After Effects Tutorial For Beginners
After Effects Tutorial For Beginners
(Beginners)
Written for After Effects CS5.5
Lesson 1: Interface
I labeled the interface accordingly: a)Effect Controls b)Render Queue c)Composition d)Parameters e)Workspace choice f)Controls
The interface has two sides (because of the tabs) so the list continues: g)Project & Project Files h)Files currently in use i)Timeline
a) Effect Controls
Again, I have labeled accordingly a)This is where you can choose which layer you want to control/which layer you are currently editing. In my case, I am editing the object called "Black Solid 1" which happens to be a black solid too! b)This is the actual effect "controls." Depending on the effect you have selected, this will vary. c)Sometimes you will nd extra options...For Example in the plugin "Optical Flares," the "Options..." button, is crucial to creating the looks of the are. d)The clocks next to the effect controls are the "keyframe clocks." They decide when you are going to set a keyframe or not.
b) Render Queue
There is not much to say about the render queue at this point in time except for its existence. Render Settings, etc.will follow in another tutorial.
c) Composition
The composition can also be dened as your "Work Area." It shows a realtime render of what is happening "Outcome."
a) This is again the selection of the composition. NOTICE: One project can have multiple compositions. This is so that Effects Artists can stay organized. b) The actual rendering of the frame, or, in the case that you have pressed the play button, what will playback in your nal render. NOTICE: This will most likely NOT be a Realtime render (meaning the render will be slower in the Composition window, than if you render it out to an MP4 outside of After Effects). c) How big the composition should be while you are editing. I like keeping it at 25% so I can see when external objects are ying in or masks are entering (more on Masks in a different tutorial). d) Title/Action Safe Grid and the Proportional Grid/Rulers and Guides. If you are familiar with Photoshop then you are most likely familiar with Guides. They are just to be able to center certain objects, as After Effects does not have a "Snap-to-Grid" mode (that I know of). As to Title/Action Safe: The Title/Action Safe Grid lets you see if youre titles and/or movie(s) would be safe in all possible formats. If it does not cross the lines that show up, then you are "safe." e) The current frame your project is on. Mine is at 0 hours, 0 minutes, 0 seconds, and 0 milliseconds.
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d) Parameters
The "Parameters" section is where you can dene overall options that are not effects (font, text size, playback, etc.) a) The Info bar is there no matter what Workspace you take (more on Workspaces later). It shows the current percentages of red, green, and blue, depending on where your mouse is, and it shows the x and y positions of the mouse. b) The Preview options let you play back your composition with different options and resolutions. It also lets you move frame by frame, which is useful for key-framing effects. c) The text preferences for size, font, color, etc. d) The Effects and Presets tab is there so that you can search and browse (easier for nding exactly what you need). e) The Paragraph tab is just there to edit the paragraph indentation, positioning, etc.
e) Workspace
Not much to say except that there is a small choice of different work layouts you can choose from. Choose which one is the best that you can work with. NOTICE: When you start typing text, it automatically switches to the Workspace "Text" for you.
f) Controls
These are the standard controls like in Photoshop, there are the pen tool, the shape tools, the camera rotation tool, the selection tool, the hand tool, and the text tool...
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i)Timeline
This is the panel where you edit your keyframes, organize them and synchronize les/ layers.
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Have fun! Next tutorial coming soon! NinJah Productions 2011. All copyright to its respective owners.
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