Course outline
Introduction to the Interface• Project panel
• Composition window
• Timeline window
• Layer & footage window
• Using QuickSearch to find elements in a comp or project
Importing footage
• Photoshop files/CS5 Integration
• Illustrator files
• Movies (QuickTime; AVI)
• Audio
Animation Essentials
• Understanding Keyframe interpolation & Assistant
• The Auto Keyframe button
• Animating Transform properties
• Animation Assistants
• Using the wiggler
• Using the smoother
• Using auto orientate
• Parenting
• Pre-compose
Working with Masks, Mattes
• Working with Masks
• Mask properties
• Working with Layers
• Blending Modes
• Track mattes
Text
• Creating Text in After Effects
• Formatting
• Presets, saving presets
• Creating custom text (text animators)
Effects
• Levels, Curves
• Colour correction
• Blurs, glows
• Fractal noise
• Animation Presets
• Using the cartoon effect
• Colour correction in After Effects
Keying
• Keying footage
• Introduction to Keylight
• Matte Choker
• Using the Roto Brush tool to create animated mattes
• Making a quick selection
Introduction to 3D Animation
• Working with 3D layers
• Working with cameras
• Working with lights
• 3D views, Axes
• Importing 3D models from Photoshop CS5
Export
• The render Queue
• Output settings
• File formats
• Compression settings
• Export for Web, mobile devices
• Export Clip Notes
• CS Live online services

