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The Complete Adobe After Effects Bootcamp

Basic to Advanced

Kaiversity Online and Louay Zambarakji

Embark on a Mastery Journey in Adobe After Effects with  my Top-Rated Course

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Embark on a Mastery Journey in Adobe After Effects with  my Top-Rated Course

Welcome to my leading After Effects Mastery Course, a comprehensive learning adventure with over 460 lectures and 35+ hours of video content. This best-selling course has already revolutionized the skills of many, and it's continuously updated to include the latest Adobe After Effects CC features.

Why Choose my After Effects Course?

  • Dive deep into Motion Graphics, Visual Effects, and Compositing.

  • Learn from an evolving course that includes the newest updates.

  • More than just tips and tricks - a thorough, expert-led learning experience.

What my Students Say:

  • Tsui Lau: "A life-changing, detailed guide for beginners."

  • Drek Fite: "Comprehensive, with a responsive and insightful instructor."

  • Warren Bingham: "An engaging, real-class experience."

  • Sotiria Patra: "Exceeded expectations, perfect for building projects."

Your Learning Journey:

  • Transition from beginner to expert in Motion Graphics and Visual Effects.

  • Engage in practical activities and in-depth tutorials.

  • Create appealing motion designs and composite scenes.

What You Will Learn:

  • Fundamentals and advanced techniques of animation and motion design.

  • How to design and animate complete Motion Graphics projects.

  • Mastering transformations, complex animations, and built-in visual effects.

  • Skills in Rotoscoping, Chroma Keying, Camera Tracking, and more.

  • Compositing techniques combining Visual Effects and Motion Graphics.

Hands-On Techniques and Skills:

  • Create your first Motion Graphics video.

  • Develop intricate motion paths and utilize Spatial and Temporal Interpolation.

  • Learn key animation techniques, 3D animation, and work with 3D cameras.

  • Master the latest shape properties, text animation, and Puppet Tools

  • Design engaging animated infographics and data visualization charts.

  • Compositing with masks, effects, and advanced motion tracking techniques.

In-Depth Techniques:

  • Manipulate complex, compound, and Bezier shapes.

  • Harness the latest shape properties for creative freedom.

  • Implement character-specific text animation and create contemporary titles.

  • Master the Puppet Tools for lifelike animations.

  • Delve into expressions for dynamic motion graphics.

Real-World Application:

  • In-demand skills for freelancing or selling your animations.

  • Ideal for creating professional-grade videos for various platforms.

  • Insight into optimal export settings for YouTube, Vimeo, and Facebook.

Practical Applications:

  • Design animated infographics and data visualization charts.

  • Employ, modify, and create unique animation presets.

  • Engage in compositing with masks and effects, enhancing your storytelling.

  • Master green/blue screen chroma keying and rotoscoping for professional composites.

  • Import and animate vector graphics from Adobe Illustrator.

Student Success Stories:

  • Inger Wold: "Already sold several videos, still discovering more."

  • Abdulrazek Fawzy Abdulrazek: "The best course for real-world AE skills."

  • Elizabeth Yorick: "In-depth explanations and responsive instructor."

  • Prerana Golechha: "Excellent for gaining a strong grasp of the subject."

Guaranteed Satisfaction:

  • If you're not satisfied, we offer a 30-day 100% money-back guarantee.

Enroll Now and Revolutionize Your Motion Graphics and VFX Skills

Join us on this creative journey and elevate your video creation abilities to new heights.

Best, Louay

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Comprehensive understanding of adobe after effects with a working proficiency in animation and visual effects.
  • Unleash your creativity with over 50 interactive projects, ranging from beginner to advanced levels.
  • Discover how to create compelling motion graphics that enrich your videos, following a clear, user-friendly method.
  • Apply advanced compositing techniques to create breathtaking video effects.
  • Grasp specialized visual effects techniques such as motion tracking, camera tracking, chroma keying, rotoscoping, stabilizing, and more.
  • Conquer visual time effects to revolutionize your videos and motion graphics.
  • Immerse yourself in 3d workspace, mastering cameras, lights, shadows, and 3d motion graphics projects.
  • Learn to import and animate illustrator vector graphics seamlessly.
  • Explore the art of advanced text animation in both 2d & 3d
  • Stay ahead of the curve with the latest responsive design techniques.
  • And so much more, setting you on the path to becoming an accomplished expert in motion graphics, visual effects, and compositing.
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Syllabus

A Quick Start to Enable Your After Effects Skills
Welcome to After Effects Bootcamp

The preview introduces a section focused on creating two projects using After Effects:

  1. Animation Project: The first project involves creating an animation of a smart airplane flying around.

  2. Visual Effects Startup Project: The second project involves changing the colors of specific areas in a video.

The tutorial emphasizes the importance of:

  • Understanding and Setting Up the Interface: A brief introduction to the After Effects interface and its setup.

  • Setting Preferences: Adjusting preferences to ensure efficient workflow.

  • Learning Motion Graphics and Effects: The tutorial aims to provide foundational knowledge in motion graphics and applying effects in After Effects.

  • Step-by-Step Approach: Encouragement to learn After Effects gradually, emphasizing that the software is user-friendly when approached incrementally.

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A brief description on how to download your course assets.

The is an introductory guide to setting up and using Adobe After Effects for animation:

  1. Welcome to After Effects: The tutorial begins with a welcome to After Effects, indicating that animation creation will be covered in the next lectures.

  2. Setting Up the User Interface: The instructor emphasizes the importance of setting up the user interface for efficient workflow. This includes closing the home screen and focusing on the workspace area.

  3. Understanding Workspaces: Different workspaces are introduced, such as 'Learn', 'Standard', and 'Small Screen', each tailored to specific needs like learning, standard operations, or working on smaller screens.

  4. Selecting and Resetting the Default Workspace: The tutorial guides on selecting the 'Default' workspace and resetting it to ensure a standard layout.

  5. Ease of Use: The instructor reassures that the user interface is easy to use and will be explained progressively.

  6. Setting Preferences for Animation: The tutorial moves on to setting preferences, crucial for the upcoming animation project. This includes navigating to the preferences section, which varies depending on the operating system (Mac or Windows).

  7. Spatial Interpolation Setting: A key preference setting is discussed - ensuring that the default spatial interpolation is not set to linear. This is important for creating more natural, curved motion paths in animations, rather than linear, straight-line movements.

  8. Display Preferences: The tutorial advises setting the display preferences to show all keyframes, which will be relevant for later work.

  9. Preparation for Next Steps: The video concludes by stating that the user interface and preferences are set up, and the next step will involve importing graphics and starting animation.

The tutorial provides a step-by-step guide on importing graphics and setting up a project in Adobe After Effects:

  1. Introduction: The video begins with an introduction to importing graphics into After Effects.

  2. Importing Graphics: The process involves navigating to the project panel, right-clicking to import, and selecting the file (with a shortcut of Control or Command I).

  3. Navigating to Resources: The viewer is instructed to navigate to their downloaded and unzipped resources for the project.

  4. Import Settings: When importing, the option 'Composition - Retain Layer Sizes' should be selected instead of 'Footage' to maintain the layers as per the Adobe Illustrator file.

  5. Understanding Compositions: The composition, where graphics, animations, videos, and images are placed and later rendered, is explained. The composition is opened by double-clicking.

  6. Viewer and Timeline Overview: The viewer shows the imported graphics, like an airplane, which can be moved around. The timeline at the bottom displays layers on the left and time on the right, with a time indicator or playhead.

  7. Adjusting Composition Duration: The default duration of the composition is noted (4 seconds and 24 frames, roughly 5 seconds). The tutorial explains how to extend this to 10 seconds by right-clicking the composition name and adjusting the settings in the composition settings dialog.

  8. Extending Layer Duration: If the composition duration is extended, layers need to be extended as well. This is done by selecting the layers and dragging their ends to the new end time of the composition.

  9. Zooming in Timeline: The tutorial covers zooming in and out of the timeline using the minus and plus keys on the keyboard.

  10. Preparation for Animation: The video concludes by stating that the setup is now ready for animation, setting the stage for the next video in the series.

Dive in for beginners: Create your first Motion Graphics

The key learning objectives from this After Effects animation tutorial are:

  1. Familiarization with After Effects Interface: Understanding the basic layout and tools available in Adobe After Effects for animation.

  2. Project Setup and File Management: Learning how to start a new project, save files correctly, and organize assets within the software.

  3. Layer Management and Control: Gaining skills in managing layers, including locking layers to prevent unintended alterations.

  4. Understanding and Utilizing Keyframes: Mastering the concept of keyframes, which are essential for creating animations by defining the start and end points of any transition or movement.

  5. Manipulating Motion Paths: Learning how to create and adjust motion paths for objects, using tools like Bezier handles for smoother transitions and more natural movements.

  6. Layer Orientation Techniques: Understanding how to orient layers along motion paths, ensuring that objects correctly align with their direction of movement.

  7. Timing and Spacing in Animation: Developing a sense of timing and spacing by adjusting the duration between keyframes to control the speed and rhythm of the animation.

  8. Incorporating Audio into Animations: Learning how to add and synchronize audio tracks with visual elements to enhance the overall impact of the animation.

  9. Practical Application of Animation Principles: Applying the learned concepts in a practical project, reinforcing understanding through hands-on experience.

  10. Creative Experimentation and Problem-Solving: Encouraging creative thinking and experimentation with different animation techniques and problem-solving approaches.

These objectives aim to provide a foundational understanding of animation in After Effects, equipping learners with the skills to create basic animations and encouraging further exploration and learning in the field of motion graphics.


