After Effects Workshop 1

Notes 
Each new document is a 'project'

Highlighted in blue - active panel (re-sizeable)

Setting up a new 'Project'

• Composition is equivalent to a new page
• Drop down menu - PAL and NTSC are video standards
• HDTV/HDV/etc. are presets
• HD number is rate of frames - like a flip book
• Will use HDTV 1080 25 for our stings using dimensions of 1920 x 1080 px
• Units are always in pixels
• 25 frames per second
• If writing or numbers are in blue - you can change them, increase or decrease value
• Set background colour to - light grey

Once you have set up a 'Project'

• Each second is divided into 25 frames - 25th of a second
• Composition settings - can change duration, background, sizes, etc.
• File - import
• Layer option - available when either timeline or composition is selected
• New solid - filled with a particular colour

Timeline

• Can make the red line shorter - the amount of time that the image will appear for
• Each new layer - can only contain one asset (one square)

Two Shapes

Multiple Shapes & Rotation

Preview

• Use preview panel to use playback controls
• Play/stop - shortcut = space bar, this will play the composition through timeline (25 frames p/s) in real time

Blue handles = work area space

Resolution

• Can change pixels to full, half, quarter etc - lowering resolution makes it easier for After Effects to play the composition in real time.

Layer Properties

• Properties and Transform - click the little triangle next to the red box to reveal transform, then click the triangle next to transform to reveal options.

• Drag blue values left to right to change them - can also type in a specific value.
• Anchor point - point of rotation, default in the middle of the layer.

Key Frames

• Little clock - Time-Vary stop watch, enables key frame.
• Key frame - a moment in time when a significant change occurs. Indicated by little blue diamond when you click the time-vary stop watch. Sets a visual path between two points when shape is moved around.

Moving the middle key frame diamond moves the image along the line between them - three positions.

Use different effects to animate the shape using multiple key frames.

Keyboard Shortcuts - Hide or Reveal

Hold down shift to reveal multiple options

P = Position

A = Anchor Point

R = Rotation

S = Scale

T = Opacity (Transparency)

O = out point of current layer

I = in point of current layer

B = beginning of work area

N = end of work area

U = reveal all animated properties 

UU = reveal all modified properties