What You’ll Learn

Create animations using graphics, text, and photos

Become familiar with the interface, timeline, and layers

Use video footage to create a movie title sequence

Create TV content and ads using real-world graphics

Sync and edit animations to audio

Create dynamic transitions

Learn animation principles to create fluid, realistic animations

Build 3D objects incorporating video clips

Add lighting and shadows using 3D properties and effects

Render your projects into manageable file sizes

Course Syllabus

Download Syllabus PDF

Section 1

Making an Animated GIF: Intro to After Effects

The Project, Composition, & Timeline panels
Animating with Keyframes
Previewing in Real Time
Trimming vs. Shifting Layers

Making an Animated GIF: Adding Easing & Motion Blur

Adding easing to slow down parts of the animation
Adding Motion Blur to simulate rapid movement

Exporting an Animated GIF

Exporting from After Effects & continuing to work in Photoshop

Section 2

Noble Logo: Anchor Points & Animating with Overshoot

Converting an Illustrator file from CMYK to RGB
Label Colors
Animating Overshoot
Anchor Points
The Timeline’s In Column
Keeping Vector Layers Sharp

Noble Logo: Masking Layers & Parenting

Pre-Composing
Using Masks
Using Parenting

Noble Logo: Rotation, Fade-Outs, & Rendering

Adding Anticipation
Animating the Rotation property
Adding a Fade to White
Finding Missing Project Files
Exporting H.264 Video with Media Encoder

Optional Bonus: Preparing an Illustrator File for Animation

Resizing Artboards & Vector Graphics
Setting up Layers for After Effects

Section 3

Welcome to New York: Intro to After Effects

Timecode
Splitting layers
Color correction

Welcome to New York: Working with Text & Fade-Ins

Creating & Animating Text
Adjusting Clip Lengths in the Timeline
Using Title Safety
Copying & Pasting Text Styles

Welcome to New York: Styling Text & Rendering

Styling Title Text
Adding Cross-Fades

Section 4

Rotating Wedge: Null Objects & Hold Keyframes

Using a Null Object
Creating a Shape Layer
Animating Spin
Hold keyframes

Rotating Wedge: Alpha Mattes & Animated Colors

Alpha Mattes
Bringing Back the Colored Wedge
Animating Instant Color Changes

Rendering & Exporting Options

Rendering Uncompressed Files
Rendering Video with Transparency
After Effects: Creating a Custom Render Template
Adobe Media Encoder: Creating a User Preset
Exporting images

Section 5

HBO Logo: Importing Layered Files & Adding Easing

Importing a Layered File as Flattened
Importing Individual Layers
Importing a Layered File with All Layers Intact
Converting Photoshop Text to be Editable in After Effects
Separating Text Layers with Masks
Offsetting Animation
Ease-ins and Ease-outs

HBO Photo Tiles: Working with Numerous Layers

Cropping Layouts & Creating Guides in Photoshop
Randomizing Layer Entrance
Orchestrating Exit Animation

HBO Movie Rating: Vector Layouts & the Graph Editor

Adjustment Layers
The Invert Effect
The Value Graph Editor
Animating Vector Shapes Using Trim Paths
Moving Together, Fading Separately

HBO Bumper: Editing Compositions & Adding Audio

Sequencing Multiple Compositions
Overlapping Shots & Using Blending Modes
Adding Audio

Section 6

Particle Skateboards: 3D Rotation, Lighting, & Motion Blur

3D rotation
3D lighting
Creating a shadow
Motion blur

Particle Skateboards: Using 3D Cameras

Adding a Camera Layer
Applying and Modifying a Text Animation Preset
Combining Text Animators
The Light Sweep Effect

Bonus Material

Travel Slideshow: Anchor Points & Working with Images

Resizing images to fit the Composition frame
Setting layer in points using the In column
Aligning still images & changing anchor points
Adjusting animation timing

Travel Slideshow: Cross-Dissolves & Working with Logos

Creating cross-dissolves (“fade-ups”) between layers
Pre-composing layers
Scaling up vector layers
Adding a fade to black using a solid color layer

Schedule & Enrollment

$975

18 Hours

NYC or Live Online

Full setup assistance provided

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This Course is Available Live Online

You can attend this training live online at the scheduled time the course is offered (New York, Eastern Time) through screen-sharing software Zoom (free for you).
Our live online training is interactive and hands-on, just like our in-person classes. There are no extra fees and we’ll work with you to ensure your setup is perfect

Classes are activity-based and taught by a live instructor.

You can hear the instruction, ask questions, and share your screen—all in real-time.

Retake the course for free (in-person or live online) within one year.

See What Students Are Saying About Live Online

“Overall experience on Zoom was maybe even better than in IRL classroom because the instruction takes place right on your own screen, with less distraction. Great overall experience.”
“Given the fact that we had to do this entire class remotely due to Covid-19, I didn’t have very high expectations it would run so smoothly. However, I don’t think it could’ve gone any better. Not only do I feel very comfortable with the program now, but I’m actually excited to use it!”
“This was the first online class I’ve taken with ND and it was a great experience. Looking forward to the other classes I’ve signed up for!”

