Animate text, graphics, and video in After Effects, learning motion design techniques that bring visual stories and concepts to life.
Learn to create compelling video content with Adobe After Effects. This course covers the basics of animation, text effects, and file integration needed to start creating impressive visual content from scratch. Get hands-on experience with real-world projects taught by an experienced instructor.
Learn motion graphics and visual effects with Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro. Develop your skills in animation, video editing, and special effects, and create a motion graphics demo reel to showcase your work to potential clients or employers.
Develop high-impact motion graphics and visual effects while preparing for the Adobe After Effects Certification exam through hands-on classes and private tutoring. This in-depth program covers beginner to advanced techniques, equipping you with the skills and credentials to stand out in animation and video production.
Dive into the dynamic world of Adobe After Effects with this advanced course, designed to elevate your animation and motion graphics skills. From mastering 3D layers and custom shapes to optimizing animations with expressions, you'll create captivating visuals that stand out in any project.
This course unlocks the power of Adobe After Effects, teaching you to create stunning visual effects and professional-grade motion graphics. Master techniques like motion tracking, compositing, and time remapping to take your video projects to new heights of creativity and impact.
Become a skilled Video Editor and Motion Graphics Designer by learning Adobe Premiere Pro, and After Effects. Develop creative techniques and concepts for editing videos, and showcase your skills by creating a professional demo reel.
Adobe After Effects is one of the most popular post-production motion graphics editing applications available on the consumer market. It is used for composite imaging, animation, tracking and chroma key work on film, television, online video projects, and video games. Almost every video project makes use of motion graphics design technology, and After Effects is an accessible tool for learning how to create 3D digital animated assets to be added to a video file. Whether creating an entire scene from scratch, animating a 3D animated character for a film, or simply digitally adding lighting and effects to a live-action scene, After Effects sees use in almost every professionally made video project.
As video content has become one of the most popular types of content on the web, developing motion graphics for video has become a fulfilling career in its own right. Whereas the resources needed to create these effects were once limited to the world’s top production houses, today, creative agencies and video studios across the country have access to various motion graphics creation tools.
These two trends have made starting a motion graphics career easy and fulfilling. Individuals looking to break into the industry should consider one technical skill to help make it possible: Adobe After Effects. As one of the most popular motion graphics programs available today, After Effects is a crucial cornerstone for any professional Video Editor or motion graphics artist’s resume.
Part of what makes After Effects so central to a motion graphics career is its sheer versatility. In addition to being a popular green screen compositing tool, for example, After Effects also gives users the tools to create various 2D and 3D animations. Adding to this value is After Effects’ inclusion in Adobe’s Creative Cloud software suite, which offers powerful cross-integrations between After Effects and other important creative programs such as Illustrator, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro. This makes learning After Effects a crucial and powerful technical skill for any aspiring motion graphics artist.
Want to make a slick-looking title sequence with text alone? After Effects can do that. Want to animate a storybook-style tale about aliens and dragons? After Effects can do that. Want to work with 3D footage? Make a 3D visual effect without the work of a 3D program? Want to use vector files and bitmap ones with audio and texture effects? Yes, After Effects can do all of that and more. It can even create a usable character rig with its Puppet Pin tool, turning static character drawings into moving, expressive animations with just a few clicks.
And all that only touches the surface of After Effects’s motion graphics capabilities. It’s well known for its compositing tools as well. In particular, After Effects’ Keylight tool gives users the ability to quickly and effectively clean up and apply green-screened footage to projects. It has an array of fine-tuning controls as well to allow for the perfect compositing effect.
By bringing in different kinds of footage, After Effects can combine each to create a seamless single video, from inserting dragons into a suburb to duplicating an actor to make two of them in one shot. This versatility means that After Effects will be used in virtually every project requiring any significant digital alteration in the post-production process.
After Effects, of course, is known especially for its library of visual effects. With just a few clicks, you can add lighting to your footage, or a drop shadow, change the color of an object, change the color of an entire piece, make fireworks, make smoke, make bubbles, add text, and hundreds more options. These effects are easily accessible and used, able to be layered to produce just the exact look you need.
