotation: full (360) rotation + degrees of the layer Opacity: 0% = fully transparent, 100% = fully opaque Any property that will change overtime will first need to be given an initial Keyframe: Bring the Time Indicator at the point you want to start keeping track of the property (i.e:0;00;00;00) You can do this by sliding the Indicator along the Timeline or by entering the time numerically in the Preview Time box (hours;minutes;seconds;frames). Click on the little Stop Watch icon to the left of the property and set the value you want it to have at this point of the animation (i.e: completely transparent / 0%) Notice that a little diamond has been created in the Timeline, at the level of the layer’s activated property To create the next Keyframe, move the Time Indicator (i.e: 0;00;05;00) and simply change the value of the property. Notice that the new diamond/Keyframe was automatically created when the value changed (without having to click on the Stop Watch). Preview the animation by pressing the Spacebar. You’ll notice the After Effects automatically tweens between Keyframes.
Drag the footage item to the Create A New Composition button at the bottom of the Project panel or choose File > New Comp From Selection. Composition settings, including frame size (width and height) and pixel aspect ratio, are automatically set to match the characteristics of the footage item. BASIC INSTRUCTION TO UTILISE FUNCTION OF AFTER EFFECT RENDERING AND EXPORTING YOUR COMPOSITION Ebook | Page 13 ADDING YOUR ANIMATION TO THE AFTER EFFECTS RENDER QUEUE Once you're ready to export your After Effects composition, you can use any of the following four rendering methods: File > Export > Add to Render Queue Composition > Add to Render Queue Drag and Drop from Project Window (ideal for downloading multiple animations) Keyboard Shortcut CMD+CTRL+M FILE > EXPORT > ADD TO RENDER QUEUE To download your work using the File menu in After Effects, navigate to File, scroll down to Export, and select Add to Render Queue. This will automatically open the Render Queue window. COMPOSITION > ADD TO RENDER QUEUE To send an After Effects animation to the Render Queue using the Composition menu, click Composition from the top menu, and then click Add to Render Queue. This will automatically open the Render Queue window. DRAG AND DROP FROM PROJECT WINDOW Exporting multiple animation files from After Effects can be tedious. Instead of opening each composition and navigating through the File menu, simply drag and drop each composition from your Project panel directly into the Render Queue, as seen below. Of course, to use this method, the Render Queue window must already be open. Select all then drag to here KEYBOARD SHORTCUT CMD+CTRL+M The most expeditious method for rendering in After Effects is to leverage the keyboard shortcut. This can be achieved for one or multiple composition(s). To render one file, make sure your composition window is selected; for multiple files, select the compositions in the Render Queue, as seen above. Then, click keyboard shortcut Command + Control + M.
Drag the footage item to the Create A New Composition button at the bottom of the Project panel or choose File > New Comp From Selection. Composition settings, including frame size (width and height) and pixel aspect ratio, are automatically set to match the characteristics of the footage item. BASIC INSTRUCTION TO UTILISE FUNCTION OF AFTER EFFECT RENDERING AND EXPORTING YOUR COMPOSITION Ebook | Page 14 Select all then drag to here CHOOSING THE CODEC FOR THE FILE YOU'RE RENDERING IN AFTER EFFECTS Right beneath Render Settings below your composition in the After Effects Render Queue is the Output Module option. Click, and then, under Format to the right, select how (e.g., Quicktime, AIFF, etc.) you'd like to download your file. CHOOSING WHERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FILE FROM AFTER EFFECTS Across from the Output Module option below your composition in the After Effects Render Queue is the Output To option. Click this to select the location for your download.
Unlock the Power of Adobe After Effects Dive into the world of motion graphics and visual effects with this comprehensive guide to Adobe After Effects. Whether you're a beginner looking to grasp the basics or an experienced professional seeking advanced techniques, this manual is your ultimate resource. Inside You'll Discover: Foundations of After Effects: Get started with the user interface, learn about key panels, and navigate the workspace with ease. Layer Management: Master the use of different layers, including video, audio, text, and shape layers, and learn how to organize and manage them efficiently. Keyframing and Animation: Bring your projects to life with detailed instructions on creating smooth animations using keyframes, expressions, and advanced motion techniques Effects and Presets: Explore a vast library of effects and presets to enhance your projects, from color correction to advanced visual effects. Compositing Techniques: Combine multiple visual elements seamlessly using masking, rotoscoping, and blending modes to create stunning compositions. 3D Space and Camera Work: Elevate your projects by integrating 3D layers, adding cameras, and using lights to create realistic scenes. Tracking and Stabilization: Learn how to track motion within your footage and stabilize shaky videos for professional-quality results. Rendering and Exporting: Ensure your final product is polished and ready for any platform with step-by-step guides to rendering and exporting. Plugins and Scripts: Extend the power of After Effects with essential plugins and scripts that streamline your workflow and add new capabilities. Professional Tips and Tricks: Gain insights from industry experts on how to optimize performance, troubleshoot common issues, and push the creative boundaries of After Effects. Why This Guide? Written by industry professionals, this manual offers practical tutorials, hands-on projects, and clear explanations of complex concepts. Each chapter is designed to build on your skills progressively, ensuring you gain confidence and expertise with every page. Join the Community Access exclusive online content, including project files, video tutorials, and community forums where you can connect with other After Effects users, share your work, and get feedback. MASTER ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS AND TRANSFORM YOUR CREATIVE VISION INTO REALITY!