This is a tutorial on how to create an MP4 video file from an animation in Adobe After Effects CC 2023:

  1. Target Audience: The video is specifically for users who have upgraded to After Effects CC 2023 (version 23). Users with older versions are advised to skip to the next lecture.

  2. Creating an Animation: The instructor assumes that the viewer has already created an animation, such as an airplane moving around, and is now ready to render it into a video.

  3. Uploading to YouTube: The viewers are encouraged to render their animation, upload it to YouTube, and share the link for review and proof of their skills in motion graphics animation within After Effects.

  4. Rendering Process in CC 2023:

    • Adding to Render Queue: Navigate to 'Composition' and then select 'Add to Render Queue'.

    • Render Queue Tab: The Render Queue tab will open, showing the composition listed.

    • Settings Adjustment:

      • Best Settings: Click on 'Best Settings' to choose resolution settings, selecting 'Best' with full resolution and a video size of 1920x1080.

      • Output Module: The default might be QuickTime, but the format should be changed to H.264 for MP4.

      • Project Link: The option 'Include Project Link' can be removed.

    • Output Destination: Click on the output name (in blue) to choose the destination for the rendered file, which will be in the .mp4 format.

  5. Rendering the Video: After setting the output destination, click 'Save' and then 'Render' to start the rendering process.

  6. Accessing the Rendered Video: Once rendered, the video can be found at the chosen destination, ready to be played or uploaded.

  7. Conclusion: The tutorial concludes by reiterating that this is the process for creating an MP4 video in After Effects CC 2023.

This is a tutorial on rendering a video from an animation created in Adobe After Effects for Versions prior (before) to CC 2023:

  1. Introduction: The instructor hopes the viewer enjoyed creating their animation, such as an airplane flying around, and is now ready to render it into a video.

  2. Uploading to Social Media: The viewers are encouraged to render their animation, upload it to YouTube or other social media, and share the link for feedback.

  3. Rendering Process:

    • Accessing Render Options: Go to 'Composition' and ensure the correct composition is selected. Two options are available: 'Add to Media Encoder Queue' (requires Media Encoder installed) and 'Add to Render Queue' (renders within After Effects).

    • Render Queue Settings:

      • Render Settings: Choose 'Best Quality' and 'Full Resolution'.

      • Output Module: The default format might be QuickTime (or AVI on Windows). The instructor recommends changing to QuickTime for better file size management.

      • Format Options: Avoid using the 'Animation' codec as it may not be compatible with all systems. Instead, select 'Apple ProRes 422 Light' for a good balance of quality and file size.

    • Saving the Rendered Video: Choose the destination for the rendered video file and save it.

  4. Rendering the Video: After setting up the render settings and output destination, start the rendering process by clicking 'Render'.

  5. Accessing the Rendered Video: Once rendered, the video can be found at the chosen destination, ready to be played or uploaded.

  6. Conclusion: The tutorial concludes by encouraging viewers to share their work on social media for feedback, reminding them to save their project, and signaling the end of the video with a promise of more content in the next tutorial.

This is a tutorial on applying visual effects to a video in Adobe After Effects, focusing on changing the color of water in a video:

  1. Introduction to Visual Effects: The video begins with an encouragement to try applying visual effects in After Effects, highlighting the ease of the process.

  2. Project Setup: The instructor starts by closing the current project and opening a new one. The video to be used is imported into the project panel using a shortcut.

  3. Creating a Composition: The tutorial explains how to create a composition from a video, ensuring it matches the video's dimensions and frame rate. This can be done by dragging the video to the 'New Composition' button or directly into the timeline.

  4. Applying a Mask:

    • Creating the Mask: A mask is created over the water in the video using the Pen tool.

    • Mask Properties: The mask properties are shown in the layer panel, including options like feathering.

  5. Applying an Effect:

    • Selecting the Effect: The 'Tritone' effect is chosen from the effects panel.

    • Applying to the Mask: The effect is applied to the video layer and then adjusted to only affect the masked area (the water).

    • Changing Colors: The instructor changes the midtones of the water to a red color, demonstrating how the effect alters the appearance of the water.

  6. Creating Additional Masks and Effects: A second mask is created on another part of the video (mountains), and a second 'Tritone' effect is applied, demonstrating how to apply effects to specific areas of a video.

  7. Final Adjustments and Playback: The colors of the second mask are adjusted, and the video is played back to show the final effect of the applied visual effects.

  8. Conclusion: The tutorial concludes with an encouragement to have fun while experimenting with visual effects in After Effects, emphasizing the creative possibilities of the software. The instructor signs off, looking forward to the next video.

Working in After Effects CC: An overview of the Interface and Keyboard Shortcuts

This video tutorial focuses on understanding and customizing workspaces in Adobe After Effects, particularly the default workspace. It covers:

  1. Navigating Workspaces: Explains how to access and view different workspaces, emphasizing the utility of the default workspace for most tasks.

  2. Key Panels: Highlights three major panels - Composition, Project, and Timeline - essential for working in After Effects.

  3. Auxiliary Panels: Discusses additional panels like Effects & Presets, Align, and Character, which assist in specific tasks.

  4. Customizing Workspaces: Demonstrates how to add, remove, and rearrange panels to create a personalized workspace, and how to save these customizations as a new workspace.

  5. Workspace Management: Provides tips on managing and deleting custom workspaces, cautioning that deleted workspaces cannot be recovered.

The tutorial aims to make viewers comfortable with After Effects by teaching them how to tailor the interface to their workflow.

This video tutorial in Adobe After Effects focuses on understanding the timeline, particularly frames and seconds:

  1. Timeline Navigation: Explains how to navigate the timeline using the playhead, emphasizing the distinction between seconds and frames.

  2. Reading Time Display: Instructs on correctly reading the time display, where "3:00" is interpreted as 3 seconds and 0 frames, not 300.

  3. Impact of Composition Duration and Screen Resolution: The visibility of seconds and frames in the timeline depends on the composition's duration and the user's screen resolution.

  4. Zooming In on Timeline: Demonstrates zooming into the timeline to see more detailed frame-by-frame views, which is useful for precise keyframe placement.

  5. Frame Rate Understanding: Clarifies that in a composition with a frame rate of 25 frames per second, every 25 frames constitute one second.

  6. Navigating Frame by Frame: Shows how to move through the timeline one frame at a time using the Page Up and Page Down keys.

  7. Switching Between Frames and Seconds Display: Teaches how to toggle between displaying only frames or both frames and seconds in the timeline using the Control or Command key.

The tutorial aims to help users feel comfortable with navigating and understanding the timeline in After Effects, whether dealing with frames, seconds, or both.

The tutorial aims to make viewers comfortable with manipulating the work area in After Effects for more efficient animation editing and previewing.

This video tutorial in Adobe After Effects focuses on using the work area in the timeline for efficient animation workflow:

  1. Work Area Utility: Explains the work area's role in focusing on specific parts of the animation, allowing users to loop and concentrate on segments without playing the entire composition.

  2. Setting the Work Area: Demonstrates how to set and adjust the work area start and end points to isolate sections of the timeline for detailed work.

  3. Preview Settings: Discusses the importance of preview settings, particularly setting the range to the work area for focused playback.

  4. Navigating the Work Area: Shows how to move the work area along the timeline to work on different animation parts sequentially.

  5. Resetting the Work Area: Teaches how to reset the work area to its default state by double-clicking on it.

  6. Useful Shortcuts: Introduces shortcuts 'B' and 'N' to quickly set the work area start and end to the playhead's position.

  7. Common Mistake: Warns about a common error where setting the work area to a single frame can cause playback issues, and how to resolve it.


The tutorial aims to familiarize viewers with the functionality of timeline switches in After Effects and their role in efficient animation workflow.

This video tutorial in Adobe After Effects focuses on the importance of switches in the timeline:

  1. Switches Overview: Introduces the switches located in the timeline, emphasizing their importance and advising against moving them carelessly due to potential confusion.

  2. Functionality of Switches: Explains that switches are used for enabling features like motion blur and 3D effects.

  3. Key Switches:

    • The first switch is crucial for displaying the coordinates or values of properties. It should always be kept on for animation purposes.

    • The second switch reveals modes and track mats, which will be covered later in the course.

    • The third switch displays the time, which is frequently used in animation work.

  4. Parental Link and Customizing Columns: Demonstrates how to customize the timeline view by right-clicking to add or remove columns like the parental link.

  5. Importance of Keeping Switches On: Stresses the importance of always keeping the first switch on to ensure visibility of essential animation properties and advises on how to restore any accidentally hidden switches.


The tutorial aims to help users efficiently manage and troubleshoot common issues related to footage links and interface navigation in After Effects.

This video tutorial in Adobe After Effects explains how to restore missing footage links and navigate the interface:

  1. Restoring Missing Footage: Demonstrates how to relink missing footage in a project. This issue often arises when source files are renamed, moved, or deleted, causing After Effects to lose the link to the files.

  2. Relinking Process: Shows how to right-click on the missing item in the project panel, select 'Replace Footage', and then navigate to the correct file to restore the link.

  3. Footage Panel and Layer Panel: Explains that double-clicking on footage in the project panel opens it in the footage panel, which is useful for videos but not for still images. Similarly, double-clicking a layer in the timeline opens it in the layer panel, which is useful for certain effects.

  4. Closing Unnecessary Panels: Advises closing the footage or layer panel if opened accidentally to return to the main composition view.

The aim of this tutorial is to educate users on utilizing keyboard shortcuts in Adobe After Effects. It covers discovering new shortcuts, assigning new ones, and modifying existing ones to enhance workflow efficiency. The tutorial specifically focuses on:

  1. Accessing Keyboard Shortcuts: Guides on how to find the keyboard shortcuts menu in After Effects for both Windows and Mac users.