After Effects also boasts 2.5D, an application that can transform flat, static objects into seeming 3D with a bit of visual illusion. It can also be used in conjunction with Cinema 4D Lite, which is available to access within After Effects. This program is a true 3D application and can be an excellent way to learn the basics of 3D.
If you learn how to use this program well, you will have all the knowledge you need to create Hollywood-grade video effects. After Effects is used in large and small capacities on film and television sets, making it an important part of filmmaking. It is most obvious in its use for creating incredibly elaborate special effects or 3D animated films. After Effects is vital in bringing fantastic scenes, creatures, and sets to life.
It is also utilized heavily in minor ways. After Effects can be used to digitally alter the display of a television screen digitally, making it clearer to audiences, or it can be used to remove the brand logo from a shirt that an extra is wearing in a scene. It isn’t even only used in the context of filmmaking. Nearly every ad you see today has been touched up with After Effects. Its ubiquity and power make it a “must-learn” program.
Motion Designers and Video Editors with Adobe After Effects expertise is in-demand. Learning to use this software will prepare you to develop animations, dynamic presentations, commercials, YouTube videos, TV shows and movies. Pairing After Effects with video editing in Premiere Pro is a useful combo of naturally complementary skills. Learn After Effects, and you become a creative powerhouse all on your own.
While programs like After Effects have made creating motion graphics more accessible than ever, technical skills alone may not be enough to jump-start a career alone. However, by combining knowledge of programs like After Effects and Premiere Pro with storytelling and artistic skills, professionals can qualify for a variety of video editing and motion graphics careers.
After Effects is also used by 2D Animators and 3D Animators looking to build computer-aided animated assets. These animators focus on taking a static image and adding the illusion of weight and movement to it. Animation is utilized in a wide variety of different projects and as technology improves and processing power becomes more cost-effective, more and more projects are taking advantage of the creative potential offered by 3D digital animation.
Since many of the skills between video editing and motion graphics design overlap, professionals looking for After Effects-related jobs have a fairly wide variety of career fields to choose from. Foremost among these are positions as a motion graphics artist or Animator, which can pay anywhere from $55,000 to $80,000 per year, according to recent job listings. After Effects experts who are skilled in video storytelling can also apply for positions as video editors and technicians, which tend to pay between $40,000 and $65,000 per year, depending on the city and company.
Several motion graphics programs are popular, including After Effects. However, After Effects has become the industry standard. It’s considered by professionals to be the best motion graphics and animation software.
After Effects is more specialized and goes beyond the essentials covered by other motion graphics programs. With After Effects, you can create 2D and 3D animations with vectors and rasterized art; import photos and other physical media into your animations; and composite multiple images into one shot.
With dozens of ways to master After Effects available to learners today, trying to wade through all of your options can be a dizzying experience at best. To help future After Effects experts make this important decision, Noble Desktop has created a tool that allows users to compare After Effects classes available virtually and in-person in their city.
Some students may prefer the traditional classroom environment and facilities offered as part of an in-person After Effects class. These courses give students the opportunity to learn After Effects skills from professional instructors in a dedicated classroom space that is designed to facilitate their learning. Since video projects tend to be collaborative endeavors, students will also benefit from being able to learn alongside a cohort of like-minded peers. Instructors can provide students with direct feedback on their work and provide assistance when things become challenging. The drawback to these courses is that students can only enroll in courses that they can physically attend, which can restrict the options available to them.
While the availability of these classes depends on region, some of the country’s largest providers of in-person After Effects classes include Ledet Training, Future Media Concepts, and Certstaffix Training. While Ledet Training and Future Media Concepts’ classes are predominantly in-person, Certstaffix Training offers a hybrid model that combines remote instruction with in-person access to facilities and equipment.
Learners seeking in-person training through these providers have both beginner and more advanced opportunities to choose from. For example, Future Media Concepts and Ledet Training offer multiple different levels of training in After Effects, depending on a user’s pre-existing skill level, while Certstaffix Training focuses exclusively on beginners.
