Path to enlightenment: learning After Effects

trythil · Post by **trythil** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 10:14 pm

doughboy wrote:
trythil wrote:Anyway, even if you don't have the manual, there's this magic thing called the help file.
You can't use a help file if you don't know what to search for. No one in their right mind is gonna know how to learn the render order, power of nesting compostions, and fine tuning animated keyframes by blindly opening a help file.

The only thing the help file taught me was how to mask. It's best to have a "certified instructor" of sorts walk you through the program so it actually makes sense.

I agree that there's no reason to use a compositor with knowing exactly what you're doing: therefore, you should learn exactly what this program is supposed to do! Google "image compositing" and you'll soon come across the idea of compositing algebra, which forms the basis of all this stuff.

No, this won't give you insight into the more advanced features of After Effects, but it WILL give you an idea where to start.

I've been learning Photoshop this way. No, it's not instantaneous; it takes a while. I feel that I'm learning a lot more than by just following some book, though. Of course, YMMV.

Metro · Post by **Metro** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 10:30 pm

doughboy wrote:I recommend -link- whole-heartedly.

This book and volume two are great books and were very helpful for me in learning AE. There is also a book in the same series called "Photoshop for Non Linear Editors" that was helpful in become more skilled at PS.

doughboy · Post by **doughboy** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 10:31 pm

/last stab

I will point out that the best thing about the book I mentioned is it creates scenarios to teach you how not to arrange your compostions. It creates problems anyone can encounter while working w/ the program and gives you insights to catch your mistakes before you make them.

Google that.

Mr Pilkington · Post by **Mr Pilkington** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:44 am

I have come to accept that After Effects is like booze. It gets you nowhere but pissed off and in a fight, and the next morning getting back to square one is a massive headache.

Beowulf wrote:
trythil wrote: read the manual
Can we as a community please just quit lying to ourselves and STOP saying this? If you bought even one Adobe program you are in the very bottom of 1/10th of a percent.

While I somewhat agree, I know several editors who have legit copies. I have even held the box SnhKnives' copy of AE and Premiere came in. Addiction MV 4000 sports several copies of Ulead and a Magix box. And I myself am proud to say I have premiere 6.0, Magix, and MainActor all legally. But I do agree, 99% of the community is... well.... full of shit. But I'm not gonna hate on those, I simply feel its in the best to deter such actions. But contrary to other people's reactions, I do not feel I am any better than they.

Skrasis · Post by **Skrasis** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:50 am

Thanks for your quick responses. Does that book work with a specific version of after effects I use 5.0, i noticed the cover says something about 5.5 but doesnt flat out say After Effects 5.5 or 5.0 for that matter. I will probably pick that book up. Thanks again!

Skrasis

doughboy · Post by **doughboy** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 3:15 am

Skrasis wrote:Does that book work with a specific version of after effects I use 5.0, i noticed the cover says something about 5.5 but doesnt flat out say After Effects 5.5 or 5.0 for that matter.

It's an updated version of an older book (on AE 4.1, the actual book that I have) that includes all the still relevant info and includes updated features found in version 5.5

It won't hurt you, but there will be some material only valid for version 5.5, the core of the program is very much unchanged. All I can assume is different is some new effects, 3d layer properties/effects, expressions, and I think that's the version where they first allowed you to edit masks w/ out switching to a specific layer view.

I think it's still worth getting the book though, I'd expect them to mention how something is new to 5.5, while still explaining how the previous version handled it differently (that's what they did in the older one). The authors are good people. 8)

Ashyukun · Post by **Ashyukun** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 8:43 am

Yeah, as doughboy pointed out, using an older book really won't cause you too much in the way of problems. I was able to get the Classroom in a Book for an older version (4.1, I think) rather cheaply, and it was perfect for learning the basics. I'd recommend it- it's probably not as in-depth as it sounds like the previously recommended book, but it did a great job of getting the basics across to me.

Mr Pilkington wrote:I have come to accept that After Effects is like booze. It gets you nowhere but pissed off and in a fight, and the next morning getting back to square one is a massive headache.

But, like booze and many people, you're quite likely to be right back working with it again and wanting to use it more and more.

OtakuForLife · Post by **OtakuForLife** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 10:42 am

... Probally going to be drinking that booze very
shortly with my next video

Mr Pilkington · Post by **Mr Pilkington** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 1:49 pm

Ashyukun wrote:
Mr Pilkington wrote:I have come to accept that After Effects is like booze. It gets you nowhere but pissed off and in a fight, and the next morning getting back to square one is a massive headache.
But, like booze and many people, you're quite likely to be right back working with it again and wanting to use it more and more.

That was beautiful man

No truer words have ever been spoken.

Pie Row Maniac · Post by **Pie Row Maniac** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 6:22 pm

Well it does make the editing experience more fun

Albeit it takes a lot longer, but that's besides the point actually.