  2. Understanding the Keyboard Layout: Explains the representation of the user's keyboard within the software and how it reflects the available shortcuts.

  3. Identifying and Using Shortcuts: Demonstrates how to identify shortcuts assigned to specific keys and how to use modifier keys like Shift, Control, Alt (Option on Mac) to access different functions.

  4. Assigning New Shortcuts: Teaches how to assign new shortcuts to commands that don't have one or to change existing shortcuts, especially useful if the default shortcut conflicts with the operating system or if the keyboard layout is different.

  5. Practical Application: Encourages users to explore and customize shortcuts according to their workflow needs, ensuring a more efficient and personalized experience in After Effects.

The tutorial is designed to help users navigate After Effects more effectively and tailor the software to their specific editing needs through the use of keyboard shortcuts.

Resources for reference and Shortcuts

Animating Illustration in After Effects CC

This is an overview of what we will cover in this section.

I'll outlines a three-step method for creating animations, aimed at those aspiring to excel in motion design:

  1. Design Creation: The first step involves creating the design. This includes ensuring all layers are well-designed, well-placed, and ready for animation.

  2. Animation Process: The second step is to start animating. This involves adjusting the speed between keyframes to ensure smoothness, though not necessarily perfection. The example given shows an animation where all elements come together at a similar speed.

  3. Layer Sequencing: The final step involves sequencing the layers to decide the order of animations – which layer animates first, last, and what happens in between. This step allows for tweaking individual animations within each layer.

An optional fourth step involves scrutinizing and fine-tuning the speed of each animation to ensure it aligns with the character or desired effect of the animation.

The video emphasizes that these steps, when followed, can lead to creating almost perfect animations efficiently. It also hints at future lessons on animating with type or text and shapes, following these steps. The tutorial is set to show how to animate illustrations from Adobe Illustrator in upcoming videos.

The video introduces the process of animating illustrations in After Effects, focusing on bringing designs created in Illustrator into After Effects for animation. The key points covered in the video are:

  1. Introduction to Animation: The video emphasizes the importance of animating illustrations in After Effects, a common practice in motion graphics.

  2. Design Import: The instructor explains how designs created in Illustrator should be prepared for import into After Effects. Each element to be animated should be on a top layer in Illustrator.

  3. Importing into After Effects: The process involves importing the Illustrator file into After Effects, ensuring each layer is imported correctly for animation.

  4. Setting Up the Composition: The video guides on setting up the composition in After Effects, including adjusting the duration and ensuring all layers extend to the end of the composition.

  5. Adding a Background: The instructor demonstrates how to add a solid color background layer to the composition, ensuring it matches the composition size and is placed at the bottom layer.

  6. Preparation for Animation: The video concludes with the design set up in After Effects, ready for the next step, which involves starting the animation process.

The video is aimed at beginners, providing a step-by-step guide on how to transition from design in Illustrator to animation in After Effects, setting the stage for more complex design and animation work in later tutorials.

This video tutorial guides viewers through creating a basic animation in After Effects, focusing on animating individual layers and preparing for sequencing. Key points include:

  1. Animation Setup: The tutorial starts by setting up the animation between zero and ten frames, focusing on animating each layer from its endpoint.

  2. Animating the Basket: The instructor begins with the basket layer, demonstrating how to keyframe its position and scale. The tutorial emphasizes using the solo switch to focus on individual layers.

  3. Animating Other Elements: The tutorial proceeds to animate other elements like oranges, milk, and juice. Techniques such as keyframing rotation and scale, adjusting anchor points, and using shortcuts for efficient animation are covered.

  4. Opacity and Scale Animation: The instructor shows how to animate elements like letters using opacity (transparency) and scale, providing shortcuts and tips for effective animation.

  5. Finalizing Individual Animations: Each element is animated with attention to its unique properties, like rotation for the juice and scale for the bread. The tutorial encourages creativity in animation techniques.

  6. Preview and Tips: After animating each element, the instructor previews the animation, suggesting viewers experiment with different entry points and movements for each element to enhance the animation.

  7. Next Steps: The video concludes by preparing viewers for the next step in the process, which involves sequencing the animated layers to create a cohesive animation.

Overall, the tutorial is designed to teach beginners how to start animating individual elements in After Effects, encouraging experimentation and creativity in the animation process.

This video tutorial focuses on finalizing an animation in After Effects, adding motion blur, and implementing various tricks to enhance the animation. Key points include:

  1. Sequencing the Animation: The instructor begins by extending the work area to 2 seconds and then sequences the layers, deciding the order in which each element (like the basket, oranges, milk, lettuce, juice, and bread) appears in the animation.

  2. Adjusting Keyframes for Speed: For each layer, keyframes are adjusted to control the speed of the animation. The instructor demonstrates how to make certain elements appear faster or slower by bringing their keyframes closer or spreading them out.

  3. Applying Motion Blur: Motion blur is added to give a more dynamic and realistic effect to the moving elements. The instructor shows how to activate motion blur for each layer and previews its impact on the animation.

  4. Trimming the Composition: The composition is trimmed to fit the 2-second duration of the animation. This is done by setting the work area to 2 seconds and then trimming the composition to match this area.

  5. Tweaking and Experimenting: Throughout the tutorial, the instructor encourages experimenting with different speeds and timings for each animated element to achieve the desired effect. The importance of trying different animation styles and techniques is emphasized.

  6. Encouragement to Practice: The video concludes with encouragement for viewers to practice animating their own footage in After Effects, emphasizing the importance of experimentation and personal taste in creating animations.

Overall, the tutorial is designed to teach viewers how to finalize and refine their animations in After Effects, with a focus on sequencing, speed adjustment, and adding motion blur for a polished final product.

This video tutorial provides guidance on preparing and organizing Adobe Illustrator files for import into After Effects for animation. Key points include:

  1. Importance of Illustrator in After Effects Workflow: The tutorial emphasizes that most graphics used in After Effects typically originate from a graphic design program like Illustrator.

  2. Setting Up Illustrator Files: The main focus is on how to set up and organize Illustrator files so they can be effectively imported into After Effects. This involves ensuring that each element you want to animate in After Effects is set up as a top layer in Illustrator.

  3. Layer Management in Illustrator: The instructor demonstrates how to manage and organize layers in Illustrator. For instance, if a character in an illustration needs to be animated separately in After Effects, it should be set as a top layer in Illustrator.

  4. Creating Top Layers: The process involves selecting the desired element or group in Illustrator, using the 'Collect in New Layer' option from the Layers panel menu, and then ensuring that this new layer is independent and not nested within another layer.

  5. Renaming Layers for Clarity: Renaming layers in Illustrator for clarity and easy identification in After Effects is highlighted as a crucial step. This practice helps avoid confusion when working with multiple layers in After Effects.

  6. Handling Complex Groups: For complex groups with multiple elements (like a boat with various parts), the tutorial shows how to release these elements into separate top layers using the 'Release to Layers (Sequence)' option.

  7. Finalizing and Saving the Illustrator File: After organizing and renaming the layers, the file is saved in the Illustrator format. The instructor advises against saving in legacy formats to prevent loss of certain elements or features.

  8. Next Steps: The tutorial concludes with a transition to the next step, which involves importing these organized Illustrator files into After Effects for animation.

Overall, the video serves as a practical guide for graphic designers and animators on how to effectively prepare and organize their Illustrator files for a seamless transition into After Effects for motion design and animation projects.


This video tutorial guides viewers through the process of importing graphics from Adobe Illustrator into After Effects for animation. Key points include:

  1. Importing Illustrator Files into After Effects: The tutorial begins by demonstrating how to import an Illustrator file into After Effects. This is done by right-clicking in the Project panel and selecting 'Import > File' or using the shortcut Command + I.

  2. Choosing Import Options: When importing the Illustrator file (named 'operating-dash-one.ai'), the instructor chooses to import it as a composition while retaining layer sizes. This step is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the design elements for animation.

  3. Setting Up the Composition: Once imported, the composition settings are adjusted. The instructor changes the duration of the composition to 10 seconds, providing more flexibility for animation.

  4. Adding a Background: A solid color background is added to the composition. The process involves right-clicking and selecting 'New > Solid' or using the shortcut Command + Y. The color of the solid layer is adjusted to the desired shade.

  5. Organizing Layers: The imported layers from Illustrator are organized in the composition. The instructor emphasizes the importance of extending the duration of all layers to match the composition's length.

  6. Preparing for Animation: The video concludes with the composition set up and ready for animation. The layers are correctly positioned, and the background is in place.

Overall, the video serves as a practical guide for those looking to integrate Illustrator designs into After Effects for motion graphics and animation projects. It covers the essential steps of importing, organizing, and setting up a composition in preparation for the animation process.


In this video tutorial, the instructor demonstrates how to animate an illustration in After Effects, focusing on animating each layer individually. The key steps include:

  1. Animating Individual Layers: The instructor begins by animating two layers simultaneously, using the position property. He sets keyframes for both layers at 12 frames and moves them to their starting positions.

  2. Animating the Arrow: The arrow is animated using both position and scale properties. The instructor creates a mouse click simulation by scaling the arrow down and then up.

  3. Animating Boxes: The instructor duplicates a box layer twice and animates all three boxes using the scale property. He adjusts their positions to align them properly.

  4. Animating Text Layers (Stop, Robot, Pier): These layers are animated together using the scale property. Keyframes are set at 12 frames, and the scale is reduced to zero at the start.