Learners looking to master After Effects should also consider the benefits a virtual course can offer them. These courses have become particularly popular in recent years due to their unique combination of high-quality learning and access to instructors with the ability to complete lessons entirely remotely. As a result, these classes are especially suited for students seeking a more flexible learning journey than an in-person class can provide. Students will still be able to receive feedback and assistance from live instructors, and they will have the advantage of learning After Effects on their personal devices. After Effects is among the more processing-power-intensive programs within the Adobe Creative Cloud, so students must ensure that they have a device that can run the program while attending an online class.
As a leading provider of in-person and virtual tech education for over 30 years, Noble Desktop offers various virtual After Effects classes perfect for learners of all time commitments. In addition to offering multiple levels of After Effects classes such as their After Effects Bootcamp. In this class, students will learn how to create animated assets using photos, texts, and graphics, add audio to those animations and prepare those assets to be edited into a separate video file. This course is a great place for students looking to learn the basics of video post-production, and they will be ready to take these skills with them as they learn more about animation and video editing.
Noble Desktop also provides learners with comprehensive After Effects programs like the Video Editing and Motion Graphics Certificate program. Through this program, learners are equipped with everything they need to know to help jump-start their motion graphics career and develop a stunning portfolio. They will learn advanced After Effects skills, animation and design principles, and how to use Adobe Premiere Pro to insert animated titles, logos, and 3D assets into a completed video project. This career-focused program aims to take animation novices and prepare them for a career in motion graphics design. In addition to working on a professional demo reel to impress potential employers, students can also take advantage of one-on-one career mentorship services.
UCLA Extension offers a pair of Motion Graphics I and Motion Graphics II courses that are an ideal fit for new students looking to learn animation techniques (including After Effects) or advanced animators looking to improve their skills. These online courses will provide students with hands-on training in basic and advanced After Effects functionalities, including how to create basic animated assets, how to add those assets to static infographics and how to utilize After Effects collaboration tools. In the advanced course, students will learn how to use the Cinema 4D features including in After Effects, and they will learn advanced After Effects skills utilized in 3D rendering and compositing. These are ideal courses for students looking to master advanced motion graphics and After Effects skills.
Training service providers, including Ledet Training, Lumenbrite, Training Connections, ONLC, and New Horizons, all offer beginner-friendly and advanced After Effects training programs in a live online format. These are all ideal places to receive introductory or advanced After Effects training. To learn more about the various options for in-person or live online After Effects classes in your area, consider utilizing Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool.
Noble Desktop’s affiliate companies also offer virtual After Effects training. For example, NYIM Training’s virtual After Effects classes include a popular After Effects in a Day course, which quickly brings students up to speed on the basic features of the software.
The amount of time it will take you to learn After Effects depends on how much time you can dedicate to working with the program each day. If you dedicate a large portion of your week to learning After Effects, you can become proficient in the program in about two months. To do so, however, you’ll need to spend several hours per week focusing on essential motion design concepts. This includes workflows, organizations, designs, color, and more.
One of the best ways to learn After Effects thoroughly is by enrolling in After Effects classes. Classes are taught by expert instructors who will walk you step-by-step by using After Effects. You’ll spend time learning core concepts and getting hands-on experience using the program.
After Effects has a steep learning curve and is time-consuming. It’s a professional-grade software, so beginner-level users may be confused by its interface and tools. This can result in frustration and a reluctance to continue learning how to use the program. Individuals with animation and video production experience will have an easier time starting out with After Effects than those who do not.
However, learning After Effects isn’t impossible. With enough effort, time, and quality instruction, you can become a skilled After Effects user.
After Effects is a powerful program that excels in creating motion graphics. Motion graphics is the method of animating graphic designs, and is popular in branding, marketing, and advertisements. As demand for video continues to grow, so does the need for After Effects.
