After Effects Workshop 4

Notes

• When doing the brief use HDTV 1080 25.
• File - import = double click in project box.
• Single layer - footage option.

Drawing motion paths

• P (Position) property.
• Use key frames to draw out the motion path - like pen tool in Adobe Illustrator vectors.
• Always pointing the same way the original image started - to change this select the layer - layer, transform - auto orientation option - then select orient along path.

Rove across Time

• Right click on key frame for key frame options - rove across time - makes the key frame round.
• This spaces them out evenly in between two key frames.
• If all key frames between the start and end point are round, you can drag the first or last key frame to move them all across the timeline.

Hiding layers

• Little man looking over something - allows you to simplify the timeline.
• Click the character to make layers shy - to activate this click the same icon above the layers - make layers hidden, this is good for hiding layers you are finished with.
• If working with illustrator files use this option.
• Difficulties with resolution - drop it to playback.

FX option

• Click on layer - effects and presets, type in what you want (hue and saturation).
• Drag to layer to open.
• Any effect can have a key frame applied to it - so it can change over time.
• Click key frame next to channel range.

Motion blur

• Little coin icon, select this - then click the master version of the icon.
• Works best when working with fast animation.

Adjustment layers - Half black/half white circle icon.

• Top of the layers or over the layers you want it to affect.
• Layer - new - solid - make comp size. Use this layer to create an adjustment.
• Use the same way of putting effects on things as you would a normal layer.

Photoshop - film and video preset HDTV 1080p for our brief.

• Transparent background.
• Save as psd, then open in AE.
• Import one at a time to import it as footage.
• Normal drop down box, click toggle switch/mode to reveal options.
• Blend modes - the same as photoshop.
• Trkmat - transparency of one layer to affect another. This is cool! - Use this.

My own moon test

Rocket

• Copy new element (rocket) into a new composition, at the same size, drag to icon next to 8bpc.
• Composition settings.
• Un-tick the lock aspect ratio and drag the width to a larger value.
• Pan behind tool at the top, change the anchor point.
• Select all key frames, hold alt, then can move them all at once.

Ideas

Make one long texture (like the sky) to move across the entire page.