The Ultimate Guide to Adobe After Effects: Master Motion Graphics

DAY 11 :

Basics

• Adobe After Effects is a software used to create animations and special effects for videos. It lets you add motion to graphics, text, and images to make videos more dynamic and engaging.

• To rename the folder or any layer, select and hit enter

Create a composition

• To create a composition, head over to >>Create a new composition

• Consider using a higher frame rate for smooth animation

• We can't keep two elements in a single layer. All elements are kept in different layer

• To play with animation, head over to >>Transform >>Apply keyframes

• If you increase the distance between two keyframes, the animation will load slower

• TIP: To make the animation smoother, >> select the keyframe from the timeline >>Keyframe Assistant >>Easy Ease else use the F9 key for a shortcut

• Anchor Point: An anchor point in After Effects is the point around which a layer scales, rotates and moves.
• To move the anchor point, enable the 'pan behind tool'

DAY: 12

Import and Organize Media

• To import media, head over to >>file >> Import >>File >>Import

• You can organize your media into folders

Composition and Pre-composition

• Composition refers to very basic elements of after-effects. If you want to use this software, you must have at least one composition. In short, it is a collection of different layers, and assets that you will be using to create a particular scene.

• TIP: Press Ctrl+k for composition settings
• TIP: Press Ctrl+D to duplicate the elements

• For pre-composition, >>select the layers >> Right click >>Pre-compose

• After pre-composing, all three layers are merged into a single layer

• You can effortlessly duplicate the layers using pre-composition.

• When you make changes to the actual composition layer, all the precomposing layers adapt to the changes easily, without needing to manipulate each layer.
• To make it clearer, let say you change the color of the square elements from the main composition, and then automatically, the changes will be also be affected by pre-composition elements.

Layer Properties

• Different layer has different properties. You can click > to view the layer properties

Text Layer

• Head over to >>T for Text >>Character

Solid Layer

• To make the layer transparent, >>toogle transparency grid

• To create a solid layer, >>layer >>New >>Solid
• Solid layers are best for background usage as well as a background having effects

Shape Layer

• Head over to >>shape layer >>select and hold to see different shapes
• TIP: Hold the shift key while dragging or drawing the shapes to create perfect geometrical shapes.
• TIP: Hold the Shift key to resize the shapes without distorting the element's sizes.

• Note: Fill= Color Stroke=Border
• TIP: Consider deselecting the layer if you want to create a different layer having its own unique properties

• If the layer is active or selected, then a new layer will automatically be placed into the existing layer. Thus, no new layer will be created

DAY:13

Adjustment Layer

• If you want to apply effects on multiple layers at once, use the adjustment layer
• Head over to >>layer >>New >>Adjustment layer

Blending Modes

• To active blend modes, >>click on Toggle switches/menu

• You can toggle different blend modes from the 'Mode' section

Introduction To Keyframes

• Anchor Point: It is a point where changes begin to [ scale, position,....}
• You can move this point and choose a specific area to revolve animation around the points

• You can use keyframes along with layers of different properties to animate your elements.
• To active keyframes, active 'stop-watch'

Smooth Animation with Speed Graph

• Use the Shortcut key 'F9' for smooth animation
• To active speed graph, firstly you should enable smooth animation and then you could able to use the speed graph. TIP: Select all keyframes together and press F9 on the timeline.
• To active speed graph, firstly select the keyframes from timeline and head over to >>Graph Editor >>Right click and check 'edit speed graph'

• The speed graph represents the parabola curve, a curve facing upwards in both axes =high animation speed, and vice-versa.

Masking

• Masking is used for showing specific parts of any elements, hiding the unimportant parts mainly from videos and images
• Masking can be easily activated on After Effects, select the tool either pen or geometrical shapes, and drag and drop over the elements for masking.

DAY 14:

Track Matte in After Effect

• In After Effects, Track Matte Alpha lets you hide or show parts of a layer using another layer’s shape.
• In simplest words, [matte for square] is called a container, and a square can be called an item that only moves inside the container

• With, Alpha Inverted Matt the picture will only show through the parts of the bottom layer that are clear or see-through, and it will be hidden where the bottom layer is solid.

• Similarly, The image is only visible under the custom shape with Track Matte Alpha

• The image is only visible outside of the custom shape with Alpha Inverted Matt

Making Clock Animation

DAY: 15

Parent & Link

• To replicate the keyframes into any other layer, use parent & link.
• To apply parent and link, just drag and drop the parent property from the child on the layer >>tail

• TIP: Press the n key for the specific length duration of the video

Null Object

• Null object helps to apply keyframes on multiple layers simultaneously. It can apply the same effects on multiple layers easily
• You can select the layers and apply the same effects over multiple layers or elements.
• Head over to >>Layer >>New >>Null Object

Adding Effects

• Head over to >>Effects & Presets panel to access tons of pre-built effects

• You can customize the effects as per your requirements

• You can enable or disable the effects through Fx

DAY 16:

Rendering Composition

• To export the composition, head over to >>Composition >>Add to render queue
• To rename the composition and its location >>Output To

• Simply click on >>"render" to save your composition

Expression

• To active expression, hold the stop-watch and alt key simultaneously

Camera Tracking

Camera tracking in After Effects analyzes footage to create a virtual camera that matches the real one, allowing for seamless integration of 3D elements into the scene.

Motion Tracking

Motion tracking in After Effects involves analyzing a video to follow and replicate the movement of a specific object or feature, enabling the attachment of graphics or effects to that moving element.

Working with PSD and Ai file

• After Effects allows you to use PSD and AI files and edit accordingly
• The only difference is composition lets you edit the layers where footage doesnt let you edit the layers

Day: 17

Text Animation

• Source text lets you animate the text with the help of keyframes

• Select all keyframes and use the alt key to maintain the distance between the keyframes or make it proportionally equal. Drag the last keyframe to maintain the distance equally between keyframes.

• You can animate text in a certain path [shapes] with the help of Path options.

• You can explore various animation effects from animation presets for text

• The most commonly used animation effects on text is: Typewriter

DAY: 18

Puppet Tool

• The Puppet tool in After Effects lets you manipulate and animate graphics or images by pinning specific points, allowing you to create complex movements, distortions, and fluid animations by dragging and positioning these pins. It's useful for animating characters, fabric, or any other layered elements in a way that simulates real-world motion and deformation.

Rotoscoping

• You can mask any object using rotoscoping

Shape Layer & Modifiers

• A shape layer in After Effects is a type of layer that contains vector shapes, which can be animated and customized using various shape properties and effects.
• A modifier in After Effects is an effect or tool applied to layers that alter their properties or appearance, allowing for creative adjustments and enhancements.

Day 19

Today, I imported After Effects templates from the web and learned how to edit them in After Effects.

• Head over to >>Motion array for free after effects >> Download the template >>Open the template with after affects >>Edit >>Export
• LINK: https://motionarray.com/

DAY: 20

• Head over to dafont.com

• Download any font you like
• Extract it
• After extracting it, select font variation and click on install

• Finally, you can use this font on After Effects

• Free Designer Resources: https://gift4designer.net/