Designers often create static layouts in Photoshop and Illustrator and then want them animated. In a beginner class for After Effects, methods such as importing vector-based designs from Illustrator and pixel-based designs from Photoshop will be covered. Those designs can then be animated in After Effects. Keyframes will be introduced, which is a cornerstone of After Effects animation. By placing down certain points in time, and then modifying their properties, After Effects will smoothly transition from one keyframe to another. Transformations like altering opacity, rotation, size, and position will be covered, allowing for simple animations like a shrinking circle or a traveling square. Another starting technique is parenting, which connects two different objects in a composition. This connection will allow a user to make a change to the “parent” object, which will then automatically replicate onto the “child” object. With this, a user can have a square rotate with circles revolving around it, for instance.
At the intermediate course level, users start with understanding how to make basic shapes, work more with layers and composition. Now more complex animations can be achieved, like making cartoon flowers in Illustrator, and having them dance around in After Effects, on top of a Photoshop image background. Precomps will be covered, being folders that layers can be placed into. This allows changes to be made to multiple layers at once, helps with keeping the workspace tidy, and Precomps can even be rendered into a video on their own. Puppet Pin will be a topic as well, being a method by which “pins” are inserted with clicks onto a figure. The figure then can be animated by moving the pins around. This allows for actual character animation, which can be combined with importing a vector file to be animated and then altered using Puppet Pin. Effects will be introduced, giving users the ability to add lightning, color changes, bubbles, and a host of other options to their work. Finally, the Graph Editor will be brought up, allowing users to fine-tune the pace of their animations. This allows for more nuanced animation, having objects slide to a halt or speed up midway, rather than a mechanical stop and start.
Advanced classes will educate students about Expressions, ways to use code in their projects that allow for repetitive animations that would otherwise be a hassle to animate. These include looping, having their size be determined by the volume of an audio track, and more. Motion tracking is another advanced skill, giving users the ability to “track” the movement of a particular point in their footage, and then apply that data to a different object. An example would be having footage of someone waving a cell phone, and then inserting a different video into the cell phone screen, having the inserted video follow around the tracked cell phone screen.
Alpha channels and track mattes are other advanced techniques, which can allow objects to seemingly disappear or slide in and out of view in a composition by using color data. More complex, subtle effects can be worked in, like altering shadows, adding light sources and reflections, to add some realism to projects.
After Effects is great for motion graphics, but it can also be harnessed to produce quality character animation. This is animation revolving more around representational figures and backgrounds, with movement meant to simulate or exaggerate their real-world counterparts.
A beginning course would start with the simple process of importing frames that can be made in Photoshop beforehand. Then, After Effects’ Keyframe Assistant can be used to sequence all of the frames in order with a few clicks. Then, each frame’s length can be adjusted individually. They can also be placed right into After Effects as a footage clip, which would make them come in as one solid item, able to be manipulated as a group.
These methods are good for quickly ordering animation frames made elsewhere, and then being able to finetune the resulting sequence. Animatics, animated storyboards, are also made through this method. A notable example is the “100 Mile Dash” scene from Pixar’s The Incredibles, which was composed of storyboards imported into After Effects and then animated in sequence to get a feel for the scene in motion.
Intermediate techniques covered in a class include the Puppet Pin tool. This technique involves placing “pins” into an object and then manipulating those pins to animate the object. This is useful for character animation, as seen in the show “Archer”. There, the production team creates assets in Illustrator and then imports them into After Effects to be animated. Precomps are another technique used, placing layers into folders to keep them tidy among other things, and the Graph Editor can be used to carefully finetune animation.
In an Advanced course, students learn how to use Expressions, snippets of code used to maintain animations that would otherwise be repetitive to create. Things like looping a walk cycle, a background, or a character on a bicycle benefit from Expressions. A well-versed knowledge of the Graph Editor is also valuable in advanced animation, as an expert will bring their basic animation up to incredibly subtle and nuanced movement with it, as opposed to simply stop and start motions.
After Effects is widely used for creating animated title sequences and intros, like the kind often seen in Youtube videos, or even television shows. Every level of study will cover typography and design concepts, with each level delving further into these topics.
