Engineering Bldng: Room 215C
Thur 6:30pm–9:20pm
Instructor Contact Info:
yparshin@pratt.edu | yparshina@gmail.com | 646-733-6502
Course Description:
In this class we will cover the basics of After Effects animation and dive into more complex motion graphics techniques. You will develop an understanding of timing, rhythm and composition; learn to create unique effects and apply them with taste; master various methods of animating text and manipulating videos; explore After Effects 3d tools... And watch lots of animation!
Materials:
I prefer online tutorials over printed textbooks due to the constantly changing nature of motion graphics software. However, if you feel more comfortable with a textbook, I am including several print recommendations.
Online:
www.lynda.com (paid subscription)
www.creativecow.com
www.adobe.com/support/aftereffects
www.motionographer.com
Print:
Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects (CS5 edition) by Chris and Trish Meyer
Adobe After Effects CS5 Classroom in a Book by the Adobe Creative Team
Grading policy:
Weekly projects = 60%
Final project = 20%
Attendance & Participation = 20%
yparshin@pratt.edu | yparshina@gmail.com | 646-733-6502
Course Description:
In this class we will cover the basics of After Effects animation and dive into more complex motion graphics techniques. You will develop an understanding of timing, rhythm and composition; learn to create unique effects and apply them with taste; master various methods of animating text and manipulating videos; explore After Effects 3d tools... And watch lots of animation!
Materials:
I prefer online tutorials over printed textbooks due to the constantly changing nature of motion graphics software. However, if you feel more comfortable with a textbook, I am including several print recommendations.
Online:
www.lynda.com (paid subscription)
www.creativecow.com
www.adobe.com/support/aftereffects
www.motionographer.com
Print:
Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects (CS5 edition) by Chris and Trish Meyer
Adobe After Effects CS5 Classroom in a Book by the Adobe Creative Team
Grading policy:
Weekly projects = 60%
Final project = 20%
Attendance & Participation = 20%
Tutoring:
If you are having trouble with any aspect of After Effects or related software, please let me know ASAP and I will arrange an in-person or on-line tutoring session.
introductions
Lesson: After Effects basics
Project organization
Composition settings: resolution, aspect ratio, frame rate, duration
Understanding different formats for various project types
Interface: Project, Compositions, Timeline and Tool windows
Importing media: still images, video, audio
Reloading media
Working with layers on a timeline: duplicating, cutting/pasting, duration
Understanding frames
Transform properties: anchor point, position, scale, rotation, opacity
Using audio waveforms as a rhythm guide
Exporting
Compression
Project #1: “A Simple Story” (Due: Sep 08)
WEEK 2: SEP 08, 2011
Submit: Project #1 “A Simple Story”
Troubleshooting /reloading media
Lesson: Animating—theory and keyframes
Working with keyframes
Motion path
Auto-orient
Using illustrator paths as motion paths
Motion theory
Types of keyframes: linear, ease in-out/easy ease, hold, rove
Working with the graph editor
Parenting: objects, null objects
Planning your animation—creating thumbnail sketches
Project #2 (part 1): “Geometric Shapes” thumbnail sketches and trimmed soundtrack (Due: Sep 15)
Lesson: Imported and AE native media
Importing Photoshop layers and Illustrator layers
Masks
Solid layers
Shape layers
Lesson: Precomping and Nesting
Precoming/nesting
Collapse transformations
Keeping comps organized
Project #2 (part 2): “Geometric Shapes” animation (Due: Sep 22)
Lesson: 3D Layers
3D layers: z dimension in transform properties
Using 3D cameras
Pre-comping/nesting with 3D layers
Using 3D lights
Casting shadows
Material options
Bringing 2D images to life using 3D layers
Project #3: “Travel Through a Photograph” (Due: Sep 29)
Lesson: Type
Importing text from Photoshop and Illustrator
Converting to editable text
Creating text in After Effects
Character and paragraph tools
Manual text animation: text guides; animating back to front
Animating text with paths
Text animators
Lesson: Blending modes—creating manual effects
Using and combining blending modes
Working with organic materials
Collapsing transformations
Silhouette Alpha/Luma & Stensil Alpha/Luma
Lesson: Track mattes
Alpha vs Luma mattes
Lesson: Working with video footage
Import settings in detail (interpret footage)
Manipulating speed: time stretch, time reverse, time remapping
Lesson: Effects (part 1)
Applying effects to a layer
Effects controls/setting keyframes
Working with adjustment layers
Effects categories:
Color Correction
Blur-Sharpen
Stylize
Project #4: “Song Lyrics” (Due: Oct 20)
Lesson: Effects (part 2)
Effects Categories:
Distort
Perspective
Transition
Generate
Time effects
Simulation
If you are having trouble with any aspect of After Effects or related software, please let me know ASAP and I will arrange an in-person or on-line tutoring session.