  5. Animating the 'Start' Layer: This layer is animated with a scale property to simulate a bump effect. The scale is keyframed to decrease and then increase back to its original size.

  6. Animating the Board: The board is animated using the position property, moving it from top to bottom.

  7. Animating the Floor: The floor layer is animated using the opacity property, fading in from zero to full visibility.

  8. Animating the Gears: Three gears are animated using both rotation and scale properties. The instructor sets different rotation directions for visual variety.

  9. Animating the Background: The background is animated with both scale and opacity properties, starting from zero and increasing to full visibility and size.

  10. Finalizing the Animation: The instructor emphasizes the importance of sequencing and tweaking the speeds in the next video to make the animation look more dynamic and engaging.

This tutorial is designed to teach viewers how to animate individual layers in After Effects, focusing on using basic properties like position, scale, rotation, and opacity. The instructor encourages viewers to experiment with different animations and to anticipate the next steps in the process, which involve sequencing and speed adjustments.

In this video tutorial, the instructor demonstrates how to sequence and finalize the animation in After Effects, focusing on tweaking the speeds and adding dynamics to the animation. The key steps include:

  1. Extending Work Area: The instructor extends the work area to 2 seconds to accommodate the entire animation sequence.

  2. Sequencing Layers: The floor and board layers are animated first, followed by the character and plant. The instructor adjusts the timing of each layer to create a natural sequence.

  3. Animating Boxes: The three boxes are brought in after the character and plant. The instructor speeds up their animation and adds a 'bump' effect to make the animation more dynamic.

  4. Animating Text Layers (Stop, Robot, Pier): These layers are sequenced to appear after the boxes. The instructor speeds up their animation for consistency with other elements.

  5. Animating the 'Start' Button and Arrow: The 'Start' button and arrow are animated to simulate a button press. The instructor adjusts the timing to ensure the arrow appears to press the 'Start' button.

  6. Animating Gears with Rotation Over Time: The gears are animated to rotate continuously over time. The instructor removes the continuously rasterize option and applies a 'Rotate Over Time' effect to each gear.

  7. Adding Motion Blur: Motion blur is added to the entire animation to enhance the visual effect and make the motion appear smoother.

  8. Final Tweaks: The instructor makes final adjustments to the speed and timing of various elements, ensuring a cohesive and dynamic animation.

  9. Creative Suggestions: The instructor encourages viewers to experiment with different animations, such as changing the entry points of certain elements, to create a unique animation.

This tutorial is designed to teach viewers how to sequence and fine-tune an animation in After Effects, focusing on speed adjustments, layer sequencing, and adding continuous motion effects like rotation over time. The instructor emphasizes the importance of creativity and experimentation in the animation process.


This video tutorial demonstrates how to create a robot animation in After Effects, focusing on sequencing and animating various parts of the robot. The key steps include:

  1. Importing Artwork and Audio: The tutorial begins with importing the robot illustration (named 'Roboto.ai') and an audio file into After Effects. The illustration is imported as a composition with retained layer sizes.

  2. Setting Up the Composition: The composition is set up with the imported artwork and audio. The audio track is adjusted to fit the composition's duration.

  3. Animating the Robot: The instructor focuses on animating different parts of the robot, starting with the large bean, structure, and then moving on to other parts like the head, chest, pelvis, arms, and hands. Each part's animation involves adjusting the anchor point, position, and rotation.

    • Large Bean and Structure: These are animated to appear from the top, with adjustments to the scale and opacity.

    • Head and Chest: The animation involves rotating and positioning these parts to slam into place.

    • Pelvis: A simple animation is applied to the pelvis.

    • Arms and Hands: These are animated to move into place with rotation and position adjustments.

  4. Keyframing and Sequencing: The instructor emphasizes the importance of keyframing and sequencing the animations correctly. Each part of the robot is animated in sequence, ensuring a smooth and cohesive animation.

  5. Tips and Tricks: Throughout the tutorial, the instructor provides tips on animating each part effectively, such as adjusting the anchor points and using rotation and position keyframes to create dynamic movements.

  6. Previewing the Animation: The animation is previewed to check the sequencing and movements of each part, making adjustments as necessary.

The tutorial is designed to teach viewers how to animate a complex object by breaking it down into smaller parts and animating each part individually. The instructor encourages viewers to experiment with After Effects and try animating the remaining layers in the project.

This video tutorial continues with the animation of a robot in After Effects, focusing on the lower parts of the robot, such as the legs and feet. The key steps include:

  1. Animating the Legs: The instructor animates the upper legs by adjusting the anchor points and using rotation and position keyframes. The legs are animated to slam into place with a rotation of 45 degrees and then -45 degrees, creating a dynamic movement.

  2. Animating the Feet: The feet are animated similarly, with the anchor points adjusted for optimal rotation. The instructor demonstrates how to make the feet move upwards and then slam down into their final position. This involves keyframing the rotation and position to create a bouncing effect.

  3. Fine-Tuning the Animation: Throughout the process, the instructor fine-tunes the animation by adjusting keyframes and testing the movement. This includes making sure the legs and feet move in a coordinated and visually appealing manner.

  4. Tips and Tricks: The instructor provides tips on how to effectively use keyframes and anchor points to create dynamic animations. This includes advice on sequencing the movements and ensuring that each part of the robot animates smoothly in relation to the others.

  5. Previewing the Animation: The completed animation of the robot's lower parts is previewed to ensure that all movements are synchronized and visually appealing. The instructor encourages experimentation with different keyframe values to achieve the desired effect.

  6. Next Steps: The tutorial concludes with the instructor mentioning that the next video will focus on adding effects to the animation to enhance its visual appeal.

This tutorial is designed to teach viewers advanced techniques in animating complex objects by focusing on individual parts and ensuring that their movements are coordinated and visually engaging. The instructor emphasizes the importance of practice and experimentation in mastering these techniques.

In this video tutorial, the instructor demonstrates how to add effects to the robot animation in After Effects. The key steps include:

  1. Tweaking the Animation: The instructor starts by making a small tweak to the animation of the hands, adjusting their timing to make the snapping motion more visible.

  2. Adding Motion Blur: The motion blur effect is added to the entire animation, enhancing the sense of movement and dynamism.

  3. Adjusting Layer Order: The instructor adjusts the order of layers to ensure the large beam layer is on top, providing the desired visual effect.

  4. Applying Blur and Glow Effects: The instructor applies a blur effect to the large beam, adjusting the blur radius and direction. A glow effect is also added to enhance the visual appeal. The instructor demonstrates how to adjust the glow radius and intensity.

  5. Using the Strobe Light Effect: A strobe light effect is added to create a flickering light effect. The instructor adjusts the strobe duration, period, and probability to achieve the desired randomness and intensity.

  6. Recomposing for Glow Effect: To apply a glow effect to the entire robot, the instructor recomposes all the robot layers into a single pre-composition. This allows for the application of the glow effect to the entire robot rather than individual layers.

  7. Experimenting with Effects: The instructor encourages experimenting with the order of effects and their settings, such as adding a blur effect to the pre-composed robot layer for a more mysterious look.

  8. Stretching Audio: The instructor demonstrates how to stretch the audio layer to match the length of the animation, altering the audio speed and pitch.

  9. Final Thoughts: The instructor concludes by emphasizing the importance of practicing and experimenting with After Effects to improve skills. Viewers are encouraged to replicate the project and explore different effects and settings.

This tutorial is designed to teach viewers advanced techniques in After Effects, focusing on applying and manipulating various effects to enhance the visual appeal of animations. The instructor highlights the importance of experimentation and practice in mastering these techniques.

Staring up with Speed Control

This tutorial is about controlling animation speed in Adobe After Effects, focusing on easing and motion path. The key points are:

  1. Introduction to Easing Speed on Motion Path: The tutorial begins with an explanation of how to create smooth animations by adjusting the speed of different layers without moving their keyframes.

  2. Setting up in Adobe After Effects: The instructor guides through importing graphics into Adobe After Effects and setting up a basic animation. This involves locking the background, deleting unnecessary elements, and keyframing the position of layers.

  3. Understanding Timing and Spacing: The tutorial emphasizes the concepts of timing (time between keyframes) and spacing (distance between frames in a motion path). Consistent spacing indicates constant speed.

  4. Adjusting Speed with Keyframe Assistant: The tutorial demonstrates how to use the Keyframe Assistant to alter the speed of an animation. Options like "ease out" and "ease in" are used to manipulate the spacing between frames, thus changing the speed.

  5. Applying Ease In and Ease Out: The instructor shows how to apply "ease in" and "ease out" to keyframes. This technique adjusts the speed at the beginning and end of motions, creating a more natural movement.

  6. Using Speed Graph for Advanced Control: The tutorial concludes with a teaser about using the speed graph for more detailed control over animation speed, promising to cover this in the next video.

Overall, this tutorial offers a practical guide for beginners in Adobe After Effects to understand and manipulate the speed of animations for smoother and more professional results.


This tutorial provides an in-depth guide to using the Speed Graph in Adobe After Effects for creating varied motion path speeds. Key highlights include:

  1. Introduction to Speed Graph: The video starts by introducing the Speed Graph as a tool for creating diverse speeds on motion paths.

  2. Basic Setup and Keyframe Linearization: It demonstrates how to return keyframes to their linear state and move layers for better visibility in the Speed Graph.

  3. Navigating the Graph Editor: The tutorial covers the Graph Editor, emphasizing the need to select properties to display their graphs. It also discusses toggling between value and speed graphs, with a focus on using the speed graph for position properties.

  4. Understanding Speed Values and Keyframes: The instructor explains how to read speed values at different keyframes and how these values correspond to motion speed.