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to bring anything to the class?

No. We provide computers (Mac or PC) with After Effects installed. Choose your operating system at checkout.

Does this course require any prior knowledge or experience?

Basic working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop is recommended. If you have never used Photoshop, consider taking either our Photoshop in a Day or Photoshop Bootcamp class.
Basic knowledge of video timeline editing and basic design skills are helpful, but not required.

Do you offer discounts or a payment plan for this course?

Discounts

10% Alumni Discount: Get 10% off this course if you’ve previously taken any 12+ hour course.
$100 Individuals Discount: Take $100 off this course if you’re an individual paying for yourself (you’re not being reimbursed by a company).

Discounts are applied at checkout (no promo code required) and will be verified after you place your order. Discounts are subject to change. Read our discount policies for more details.

Payment Plan

This course is not eligible for a payment plan, which is only available for programs priced at $2,495 and above. Read our Payment Plan FAQ for more details.

Take this course as part of a certificate program and save:

Can I take this course online (remote learning)?

You may attend this training virtually (online) at the scheduled time the course is offered (New York, Eastern Time).

How does attending “live online” work?

Students can attend this training remotely through screen sharing software (we use Zoom).
Participants can hear the instruction, ask questions, and even share their screen with the instructor.
For audio you can use your computer’s microphone/speakers or call a phone number that we’ll provide.
Classes are activity-based and taught by a live instructor, so we strongly encourage students who are local to the area to attend in person!

NYC’s Best After Effects Courses

This After Effects course will have you using professional techniques as you create animations, titles, 3D objects, and much more. Learn these skills with hands-on, step-by-step exercises in small classes led by a leading motion graphics instructor.

Students learning After Effects from professional instructor

Industry Expert Instructor

This course is taught by Kalika Kharkar Sharma, an industry-experienced instructor who has produced animations for a wide range of clientele including CNBC, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network. Kalika brings years of experience teaching motion graphics and traditional and digital character animation at renowned art schools including NYU, Pratt Institute and Rhode Island School of Design.

Custom After Effects Workbook

You get a custom workbook with step-by-step exercises that will guide you through creating 9 different projects. These include real-world animations such as a dynamic fashion ad, movie title sequence, and a HBO feature presentation intro. Our After Effects training materials are used by universities and schools worldwide.

Learn Through Real-World Projects

In this After Effects class you’ll learn through projects. First by watching a short demo, then by actually practicing on animations and motion graphics including ads, title sequences, and logos. Our instructor and course developer has created numerous projects specifically for these classes that draw on her many years of experience to teach you practical, professional skills.

Highly Reviewed by Our Alumni

From our hands-on training style to world-class instructors and proprietary curriculum, we deliver a learning experience our alumni can be proud of.

23 Students Rated Our Adobe After Effects Level 1 5 Stars

This was a wonderful class and having a live instructor made a huge difference in the class experience. Our instructor, Kalika, was amazing and set the lessons up so that we gradually built towards the final lesson making incredible progress along the way. She also allowed us all to work at our own pace during the lessons so that everyone was able to develop at a pace comfortable to them while still seeing a marked improvement. I highly recommend this class and eagerly look forward to the next.

Robert Byrnes, Reuters/i24

After taking the After Effects class at Noble Desktop, I was able to create an animation immediately following completion of the course material - now I have the tools to continue using After Effects in my personal projects and beyond.

Blake Drummond, Diagonal Media

Kalika was an excellent instructor. Her enthusiasm and passion for After Effects was contagious. She was patient, smart, and funny. She brought a much needed lightness and humor to a difficult subject. When I began to feel overwhelmed, Kalika was hands-on with helping me. She was genuinely interested in teaching us what we wanted to know. We followed the instruction booklet but it was not forced upon us—we went at our own pace and was able to spend the last class practicing our own project ideas. I left my three-day Noble Desktop experience feeling inspired and excited to continue my After Effects learning journey. I intend on using my new knowledge to make personal art as well as enhance my day-job work as a graphic designer in higher education. I cannot speak highly enough of Kalika. She was truly a pleasure.

Lisa Festa, Princeton University

I had been trying to learn After Effects on my own for a while, but it wasn’t until I decided to take the course through Noble Desktop that things really started to make sense for me. Now I feel that I have a solid foundation and am more excited than before about learning After Effects.

Eric Vasquez

This is a great intensive course to get you started with After Effects. I highly recommend it to anyone who is serious about learning this. I would definitely take more classes at Noble Desktop.

Rose Mattrey, AAA Western & Central NY

The demos bring a daunting textbook to life and break everything down to manageable steps.

Don Jolovich, ESPN

Great school!! Offers a lot of courses, in different fields like Design, Coding and Business. Amazing teachers, currently I'm taking the After Effects class and it's so exciting, it's a bit complex but a really cool program. My teacher Kalika is really nice and has a lot of experience and knowledge. She is great!! I highly recommend the school.

Meruyert

The instructor gave extremely clear instructions and was one of the best teachers I've come across.