WEEK 1: SEP 1, 2011
review syllabus introductions
Lesson: After Effects basics
Project organization
Composition settings: resolution, aspect ratio, frame rate, duration
Understanding different formats for various project types
Interface: Project, Compositions, Timeline and Tool windows
Importing media: still images, video, audio
Reloading media
Working with layers on a timeline: duplicating, cutting/pasting, duration
Understanding frames
Transform properties: anchor point, position, scale, rotation, opacity
Using audio waveforms as a rhythm guide
Exporting
Compression
Project #1: “A Simple Story” (Due: Sep 08)
WEEK 2: SEP 08, 2011
Submit: Project #1 “A Simple Story”
Troubleshooting /reloading media
Lesson: Animating—theory and keyframes
Working with keyframes
Motion path
Auto-orient
Using illustrator paths as motion paths
Motion theory
Types of keyframes: linear, ease in-out/easy ease, hold, rove
Working with the graph editor
Parenting: objects, null objects
Planning your animation—creating thumbnail sketches
Project #2 (part 1): “Geometric Shapes” thumbnail sketches and trimmed soundtrack (Due: Sep 15)
WEEK 3: SEP 15, 2011
Submit: “Geometric Shapes” thumbnail sketches and trimmed soundtrack Lesson: Imported and AE native media
Importing Photoshop layers and Illustrator layers
Masks
Solid layers
Shape layers
Lesson: Precomping and Nesting
Precoming/nesting
Collapse transformations
Keeping comps organized
Project #2 (part 2): “Geometric Shapes” animation (Due: Sep 22)
WEEK 4: SEP 22, 2011
Submit: “Geometric Shapes” animationLesson: 3D Layers
3D layers: z dimension in transform properties
Using 3D cameras
Pre-comping/nesting with 3D layers
Using 3D lights
Casting shadows
Material options
Bringing 2D images to life using 3D layers
Project #3: “Travel Through a Photograph” (Due: Sep 29)
WEEK 5: SEP 29, 2011
Submit: “Travel Through a Photograph”Lesson: Type
Importing text from Photoshop and Illustrator
Converting to editable text
Creating text in After Effects
Character and paragraph tools
Manual text animation: text guides; animating back to front
Animating text with paths
Text animators
WEEK 6: OCT 6, 2011
Review Type animation toolsLesson: Blending modes—creating manual effects
Using and combining blending modes
Working with organic materials
Collapsing transformations
Silhouette Alpha/Luma & Stensil Alpha/Luma
Lesson: Track mattes
Alpha vs Luma mattes
Lesson: Working with video footage
Import settings in detail (interpret footage)
Manipulating speed: time stretch, time reverse, time remapping
Lesson: Effects (part 1)
Applying effects to a layer
Effects controls/setting keyframes
Working with adjustment layers
Effects categories:
Color Correction
Blur-Sharpen
Stylize
Project #4: “Song Lyrics” (Due: Oct 20)
WEEK 7: OCT 13, 2011
Submit: “Song Lyrics” Lesson: Effects (part 2)
Effects Categories:
Distort
Perspective
Transition
Generate
Time effects
Simulation
Project #5 (part 1): “Ransom Note” style frames (Due: Oct 27)
WEEK 8: OCT 20, 2011
Lesson: Introduction to Expressions(with Robert Paynter: www.robertpaynter.com)
WEEK 9: OCT 27, 2011
Submit: “Ransom Note” style framesLesson: Effects (part 3)
Simulation category
Stroke effect (generate)—animating handwriting
Lesson: Organic effects
Using footage of organic materials to create stylized effects
Creating mattes with smoke footage for transitions
Creating stylized spatter effect using footage
Faking a spatter effect with stills
Using Roughen Edges effect to fake an ink-stain
Project #5 (part 2): “Ransom Note” rough animation (Due: Nov3)
Lesson: Stop-motion with After Effects
Using stills to create interesting stop-motion effects
Transforming video into stop-motion
Introduction to the "digital puppeting" technique
Lesson: Paint tool
Frame by frame animation
Animating Paint Effect strokes
Project #5 (part 3): “Ransom Note” final animation (Due: Nov10)
Lesson: Rotoscoping
Manual techniques
CS5 roto brush tool
Rotoscoping a human shape
Masking hair
Lesson: Green screen
Using various Keying techniques
Blending keyed footage with the new background
Keying hair
Project #6: "Green Screen Composite" (Due: Nov 17)
Lesson: Tracker tool
Motion tracking
Stabilizing footage
Project #5 (part 2): “Ransom Note” rough animation (Due: Nov3)
WEEK 10: NOV 3, 2011
Submit: “Ransom Note” rough animationLesson: Stop-motion with After Effects
Using stills to create interesting stop-motion effects
Transforming video into stop-motion
Introduction to the "digital puppeting" technique
Lesson: Paint tool
Frame by frame animation
Animating Paint Effect strokes
Project #5 (part 3): “Ransom Note” final animation (Due: Nov10)
WEEK 11: NOV 10, 2011
Submit: “Ransom Note” final animationLesson: Rotoscoping
Manual techniques
CS5 roto brush tool
Rotoscoping a human shape
Masking hair
Lesson: Green screen
Using various Keying techniques
Blending keyed footage with the new background
Keying hair
Project #6: "Green Screen Composite" (Due: Nov 17)
WEEK 12: NOV 17, 2011
Submit: "Green Screen Composite"Lesson: Tracker tool
Motion tracking
Stabilizing footage
Lesson: Motion Sketch
Final Project: Begin working on your final reel (Due: Dec 8)
Final Project: Begin working on your final reel (Due: Dec 8)
WEEK 13: NOV 24, 2011
Thanksgiving Break–no class WEEK 14: DEC 1, 2011
In-class work sessionWEEK 15: DEC 8, 2011
Submit: Final ProjectLesson: Plug-ins
No comments:
Post a Comment