  5. Manipulating Speed with Keyframes: The tutorial shows how to adjust keyframes in the Speed Graph to control the acceleration and deceleration of layers, demonstrating the conversion of 'ease out' to 'speed out' and other variations.

  6. Resetting and Customizing Keyframes: Techniques for resetting keyframes to linear and customizing them for specific motion effects are illustrated.

  7. Practical Application and Experimentation: The instructor encourages experimenting with the Speed Graph to understand its impact on animation, emphasizing that it is a matter of personal skill and preference.

The tutorial is designed for users looking to enhance their motion graphics skills by mastering the Speed Graph in Adobe After Effects, offering hands-on examples for practical learning.

This tutorial focuses on using the Value Graph and Scale properties in Adobe After Effects to create dynamic animations. Key points include:

  1. Introduction to Value Graph and Scale: The video starts with an introduction to using the Value Graph for scale animations, promising to show some tips and tricks.

  2. Setting Up a Basic Scale Animation: The instructor demonstrates creating a simple scale animation from 0% to 100% over a period of time.

  3. Graph Editor for Scale: The tutorial moves to the Graph Editor, where the instructor emphasizes the importance of the auto-select graph type, which chooses the Value Graph for scale properties.

  4. Manipulating Keyframes in Value Graph: The tutorial covers how moving keyframes left or right changes their timing, while moving them up or down changes the scale value.

  5. Creating Smooth and Dynamic Animations: The instructor shows how to use handles in the Value Graph to create smoother animations and to add dynamics like bounces or overshoots.

  6. Experimenting with Graphs: The tutorial encourages experimentation with the Value Graph to create different types of animations, emphasizing that there's no single right way to adjust the graphs.

  7. Utilizing the Anchor Point for Animation Effects: The tutorial also explains how moving the anchor point affects the scaling animation, allowing for more complex movements.

  8. Encouragement to Experiment and Learn: The instructor encourages viewers to experiment with different graph types and animations to discover their preferred styles and effects.

This tutorial is designed for users who want to deepen their understanding of After Effects, particularly in creating more sophisticated scale animations using the Value Graph.

This tutorial focuses on using the Value Graph for rotation animations in Adobe After Effects. Key aspects include:

  1. Setup and Basic Rotation Animation: The tutorial begins with importing graphics and setting up a basic rotation animation using keyframes.

  2. Using the Value Graph for Rotation: The instructor demonstrates how to use the Value Graph to enhance the rotation animation, explaining the ease and flow of motion.

  3. Creating More Complex Animations: The tutorial shows how to create more complex and natural-looking animations by adjusting the value graph. This includes creating overshoots, where the rotation goes beyond the target value before settling into place.

  4. Tips for Using Motion Blur and Keyframe Easing: Motion blur is introduced to add realism, and keyframes are eased (using F9) for smoother transitions.

  5. Manipulating Graph Handles: The instructor emphasizes manipulating the handles in the graph editor to control the rotation's speed and easing, encouraging experimentation.

  6. Adjusting Anchor Points for Rotation: A significant portion of the tutorial is devoted to adjusting anchor points for better rotation effects, demonstrating how to move the anchor point without moving the layer.

  7. Encouragement to Experiment and Share: The instructor encourages viewers to experiment with different graph settings and share their creations, emphasizing that the real learning comes from creating and adjusting animations.

This tutorial is ideal for After Effects users looking to deepen their understanding of rotation animations and the Value Graph, offering practical tips and encouraging creativity and experimentation.


This video serves as an assignment for learners to apply the easing techniques they've learned in Adobe After Effects. The key points of the assignment are:

  1. Practical Application of Easing: The instructor emphasizes the importance of putting the learned easing concepts into practice. Students are encouraged to either create a new animation or improve one from a previous section by applying easing to various elements.

  2. Working with Different Animations: The tutorial covers easing different types of animations like scale, position, and rotation. It includes selecting keyframes and applying 'easy ease' (F9), then adjusting them in the graph editor for a smoother, more dynamic effect.

  3. Manipulating the Graph Editor: The instructor demonstrates how to manipulate the handles in the graph editor to create specific motion effects such as slowing down or speeding up at different points of the animation.

  4. Creating Overshoots: The concept of overshoots is introduced, where an element moves beyond its target point and then settles back, adding dynamism to the animation.

  5. Dealing with Complex Animations: For more complex animations, the tutorial suggests different approaches, like linear keyframes for short, fast movements and more nuanced graph adjustments for longer, smoother animations.

  6. Replicating Keyframes Across Layers: The instructor shows how to copy keyframes from one layer to another to ensure consistency in animations across different elements.

  7. Anchor Point Adjustments: Tips on adjusting anchor points for better animation control are given, showing how to move the anchor point without affecting the layer’s position.

  8. Encouragement for Experimentation and Sharing: Students are encouraged to experiment with different easing settings and share their finished animations on platforms like YouTube for feedback.

This assignment is aimed at helping learners deepen their understanding of motion design in After Effects, particularly in the use of easing and the graph editor to create more polished and professional animations.

Start animating Shapes and Type Layers

This section of the tutorial focuses on text and shapes in Adobe After Effects, covering essential skills and creative techniques:

  1. Essentials of Text: The tutorial begins with the basics of text in After Effects, including how to create and edit text layers. This part likely covers different text properties like font choice, size, color, and alignment.

  2. Creating and Animating Shapes: The instructor plans to delve into shapes, explaining how to create basic shapes, image shapes, and use advanced shape animation properties. This section will likely cover the use of the shape tool, modifying shape layers, and applying different transformations and effects.

  3. Advanced Shape Animations: The tutorial will demonstrate more advanced techniques for animating shapes. This could include keyframe animation, using shape layer properties like scale, rotation, and position, and applying custom easing for smooth motion.

  4. Shape Explosion Animation: The section concludes with a practical project – creating a shape explosion animation. This project will serve as a hands-on application of the skills learned in the section, helping learners understand how to combine text and shape animations creatively.

  5. Transition from Beginner to Intermediate Level: The instructor suggests that by the end of this section, learners will have progressed beyond beginner level in After Effects, indicating the depth and practical nature of the tutorial.

This part of the tutorial is designed to give learners a comprehensive understanding of working with text and shapes in After Effects, equipping them with the skills to create dynamic, visually appealing animations.

This tutorial is focused on typography in Adobe After Effects, guiding you through the process of creating and animating text. Key points include:

  1. Introduction to Typography in After Effects: The tutorial begins by emphasizing the importance of text or typography in After Effects animations.

  2. Setting Up a New Composition: The instructor guides on creating a new composition, choosing the right settings like resolution (1920x1080), frame rate (30 fps), and duration (5 seconds).

  3. Character and Paragraph Panels: The tutorial covers the use of the Character and Paragraph panels in After Effects. It is recommended to reset these panels to their default settings at the start of a new project to avoid inconsistencies.

  4. Choosing Fonts and Setting Text: The process of selecting fonts and adjusting text properties such as font size, tracking, and alignment is demonstrated. The instructor shows how to add text to the composition using the text tool and how to edit it.

  5. Aligning Text: The tutorial includes how to align text layers to the center of the composition for a balanced design.

  6. Animating Text: The instructor demonstrates a simple animation involving the position and opacity properties of text layers. Keyframes are set for these properties to create a fade-in effect as the text moves into its final position.

  7. Keyboard Shortcuts: The tutorial makes use of keyboard shortcuts like 'P' for position and 'Shift + T' for opacity to speed up the workflow.

  8. Basic Text Animation Example: An example animation is created where text layers fade in and move into place, showcasing a simple yet effective animation technique.

  9. Encouragement to Explore Further: The instructor encourages further exploration of text manipulation and animation in After Effects, indicating that there are many more possibilities beyond the basics covered in the tutorial.

This tutorial is designed for those new to After Effects or those looking to strengthen their fundamental skills in typography and text animation within the software.

This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide on creating and styling shape layers in Adobe After Effects. Here are the key points covered:

  1. Creating a New Composition: The tutorial starts with creating a new composition, naming it appropriately, and setting the resolution and frame rate.

  2. Setting Preferences for Shape Layers: An important preference setting is highlighted - ensuring the anchor point is centered in new shape layers for easier manipulation.

  3. Using Shape Tools: The tutorial demonstrates how to use various shape tools, including rectangles, ellipses, polygons, stars, and rounded rectangles. It covers how to create and position these shapes within the composition.

  4. Adjusting Shape Properties: Key features such as maintaining aspect ratio (using the 'Shift' key while dragging), moving the shape before releasing the mouse button (using the 'Spacebar'), and adjusting properties like the number of sides on a polygon or the roundness of a rectangle are discussed.

  5. Naming Shape Layers: The instructor shows how to rename shape layers for better organization.

  6. Styling Shapes: The tutorial covers styling options for shape layers, including fill and stroke options, color choices, gradients, blending modes, and opacity settings.

  7. Creating and Managing Multiple Shapes: The process of creating multiple shapes and managing them in separate layers is demonstrated, along with the importance of deselecting the current shape layer to create a new independent layer.

  8. Preparing for Animation: The tutorial sets the stage for animating these shapes in a future video, highlighting the importance of mastering shape creation and styling as a foundation for animation.

This tutorial is ideal for beginners in After Effects or those looking to improve their skills in creating and styling shape layers, providing a solid foundation for more advanced animation techniques.

The tutorial, "Animating the Shape Properties," aims to teach viewers, particularly students, the fundamental techniques of animating various shape properties in design software. This overview is designed to provide a concise understanding of the key concepts covered in the video:

  1. Layer Management: The tutorial begins by showing how to efficiently manage multiple layers, emphasizing the importance of organizing and selecting specific layers for animation purposes.