In a beginner course, pieces like a title sliding across a screen are created with tools like text and shapes. Importing Illustrator and Photoshop files will be covered. Students will learn about keyframes, the main method of animation in After Effects, and some basic drag and drop effects. These add visual flairs like lighting or bubbles.
At an intermediate level, topics like color adjustments, simulation effects, and parenting will be introduced. Add to that precomps and masks, and more complex title sequences can be accomplished. An example would be multiple pieces of type moving in concert as fireworks effects go off around them. Live footage is introduced, like adding a night sky background to the example mentioned.
Advanced courses will cover track mattes, alpha channels, and coded expressions that allow for automated animation that would otherwise be a hassle to create. Fine-tuning the motion graphics workflow will also be a topic of focus. An example of advanced title sequence animation would be for something like a music channel. The text can twirl out from behind a figure, while an audio waveform pulses to the beat. The entire animation can be overlaid with layer styles on some footage modified with effects.
After Effects is the go-to software for animating logos. For design flare, an app that needs a loading screen, or for an eye-catching moment in a YouTube video, After Effects has the tools necessary for great logo animation. At each level of study, typography and design concepts will be explored with further and further depth.
In a beginner course, students will understand keyframes and the Timeline. These are the basis of making objects move within After Effects. Importing Illustrator and Photoshop files would be discussed as well. An example project created at a beginner level would be something like having a coffee cup drop down from the top of the screen to land on some rising text, for a cafe’s app animation. Another idea could be to have a cat silhouette fade in over some Photoshop images of shelter cats, for an adoption center’s Instagram account.
Intermediate classes would introduce masks, color adjustment effects, track mattes, and notably, 2.5D. 2.5D is a visual effect present in After Effects that gives the illusion of 3D figures. An intermediate example of logo animation could be a book that leans back, opens, and has words rise out of it, fit for a library’s welcome center. For a packaging store’s window display, a logo animation could be a box being opened, then angled to display the store’s logo within.
At an advanced course level, expressions are explored. These are snippets of code that allow repetitive animations like looping to be automated. Besides 2.5D work, After Effects also offers 3D compatibility with its Cinema 4D Lite plugin. With this feature, 3D logos can be created and animated within After Effects. A kitchen supply company’s site could have an animation of a 3D apple being peeled, with the peel forming the logo’s shape. Footage can be incorporated, like having the background be a nicely lit kitchen. Another idea for a music store’s online social media videos could be a 3D keyboard having its keys pressed down with the logo forming out of musical notes.
After Effects is used commonly for video compositing, the art of taking different footage elements and combining them to create a seamless video.
Beginner courses will start with importing isolated footage and placing it into another video. Things like placing a video of flying birds into footage of a sky, or perhaps even some animated footage into a real-world background video. Text can be incorporated as well, with shadow effects being brought in to make it look like the words are right there in the live footage.
Intermediate level compositing classes will introduce green screening. This method involves footage shot in front of a literal green screen and After Effects’ Keylight plugin. The program can eliminate backgrounds of a solid color and leave the rest of the footage intact. More effects are brought into the process, with color editing, more nuanced shadows, and some lights being used to give composite objects a more natural look. Blending modes are another technique used to deepen shadows, make lighter lights, and create reflections on surfaces.
Advanced compositing courses will teach motion tracking, which allows users to take movement data from a specified point and apply it to a different object. This translates to things like replacing the image on a moving truck, or someone’s shirt or even placing footage into a cell phone someone is waving around in a video. Being able to utilize shadow, color, and light effects will of course be important, having a nuanced understanding of how they interact with each other and the footage. Like any good composite, selling the illusion is key. To that end, knowing how and where to apply lighting effects is a valuable skill. 3D footage can also be used. For instance, if someone animated a 3D dragon and wanted to place it into a video of a park, they would use After Effects to add shadows and lights and reflections in such a way as to make the combined footage seem real. Track mattes and alpha channels are also features used in advanced compositing. Understanding these can allow users to make certain areas of footage invisible, which is invaluable when needing to isolate footage for a project.
