Texts:
After Effects Apprentice by Trish and
Chris Meyer CMP Books
After Effects in Production by Trish and Chris Meyer, CMP Books, ISBN: 1-57820-2647
After Effects and Photoshop by Jeff Foster, 2nd edition, ISBN:0-7821-4455-1
kniveltanguelov
Week 1: Lecture:
§ Welcome
to Intermediate Motion Graphics
§ Review
After Effects cs5.5
Interface
§ Review
Preparing Images for compositing in Photoshop and Illustrator, i.e. the
creation of Alpha Channels, Layers, etc.
Lab:
Design and create a title sequence for yourself (maybe to be
used for your demo reel!)
Homework: Due Week 2:
1. Refine and finish the “title sequence” that was started
in-class.
2. Review Chapter 2: Animation Assistants in the textbook
before next class.
3. Prepare 2 images with appropriate alpha channels of 2
similarly shaped people/objects for next weeks class, i.e. front-facing photos
2 people, a hand and some similarly shaped tree-branches etc.
Week 2: Lecture:
§ Critique
of last week’s assignment
§ Sweetening
Motion Graphics with traditional Character Animation techniques
§ Using
Animation Assistants
§ Turning
Photoshop into Animation
§ Morphing
Lab:
Create tif animation and Morphing
Homework: Due Week 3:
1. Bring a .wav file of some music that you really like and
headphones to next week’s class.
2. Design and storyboard a 45 second (minimum) music video for
the music you brought into class that seamlessly combines elements created in
different software packages. For example combine a Flash or Maya
animation with a Photoshop image.The music video will serve as your midterm project
so make it count
Week 3: Lecture:
§ Critique
of Morphing exercise
§ Preferences
and Settings before we get into deep water
§ Animating
to Sound in After Effects
§ Keyframe
Manipulation
§ Homework:
Due Week 4:
§ Create
a short ad using visualized sound effects.
Week 4:
Lecture: the 3D
space in After Effect
The importance of Consistency in Design
Working in the 3D Space
How to use Cameras
Lab: Create a Cube consisting of animated sides.
Homework:
Due Week 5
1. Create your midterm music video project and render it in the
720x480 format with sorensen video3 or H264 compression!!! Present it next
week!!!
Week 5:
Lecture:NONE
Critique
Midterm music video projects
Discuss
techniques/process used to create the projects
Discuss
and troubleshoot any technical issues that arise during the creation of the
projects
Discuss
Specs for Final Project
Homework: Due Week 6:
1.) Do the changes requested to the
Music Video project and turn it in as homework.
2. )Write a Log Line and Treatment for
the Final Project which is to be a 1-2 minutes short utilizing Afx with sound.
Week 6:
Lecture:
Final Project Treatment Pitches
Using and Animating Lights
Materials in AFX
Lab:
Create light sources and light in a
scene that has a background, middle ground and foreground. Create drop
shadows that animate.
Home work:
Finish the project above.
Week 7: Lecture:
§ Using
the Puppet tool
Lab:
Design and rig a 2D character..
Homework: Due Week 9
1. Create Storyboards for Final Project
2. Make a short animation for the character you created
in-class
Week 8: Lecture:
§ Critique
2D character Rig and Final Project Storyboards
§ Creating
Dynamic Composition
§ Using
Expressions
Lab:
Refine storyboards, start working on animatic of final
project.
Homework: Due Week 10
1.
Start creating artwork for you Final
Project (3D models, drawings, etc
Week 9:
Lecture: NO CLASS – OBSERVATION OF LABOR DAY!
Week 10: Lecture:
IN CLASS PRESENTATION OF FINAL PROJECTS
95% DONE!!!
Critique “Works in
Progress” of the Final Project. Work has to be virtually done and reviewed by
me. At this point you take suggestions as to how you can improve your work for
turning it in next week.
Lab:
Continue working on final project.
Homework Due Week 11:
Work on Final Project, make revisions and necessary changes.
Week 11:
Final Exam and Critique of Final Project!