  2. Animating Rectangles: The focus then shifts to animating a rectangle shape. The instructor explains how to adjust its size, position, and roundness, highlighting the differences between animating the shape itself versus its layer, especially in relation to stroke scaling.

  3. Circle Animation: The principles are similarly applied to a circle shape. Here, the tutorial emphasizes that the stroke size remains constant during scaling animations.

  4. Polygon and Star Shapes: More complex shapes like polygons and stars are introduced next. The tutorial covers how to animate various properties such as the number of points, rotation, and roundness, enabling dynamic visual effects.

  5. Practical Animation Examples: Throughout the tutorial, practical examples are provided, demonstrating how to create animations by keyframing different properties like size, position, and roundness. These examples show transformations from one shape to another and illustrate the visual effects of these animations.

  6. Exploration and Creativity: The tutorial encourages viewers, especially students, to experiment with different properties and animations. This approach aims to foster creativity and a deeper understanding of the software's capabilities.

Overall, the tutorial is designed to be both educational and engaging, offering students a thorough introduction to shape animation in design software, and encouraging them to explore and create their own animations.

The tutorial titled "Explosion Animation with a Simple Logo" aims to teach students, how to create dynamic animations using basic shapes. Here's a brief overview of the key concepts covered:

  1. Introduction to Animation Concept: The tutorial starts by clarifying that the "explosion" animation involves shapes appearing and disappearing with various animation styles, rather than a literal explosion.

  2. Learning Shape Properties: Viewers are introduced to animating different properties of shapes, such as ABC shapes, strokes, and the trim path. This includes techniques for creating and animating these elements.

  3. Advanced Techniques and Properties: The tutorial delves into more complex concepts like the zigzag property and creating concentric shapes. These techniques add depth and complexity to the animations.

  4. Keyframes and Graphs: A significant portion of the tutorial is dedicated to teaching how to work with keyframes and understanding speed and value graphs. This is essential for creating smooth and visually appealing motion in animations.

  5. Motion Design Principles: The tutorial emphasizes the importance of motion design principles, encouraging viewers to think creatively about how to produce eye-catching motion effects.

  6. Practical Tips and Tricks: As the tutorial progresses, it offers numerous tips and tricks that are crucial for expanding motion design skills. These insights are intended to help viewers apply these skills in various animation projects.

  7. Hands-on Learning Approach: The tutorial adopts a hands-on approach, encouraging viewers to dive in and start learning by doing, which is pivotal for grasping the nuances of motion animation.

Overall, the tutorial is designed to be both instructional and inspiring, targeting individuals interested in enhancing their skills in motion design and animation using simple shapes and advanced techniques.


The tutorial titled "Creating Irregular Shapes with the Pen Tool" is aimed at teaching students how to effectively utilize the pen tool for drawing and editing shapes in After Effects. The key objectives of this tutorial include:

  1. Mastering the Pen Tool: It starts with instructions on using the pen tool, focusing on creating points and connecting them to form open paths.

    Shape Editing Techniques: The tutorial guides students through the process of editing shapes. This includes adjusting points to create curves and learning how to manipulate Bezier handles for both straight and curved lines.

  2. Path Creation and Animation: Students learn to create and animate paths. This involves using keyframes to animate the path over time, demonstrating how to create movement within a shape.

  3. Advanced Shape Manipulation: The tutorial progresses to more advanced techniques, such as converting hard corners into curves and breaking handles for bespoke shape creation. This allows students to explore more complex design possibilities.

  4. Specific Shapes (Line and Plus Sign): A specific focus is given to creating a line and a plus sign. The tutorial demonstrates the precise steps for drawing these shapes and discusses how to align and transform them effectively.

  5. Grouping and Managing Shapes: Students are shown how to group multiple shapes for more efficient manipulation. This includes transforming entire groups, rotating, and scaling, which are vital skills for managing complex designs.

  6. Encouraging Creativity and Application: The tutorial encourages students to apply the learned techniques to create their own unique shapes and animations, fostering a creative and exploratory approach to digital design.

Overall, this tutorial is structured to equip students with the necessary skills for drawing and animating irregular shapes, starting from basic pen tool techniques to more advanced shape manipulation and animation methods.

The tutorial titled "Working with Bezier Shapes or Bezier Path Shapes" is designed to teach students about the versatility and utility of Bezier shapes in digital design. The key objectives of this tutorial include:

  1. Understanding Bezier Shapes: The tutorial begins by explaining what Bezier shapes are and how they differ from parametric shapes like rectangles, ellipses, and stars. Unlike these predefined shapes, Bezier shapes offer more flexibility for creating complex and unique designs.

  2. Utilizing the Pen and Selection Tools: Students learn to use the pen and selection tools for creating and editing Bezier paths. This includes adding, removing, and adjusting points on a path to shape the desired figure.

  3. Converting Parametric Shapes to Bezier Paths: The tutorial demonstrates how turning on the Bezier path option can transform standard shapes like rectangles and ellipses into editable paths, allowing for more intricate and customized designs.

  4. Editing Points and Curves: Students are shown how to manipulate the points and curves of a Bezier path. This includes converting sharp corners into curves and vice versa, using the alt/option key for precision editing.

  5. Creating Custom Shapes from Basic Forms: The instructor guides students through the process of starting with a basic shape, like a rectangle, and transforming it into a completely different custom shape using Bezier path editing.

  6. Animating Paths for Morphing Effects: A significant focus is on keyframing Bezier paths to create morphing animations. This involves copying a path from one shape and pasting it onto another, then animating the transition for creative effects.

  7. Utilizing the First Vertex for Path Transitions: The tutorial also covers the importance of the first vertex in path transitions. It shows how matching the first vertices of different shapes can create smoother morphing animations.

  8. Advanced Applications of Bezier Paths: Towards the end, more advanced techniques are introduced, including modifying complex shapes like stars using Bezier path editing and creating dynamic animations through keyframing.

In summary, this tutorial aims to equip students with the skills to work effectively with Bezier shapes. It covers fundamental techniques for creating and editing paths, as well as more advanced methods for animating and transforming these shapes for unique and compelling visual effects.

The tutorial titled "Animating Stroke Width in After Effects" is designed to teach students how to create dynamic animations focusing on stroke width variation and layer sequencing. The key objectives of this tutorial are:

  1. Animating Stroke Width: Students learn to animate the stroke width of a shape, specifically a circle. The tutorial begins with drawing a simple circle and then animating the stroke width from zero to a specific value and back to zero, creating an effect where the stroke appears to grow and then disappear.

  2. Using Keyframes for Animation: The tutorial emphasizes the use of keyframes to animate the stroke width. Students learn to set keyframes at different points in time and adjust the stroke width values to create the desired animation effect.

  3. Combining Position and Stroke Width Animation: The instructor demonstrates how to enhance the animation by combining stroke width animation with position animation. This involves moving the circle across the composition while its stroke width changes.

  4. Easy Ease and Graph Editor: Students are introduced to the concept of 'Easy Ease' and the Graph Editor for smoothing out animations. This helps in creating more natural and visually appealing motion.

  5. Creating Multiple Shapes and Animations: The tutorial shows how to duplicate shapes (circles and rectangles) and apply the same stroke width animation to these shapes. This creates a more complex animation with multiple elements.

  6. Layer Sequencing for Dynamic Effects: An advanced part of the tutorial focuses on sequencing layers. Students learn how to sequence multiple layers in a composition for a specific duration, creating a rapid succession effect. This is particularly useful for creating 'explosion' type animations with multiple elements.

  7. Practical Applications and Tips: Throughout the tutorial, practical tips are provided for more efficient workflow in After Effects. This includes shortcuts for aligning shapes to the center, copying keyframes, and adjusting animations using the Graph Editor.

  8. Encouraging Experimentation: The tutorial encourages students to experiment with different keyframe values and positions, fostering creativity and a deeper understanding of animation techniques in After Effects.

In summary, this tutorial provides comprehensive guidance on animating stroke width and sequencing layers in After Effects, offering both fundamental techniques and advanced tips for creating engaging animations.

The tutorial titled "Animating with the Trim Path in After Effects" focuses on teaching students how to utilize the Trim Path tool for creating engaging animations. The key objectives of this tutorial are:

  1. Introduction to Trim Path: The tutorial begins with an introduction to the Trim Path tool, which is specific to shape layers in After Effects. The instructor explains the basics of how Trim Path can be used to create dynamic animations.

  2. Creating and Centering Shapes: Students learn to create a basic shape (in this case, a circle) and center it within the composition. This forms the foundation for the Trim Path animation.

  3. Exploring Trim Path Settings: The tutorial delves into the Trim Path settings, teaching students about the 'Start,' 'End,' and 'Offset' properties. These settings control how the path is revealed or hidden, enabling students to create a variety of animation effects.

  4. Animating the Trim Path: The instructor demonstrates how to animate the start and end of the Trim Path to create the appearance of the shape drawing itself on the screen. This includes setting keyframes for the Trim Path properties and adjusting their values over time.

  5. Offset Animations: Students also learn how to use the 'Offset' property to rotate the start point of the Trim Path, adding another layer of animation to the shape.

  6. Combining Trim Path with Size Animations: The tutorial shows how to enhance the Trim Path animation by also animating the size of the shape. This combination creates a more complex and interesting visual effect.

  7. Creating Complex Animations with Multiple Shapes: Students are guided through the process of duplicating the initial shape layer, creating multiple layers with varying sizes, and then applying Trim Path animations to each layer to create a more complex animation.