Arianne Hirsch

Kalika was so engaging. You can tell that she's not only extremely knowledgable, but extremely passionate about what she does. I was completely immersed into a program I had never launched before, and am no longer intimidated to pursue Ae.

Kaylan Whitaker, Givaudan

Not only did I learn so much more than I've ever imagined, but I had fun learning it too!

Chase Middleton

Very helpful for starting out in After Effects.

Gwyneth Olsom, Mathematica

Learned a lot in a short amount of time!

Djamika Smith, 92Y

"If you're looking to get started with After Effects, by gawd this is the place to do it!"

Matt, 92Y

A great foundation for someone who can't tell up from down in After Effects!

stephen lorusso

Always enjoy my time at Noble. Great classes, great schedules, and instructors!

Kristie Finn, Victoria's Secret

Noble Desktop definitely exceeded my expectations for the Adobe After Effects Level 1 Class. Having no experience at the beginning of the class, I now feel more comfortable creating simple animations on my own and exploring new tutorials outside of class. Dan is also an excellent instructor for After Effect newbies. High fives for everything!

Claudia Modlin

My course instructor was fantastic! Made my learning experience fun and stress free. Look forward to taking more classes in the near future.

Bathsheba Parker, Alliance for Downtown New York, Inc

Noble Desktop is the premier source to expand a designer's skill set.

Claire Werner, Claire Werner Graphics

Good way to kick start learning a new program. Lots of behind the scenes advice that you don't get from reading a book.

Teresa Lane, Self

As someone who had used AfterEffects before but never REALLY knew the ins and outs of the program, this was a fantastic course to finally learn the basics.

ANDREW GELMAN, Global Association of Risk Professionals

This is my third class with Noble Desktop—and the first online via Zoom. The online instructor and class was just as good as my in-person class experience. The exercises taught skills applicable to enhance our Social Media projects. Noble Desktop is top notch!

Julie Grant, Valley Bank

It's pretty amazing how much I learned in just 3 days. Definitely the right kind of class with the right kind of instructor. I highly recommend Noble Desktop. You won't be disappointed!

Darnel DiGerlando, Valley Bank

The After Effects Bootcamp Level 1 was very informative and I learned so much! The notes that are provided are very thorough, which makes me feel better about creating animations on my own time. The instructor was so approachable and gave us plenty of time to work through the exercises. Overall, I'm so happy I took this course and I can't wait to create my own animations : )

Alyssa Gauci

This course has a prerequisite

Take this class as part of a certificate program and save:

Learn the Skills Guarantee™

Hands-on training in small groups

Time-tested curriculum and supporting materials

Learn from industry experts with teaching experience

Retake the course for free within one year

What You’ll Learn

Learn with Hands-on Projects

Course Syllabus

Section 1

Making an Animated GIF: Intro to After Effects

Making an Animated GIF: Adding Easing & Motion Blur

Exporting an Animated GIF

Section 2

Noble Logo: Anchor Points & Animating with Overshoot

Noble Logo: Masking Layers & Parenting

Noble Logo: Rotation, Fade-Outs, & Rendering

Optional Bonus: Preparing an Illustrator File for Animation

Section 3

Welcome to New York: Intro to After Effects

Welcome to New York: Working with Text & Fade-Ins

Welcome to New York: Styling Text & Rendering

Section 4

Rotating Wedge: Null Objects & Hold Keyframes

Rotating Wedge: Alpha Mattes & Animated Colors

Rendering & Exporting Options

Section 5

HBO Logo: Importing Layered Files & Adding Easing

HBO Photo Tiles: Working with Numerous Layers

HBO Movie Rating: Vector Layouts & the Graph Editor

HBO Bumper: Editing Compositions & Adding Audio

Section 6

Particle Skateboards: 3D Rotation, Lighting, & Motion Blur

Particle Skateboards: Using 3D Cameras

Bonus Material

Travel Slideshow: Anchor Points & Working with Images

Travel Slideshow: Cross-Dissolves & Working with Logos

Schedule & Enrollment

Discounts

Payment Plans

October 12–28

Mondays & Wednesdays, 6–9pm

November 9–11

Monday to Wednesday, 10–5pm

December 21–23

Monday to Wednesday, 10–5pm

November 9–11

Monday to Wednesday, 10–5pm

December 21–23

Monday to Wednesday, 10–5pm

October 12–28

Mondays & Wednesdays, 6–9pm

This Course is Available Live Online

See What Students Are Saying About Live Online

Online Training Demo

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to bring anything to the class?

Does this course require any prior knowledge or experience?

Do you offer discounts or a payment plan for this course?

Discounts

Payment Plan

Take this course as part of a certificate program and save:

Can I take this course online (remote learning)?

How does attending “live online” work?

Corporate & Onsite After Effects Training

Private Training

Group Class Vouchers

NYC’s Best After Effects Courses

Industry Expert Instructor

Custom After Effects Workbook

Learn Through Real-World Projects

Highly Reviewed by Our Alumni

23 Students Rated Our Adobe After Effects Level 1 5 Stars

Related Classes & Certificates

Motion Graphics Certificate

Adobe After Effects Level 2

Premiere Pro Bootcamp

After Effects in a Day