One of the benefits of After Effects is that it can be integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud and third-party applications and programs such as Cinema 4D Lite.
Adobe Creative Cloud is a set of applications and services offered by Adobe. Subscribers to Creative Cloud have access to a wide range of programs used for graphic design, motion graphics, video editing, web development, and more. Adobe offers single-app and all-app plans for Creative Cloud. For $35.99/month you can pay for access to your choice of Adobe app, or you can pay $84.99/month to receive access to 20+ desktop and mobile apps. A free trial is available for the all-app plan if you’d like to test the applications and services first.
Photoshop is one of the 20 applications offered within Adobe Creative Cloud. Photoshop is primarily used for image editing, retouching, compositing, and adding effects. The program has become industry-standard photo editing software and is commonly used by Photographers, Graphic Designers, and Video Editors.
Photoshop and After Effects can be used to prepare, manipulate, and animate images. First, you’ll create the image you want in Photoshop. The program allows you to edit your image and create layers. These layers can then be duplicated and imported to After Effects. Once you have your images in After Effects, you’ll be able to use the program’s features to animate them.
It’s ideal to learn Photoshop before learning After Effects, but they can be learned in tandem. If you’re interested in Photoshop and how it can help streamline the animation process, check out Noble Desktop’s Photoshop Classes Near Me search tool to find in-person classes in your area. If you’d prefer to learn remotely, look at the Best Photoshop Classes Online.
Adobe Illustrator is a graphics editor and design program that lets users create vector graphics. Illustrator is an accessible, user-friendly, versatile program that allows for endless exporting options. The program is commonly used by Graphic Designers to create logos, promotional and branded content, website graphics, and digital artwork.
Like Photoshop, the program is used to create graphics that will serve as the editing layers within After Effects. Once imported to After Effects, the program will be used to customize the layers with motion effects. Check out Noble Desktop’ Illustrator Classes Near Me or Best Illustrator Classes Online tools to find a class in your area that can help you get started with Adobe Illustrator.
Another popular motion graphics program is Adobe Animate. However, Animate is used for different purposes than After Effects. Animate is commonly used to develop motion graphics for web-based content. On the other hand, After Effects is used by professionals in the post-production phase of editing film, television, and web content.
Adobe Animate is considered easier to learn than After Effects. But it’s beneficial to learn both programs. Learning both will allow you to specialize in different areas and learn how to develop motion graphics for a variety of content types. This can open you up to a wide range of career options or can assist you in the creation of your own content.
Enroll in an Adobe Animate class to learn more about the world of motion graphics. You can check out Noble Desktop’s Best Adobe Animate Classes Near Me search tool to find beginner-level classes in your area or check out their list of Best Adobe Animate Classes Online for a more flexible, remote learning experience.
Cinema 4D Lite is a 3D creation and animation software included for free in After Effects. The software is the lite version of Maxon Cinema 4D. With Cinema 4D Lite, After Effects users can learn how to create and work with 3D models and assets. These models and other elements can be easily integrated into compositions made with After Effects. Learning Cinema 4D within After Effects is a great way to expand your skill set.
Learning Cinema 4D Lite will provide you with an introduction to Cinema 4D. After you have gained experience with Cinema 4D Lite, you can try out the more advanced software, which is used in the film industry for modeling and rendering. This software is a powerful animation tool used for 3D modeling, rigging, animation, simulations, and rendering.
You can enroll in Noble Desktop’s live online and New York-based Cinema 4D in After Effects Bootcamp after you’ve gained a working knowledge of After Effects by taking their After Effects Bootcamp. This course, and others like it, will teach you how to enhance your animations with Cinema 4D Lite. The hands-on learning style will give you the chance to create 3D-based motion projects.
You can also check out Noble Desktop’s Cinema 4D Classes Near Me search tool to find in-person classes in your area. If you have a busy schedule, you might consider looking for live online Cinema 4D Classes that can be taken from the comfort of your home or office.