  8. Sequencing Layers for Dynamic Effects: An important part of the tutorial is sequencing layers to create a cascading animation effect. The instructor shows how to use the keyframe assistant to sequence layers effectively.

  9. Practical Tips and Tricks: Throughout the tutorial, practical tips are provided to enhance the workflow in After Effects. This includes using shortcuts for aligning shapes and keyframing, as well as how to effectively use the Graph Editor for smoother animations.

  10. Encouraging Creativity and Experimentation: The tutorial encourages students to experiment with different Trim Path settings and layer sequencing to create unique animations. This fosters creativity and helps students develop a deeper understanding of animation techniques in After Effects.

In summary, this tutorial provides students with a comprehensive understanding of how to use the Trim Path tool in After Effects to create dynamic and visually appealing animations. The tutorial covers fundamental techniques as well as more advanced methods for creating complex animations using shape layers.

The tutorial titled "Animating with the Zig Zag Effect in After Effects" aims to teach students how to creatively use the Zig Zag effect for creating dynamic animations. The key objectives of this tutorial include:

  1. Understanding the Zig Zag Effect: The tutorial introduces the Zig Zag effect, a tool in After Effects used for transforming simple shapes into more complex, jagged forms. The instructor demonstrates how to apply the Zig Zag effect to a circle, turning it into a star-like shape.

  2. Creating Basic Shapes: Students learn to create basic shapes, such as circles and lines, as a starting point for applying the Zig Zag effect.

  3. Manipulating Zig Zag Settings: The instructor guides students through adjusting the Zig Zag settings, including the size and number of ridges. These adjustments showcase how varying the parameters can produce different visual outcomes.

  4. Combining Zig Zag with Other Tools: The tutorial demonstrates how to enhance the Zig Zag effect by combining it with other tools like Trim Paths. This combination allows for more complex animations where the shape dynamically changes over time.

  5. Animating the Zig Zag Effect: Students learn to animate the Zig Zag effect, particularly focusing on how changes in the effect’s settings can be keyframed over time to create motion.

  6. Trim Paths for Dynamic Line Animation: The tutorial covers the use of Trim Paths to animate a line affected by the Zig Zag effect. This section focuses on how to create an animation where the line appears to draw itself on the screen in a zig-zag pattern.

  7. Line Cap Adjustments: Students are shown how to adjust the line cap properties to change the appearance of the animated line, switching between a cut and rounded end for different visual effects.

  8. Creative Use of Keyframes: The instructor emphasizes the importance of keyframe placement and timing in determining the length and movement of the animated path.

  9. Encouraging Experimentation: Throughout the tutorial, students are encouraged to experiment with different Zig Zag settings and keyframe positions to discover unique animation styles.

  10. Practical Applications: The tutorial concludes with suggestions on how students can apply these techniques in various animation projects, including shape explosions and logo animations, encouraging creative applications of the Zig Zag effect.

In summary, this tutorial provides a comprehensive guide on using the Zig Zag effect in After Effects for creating intricate and dynamic animations. It covers basic techniques as well as more advanced methods for creating compelling visual effects.

The tutorial titled "Creating Concentric Shapes with the Repeater in After Effects" aims to teach students how to utilize the Repeater tool to create complex and visually appealing concentric shapes. The key objectives of this tutorial include:

1. Introduction to the Repeater Tool: The tutorial begins with an introduction to the Repeater tool, emphasizing its importance in creating repeated patterns of a shape within a composition.

2. Creating Basic Shapes: Students learn to create basic shapes like circles, squares, and lines as starting points for applying the Repeater effect.

3. Applying the Repeater Correctly: The instructor stresses the importance of applying the Repeater at the correct level in the shape layer hierarchy. It is highlighted that the Repeater should be at the same level as the shape, not inside it, to work effectively.

4. Adjusting Repeater Settings: The tutorial guides students through adjusting the Repeater's settings, including the number of copies and the rotation, to create concentric shapes.

5. Understanding Positioning and Rotation: Students learn how positioning and rotation settings within the Repeater impact the final appearance of the concentric shapes.

6. Using the Anchor Point for Adjustments: The instructor demonstrates how to use the anchor point within the shape’s transform properties to adjust the spacing and arrangement of the repeated shapes.

7. Creating Concentric Patterns with Various Shapes: The tutorial covers how to create concentric patterns using different shapes like circles, squares, and lines, showcasing the versatility of the Repeater tool.

8. Animating the Repeated Shapes: Students are shown how to animate these concentric shapes for dynamic effects, making the tutorial relevant for motion graphics and animation projects.

9. Practical Tips for Effective Repeater Use: The tutorial offers practical tips and reminders, such as ensuring the Repeater is applied at the correct hierarchy level and using the shape's transform properties for adjustments.

10.Encouraging Experimentation: Throughout the tutorial, students are encouraged to experiment with different settings and shapes to explore the creative possibilities offered by the Repeater tool.

In summary, this tutorial provides students with comprehensive knowledge on using the Repeater tool in After Effects to create complex concentric shapes. It covers fundamental techniques as well as creative methods for enhancing visual compositions in animation and motion graphics projects.

The aim of this tutorial is to guide students through the process of creating and animating concentric shapes with After Effects, focusing on the correct use of the repeater tool.

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Understanding the Repeater: Learn the proper placement of the repeater within the layer hierarchy for effective results.

  • Creating Basic Shapes: Use the After Effects tools to create basic shapes such as circles and squares.

  • Applying the Repeater: Apply the repeater to multiple shape copies and adjust their properties.

  • Transform Properties: Manipulate the transform properties of shapes to alter their appearance and behavior.

  • Anchor Point Adjustment: Discover how to move the anchor point to control the dispersion of the shapes and create concentric patterns.

  • Animation Techniques: Explore the animation of stroke width and scale to bring the shapes to life in a visually appealing way.

  • Sequencing and Timing: Understand the sequencing of layers and the timing of animations to create smooth transitions and effects.

The aim of this tutorial is to guide students through the creation and animation of an explosion effect in After Effects, emphasizing originality and personal style in animation.

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Initiating the Explosion Animation: Learn to position the first and last keyframes within specified ellipses to create the desired explosion effect.

  • Using Anchor Points: Understand the importance of anchor points being centrally located for certain shapes and off-center for others to drive the animation.

  • Base Animation: Develop a base animation for stroke and position to apply across multiple shapes.

  • Stroke Animation: Master the process of animating the stroke, including widening and narrowing it in sync with the position.

  • Efficient Workflow: Utilize search functions and graph editors for efficient animation adjustments.

  • Layer Positioning: Learn to position layers appropriately to ensure a balanced and visually appealing animation.

  • Graph Editor Mastery: Use the Graph Editor for fine-tuning the velocity and timing of animations.

  • Preparation for Complex Animations: Set the stage for more sophisticated animations in subsequent tutorials.

The aim of this tutorial is to teach students how to animate filled shapes to create an explosion effect using Adobe After Effects.

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Animating Filled Shapes: Students will learn to animate filled shapes, focusing on circles and squares as the main elements.

  • Position and Stroke Animation: The tutorial covers the animation of position and stroke, demonstrating how to create a base animation and replicate it across other shapes.

  • Scale and Rotation: Students will understand how to keyframe scale and rotation to make shapes appear as if they are expanding and contracting.

  • Graph Editor Usage: The tutorial emphasizes the importance of using the graph editor to adjust the easing of the animation for a more natural movement.

  • Layer Positioning: Techniques for correctly positioning layers to prevent overlapping and ensure a cohesive animation sequence.

  • Creativity in Animation: Encourages students to use their taste and creativity to adjust animations and achieve the desired effect.

  • Preparation for Advanced Techniques: Sets the foundation for more complex animations, hinting at future lessons that will build on these skills.

This tutorial aims to teach students how to animate specific shapes, focusing on two elements, and improving their skills in directional animation and orientation in After Effects.

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Orientation and Path Animation: Students will learn how to orient objects along a motion path for more dynamic movement within their animations.

  • Copying Base Animations: The video demonstrates how to copy base position animations from one object to others for efficiency.

  • Using Trim Paths: Students will be taught how to effectively use trim paths to animate the drawing and erasing of stroke paths.

  • Adjusting Motion Paths: Instructions on how to adjust and perfect the motion path for each animated element.

  • Creative Placement: The tutorial encourages students to place elements creatively within the composition to ensure a visually pleasing result.

  • Fine-tuning Animations: Students will refine their skills in fine-tuning animations using the graph editor and keyframe adjustments.

  • Preparing for Complexity: The lesson sets the stage for more complex animations, hinting at future lessons that will further challenge the students.

This tutorial aims to consolidate the animation skills of students by guiding them through the final steps of creating an explosion animation. The focus is on duplicating shapes to enrich the animation and applying design skills for a refined outcome.

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Duplication and Variation: Students will learn to duplicate shapes and vary their animations to create a rich and complex composition.

  • Positioning and Orientation: The tutorial reinforces the importance of correct positioning and orientation of shapes along motion paths to ensure natural movement.

  • Trim Paths Animation: Students will apply the trim paths technique to create revealing and hiding effects for the shapes in the animation.

  • Efficient Workflow: Students will observe methods to efficiently copy and apply base animations to multiple shapes, saving time and maintaining consistency.

  • Creative Freedom: The video encourages students to use their creativity to adjust the animations according to their personal taste and style.

  • Preparation for Advanced Techniques: While the tutorial covers the basics, it sets the stage for the upcoming video where more advanced tips and tricks will be shared.

The tutorial promotes a hands-on approach, urging students to take the time to practice the demonstrated techniques to enhance their animation skills.

