After Effects prerequisites
While there are no formal requirements before attending an After Effects course or using the software, It is useful to have some prerequisite skills when learning After Effects. These skills make it easier to work with, use, and learn After Effects.
One of the most useful skills to have before learning After Effects is to have a basic understanding of video editing. This includes a knowledge of concepts like frame rates, aspect ratios, and video codecs. Knowing how to edit footage in a video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro will give you a solid foundation for starting to learn After Effects. This knowledge will help you to understand how to organize media, as well as import and export your work, and manipulate footage. While video editing skills are not a required prerequisite for learning After Effects, they are useful to know in advance.
After Effects is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud, which also includes applications like Photoshop and Illustrator. Having a basic knowledge of these programs, especially Photoshop, can be a beneficial prerequisite when working in After Effects. For example, understanding how to create and import vector graphics from Illustrator into After Effects can save you time and improve the quality of your work. Similarly, knowing how to use Photoshop to create and manipulate layers can help you to understand working with layers in After Effects. While not required before attending an After Effects course, these skills are useful to have in advance.
After Effects is widely used for creating motion graphics, so another useful prerequisite is having a basic understanding of the terms used in motion graphics is helpful. Understanding terms such as keyframes, easing, and timing is helpful. These topics are covered in the introductory After Effects class, which is a good place to start if these terms are unfamiliar to you.
Having some experience with layers in Photoshop or other Creative Cloud apps is a helpful prerequisite because After Effects uses both layers and composites. Compositing is the process of combining multiple elements, such as video footage, images, and graphics, into a single shot. After Effects allows you to blend and layer elements together to create unique visuals, and a basic understanding of compositing and layering helps users understand these concepts more readily. For users with no experience, the introductory After Effects course at AGI covers these concepts.
After Effects can be a complex application to master for those who have no prior experience with video or related Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Investing time into learning foundational skills can help you to more quickly learn the capabilities of After Effects.
Understanding of 3D camera movement: Before moving into advanced After Effects courses, it’s useful to have an understanding of how things work in a 3D space, and how cameras move in 3D. This is especially useful if you plan to use After Effects to create complex animations. After Effects can add depth and realism to your work, and knowing how camera movements occur makes it easier to use these tools in After Effects. These topics are covered in advanced After Effects training.
What is After Effects
Adobe purchased After Effects, a special effects and motion graphics software application, from the Company of Science and Art (COSA) in 1994. Since the acquisition, Adobe has released several updates to the application and made it available on both MacOS and Windows devices.
After Effects is used by a variety of creative professionals in the television and film industries, including digital artists, animators, video editors, and motion graphics designers. Although each of these roles use After Effects for different purposes, anyone with skills can harness its creative capabilities to create special effects, animations, and motion graphics.
Why learn After Effects
After Effects is a powerful application for any creative professional who works in the film, television, and digital media industries to have in their skillset. Independent video producers can also use After Effects to enhance their work with special effects and animations, helping to secure high-budget jobs. Freelancers who have developed specialized skills in After Effects, such as 3D animation or motion graphic design, can offer additional services and land more high-budget work.
Dedicating time to learning After Effects allows you to pivot into a variety of related careers, including motion graphics designer, video editor, special effects artists, and animator. The occupations that require knowledge of After Effects are expected to grow over the next decade due to the increasing demand for animation and visual effects in video games, movies, television, and online media. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of multimedia artists, animators, and motion graphics designers is projected to grow 5% by 2031. BLS also reports that employment of film and video editors is projected to grow 12% during the same time period, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
After Effects certifications and certificates
After Effects users can earn a certificate of completion in order to demonstrate their competency in the application by taking a stand-alone course or certificate program. The American Graphics Institute (AGI) offers an introductory After Effects course, an advanced After Effects course, and an After Effects bootcamp, all of which come with a certificate of completion. AGI also offers a video editing certificate program, which includes courses on After Effects and other Adobe applications like Photoshop and Premiere Pro.
Options for learning After Effects
You can learn After Effects with live training from expert instructors. Through practice and hands-on training with exercises and projects, you’ll gain proficiency in creation and collaboration as create special effects and motion graphics.
AGI’s After Effects basics course teaches how to navigate the interface, manage media, control the speed of animations, work with alpha channels, and render compositions in various formats. Participants gain a solid understanding of how to work with After Effects.
Live After Effects training is beneficial for individuals seeking hands-on instruction from trained professionals in a small group setting.
You can learn After Effects from anywhere with an instructor that comes to your office, or through live online training, or a private training for your group. See all location for After Effects training.
Attend a After Effects course from anywhere with live, online After Effects classes.