This tutorial guides students through sequencing techniques in animation, focusing on enhancing the timing and natural flow of an animated explosion.

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Sequencing Animations: Understanding how to sequence animations for a more natural and varied effect rather than having all elements animate simultaneously.

  • Keyframe Adjustment: Learning to adjust keyframes individually to create more dynamic and interesting animations.

  • Efficiency in Workflow: Demonstrating quick and systematic methods to apply changes across multiple layers without a meticulous frame-by-frame approach.

  • Creative Composition: Encouraging the placement of a central element, like a logo, to be revealed by the animation, showcasing practical application in design.

  • Simplification of Complex Tasks: The tutorial emphasizes that while animation can appear complex, it is often a systematic process that can yield impressive results with practice.

The tutorial aims to demystify complex animation techniques, showing students that intricate animations are achievable through systematic and step-by-step processes.

The final part of this animation tutorial focuses on adding a logo and text to the burst animation created in previous sections.

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Incorporating Logos and Text: Students learn how to add and animate a logo within the burst animation, enhancing the composition's central focus.

  • Adjusting Composition Settings: Instruction on modifying composition properties, such as size and frame rate, to accommodate new elements like logos and text.

  • Layer and Keyframe Management: Techniques for duplicating layers and managing keyframes for efficient animation workflow are covered.

  • Animating Scale and Rotation: The tutorial includes animating the scale and rotation of the logo to synchronize with the burst animation for a cohesive reveal effect.

  • Finalizing the Project: The lesson concludes with final adjustments, ensuring students understand how to refine their animations for presentation or delivery.

Throughout the tutorial, the importance of creating a visually appealing and polished animation is emphasized, encouraging students to use the skills they've learned to produce professional-quality work.

Create and Publish your Videos to Social Media

The lecture aims to provide students with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills for producing high-quality videos using Adobe After Effects. The instructor focuses on several key learning objectives:

  1. Understanding the Final Output: Students will learn the importance of the final composition in After Effects and its role in video production.

  2. Optimizing Video Quality: The lecture emphasizes the balance between resolution, quality, and file size to achieve the best possible video output.

  3. Rendering Techniques: Detailed instructions on how to render videos effectively, ensuring high quality and efficiency.

  4. Creating Transparent Background Videos: Step-by-step guidance on producing QuickTime videos with transparent backgrounds, particularly for use in Premiere Pro.

  5. File Size Reduction: Strategies to reduce video file sizes without compromising quality, an essential skill for efficient storage and sharing.

  6. Animated GIF Creation: Instructions on creating animated GIFs for social media and websites, adding versatility to students' digital content creation skills.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Adobe After Effects

  • Video Production

  • Final Composition in After Effects

  • Video Quality Optimization

  • Rendering Techniques in After Effects

  • Transparent Background Videos

  • QuickTime and Premiere Pro Integration

  • Video File Size Reduction

  • High-Quality Videos

  • Animated GIF Creation

  • Social Media Content Creation

  • Digital Media Skills

  • After Effects for Beginners

  • Advanced After Effects Techniques

This tutorial is designed for students who aim to produce professional, high-resolution, and small-size videos using Adobe After Effects, suitable for social media or work websites. The instructor outlines the following key learning objectives:

  1. Setting the Work Area: Understanding the significance of the work area in After Effects and its impact on the final video length.

  2. Composition Settings Check: Learning to adjust composition settings, particularly focusing on frame rate, to ensure optimal video quality.

  3. Using Adobe Media Encoder: Detailed instructions on using Adobe Media Encoder, a complementary Adobe application, for rendering videos. This includes proper installation and integration with After Effects and Premiere Pro.

  4. Rendering Process: Guidance on rendering compositions in After Effects, including selecting the appropriate format (e.g., H.264 for MP4 files) and adjusting settings to match source parameters like size and frame rate.

  5. Resolution and Size Considerations: Tips on choosing the right resolution and file size, with a focus on maintaining quality without unnecessary increase in file size, especially when dealing with motion graphics.

  6. Output and Storage: Demonstrating how to choose and set the output file location for the rendered video.

  7. Practical Rendering Demonstration: The instructor provides a live demonstration of the rendering process, highlighting the speed and efficiency of the process, depending on the computer's capabilities.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Adobe After Effects

  • Professional Video Production

  • High-Resolution Videos

  • Small File Size Video

  • Social Media Video Creation

  • Work Area in After Effects

  • Frame Rate Adjustment

  • Adobe Media Encoder

  • Video Rendering Techniques

  • MP4 Format in After Effects

  • Resolution and File Size Balance

  • Efficient Video Storage

  • After Effects Tutorial

  • Video Rendering for Websites

  • High-Quality Video Output


This tutorial is tailored for students encountering issues with Adobe Media Encoder not popping up or listing their compositions from Adobe After Effects. The instructor guides students through the following essential steps to resolve this issue:

  1. Starting Adobe Media Encoder Manually: If the Media Encoder doesn't automatically open from After Effects, the instructor advises starting it as a standalone application.

  2. Adding Source Manually: Demonstrates how to add a composition manually by clicking on the ‘Add source’ button in the Media Encoder and navigating to the saved After Effects project file.

  3. Selecting the Right Composition: Once the project file is opened in Media Encoder, all compositions within the project are listed. The instructor shows how to select the desired composition for rendering.

  4. Setting Output Preferences: Emphasizes the importance of choosing the correct rendering settings, such as the H.264 format, and setting the output location to a specific folder for easy access and organization.

  5. Initiating the Render Process: Guides students through the final step of clicking the green arrow in Media Encoder to start the rendering process.

  6. Efficient Workflow Tips: The tutorial highlights the importance of a good software installation for a smoother and quicker workflow and provides tips for organizing rendered files.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Adobe Media Encoder Troubleshooting

  • Composition Listing in Media Encoder

  • After Effects to Media Encoder Workflow

  • Manual Addition of Source in Media Encoder

  • Selecting Compositions for Rendering

  • Rendering Settings in Media Encoder

  • Organizing Rendered Video Files

  • H.264 Format in Media Encoder

  • Efficient Video Rendering Techniques

  • Adobe After Effects Project Management

  • Dynamic Link Server Connectivity

  • Video Production Workflow Optimization

  • Adobe Software Integration

  • Media Encoder Rendering Process


This tutorial is ideal for students learning to create videos with transparent backgrounds using Adobe After Effects, which can be overlaid onto other videos in editing programs. The instructor covers the following key steps and concepts:

  1. Understanding Backgrounds in After Effects: Explaining the difference between a true background layer and the composition's background color. Emphasizing that changing the composition's background color does not affect the final output.

  2. Utilizing the Alpha Channel: Demonstrating how to use the Alpha Channel to check which parts of the video will be transparent (black areas) and which will be visible (white or gray areas).

  3. Creating a Transparent Background Video: Guidance on how to create a video without a background, focusing on the importance of the Alpha Channel in this process.

  4. Rendering the Video: Instructions on rendering the composition with a transparent background using the 'Add to Render Queue' feature in After Effects, selecting 'Lossless with Alpha' for the output module, and ensuring the format is compatible with other video editing software.

  5. Using Adobe Media Encoder for Better Results: Recommending Adobe Media Encoder for rendering transparent background videos. The instructor shows how to select appropriate presets in Media Encoder, emphasizing the use of QuickTime and Apple ProRes 4444 for maintaining transparency.

  6. Importing into Video Editing Software: Demonstrating how to import the rendered video into Premiere Pro and ensuring the transparency is maintained when placed over other video layers.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Transparent Background Video

  • After Effects Tutorials

  • Alpha Channel in Video Editing

  • Rendering Transparent Videos

  • Adobe Media Encoder

  • QuickTime and Apple ProRes 4444

  • Video Overlay Techniques

  • After Effects and Premiere Pro Workflow

  • Motion Graphics with Transparent Background

  • Professional Video Production Skills

  • Lossless Video Rendering

  • Importing Videos into Editing Software

  • Video Editing Techniques

  • Creating Professional Motion Graphics

This tutorial is designed for students who want to learn how to reduce the file size of their MP4 videos created in Adobe After Effects, especially when they include multiple videos, transitions, and effects. The instructor provides a detailed guide on the following aspects:

  1. Understanding Bitrate Settings: Explaining how the bitrate affects the file size of the video. The instructor emphasizes that lowering the bitrate is a primary method to reduce file size.

  2. Adjusting Bitrate Options: Demonstrating how to change the bitrate settings in Adobe Media Encoder, with options ranging from high to adaptive low bitrate.

  3. Exploring VBR (Variable Bit Rate) Settings: Showing how to use the VBR 1 pass and 2 pass settings, and explaining the trade-off between file size and video quality.

  4. Setting Custom Bitrate Values: Teaching how to manually set the bitrate value to a specific number, like 5 Mbps, for more control over the final output size.

  5. Resolution Reduction as an Alternative: Discussing the option of reducing the resolution (e.g., from 1080p to 720p) as another way to decrease the file size, which might be suitable for certain platforms like websites or social media.

  6. Making Informed Decisions: Advising students on making choices based on their needs, such as maintaining higher resolution for YouTube uploads and letting YouTube handle the compression.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Reducing Video File Size

  • After Effects MP4 Optimization

  • Bitrate Adjustment in Media Encoder

  • Variable Bit Rate (VBR) Settings

  • Custom Bitrate Values

  • Resolution Reduction Techniques

  • Efficient Video Compression

  • After Effects Video Export

  • File Size Management

  • Video Editing Skills

  • MP4 File Compression

  • Optimal Video Output

  • Media Encoder Bitrate Settings

  • High-Quality Video Production

  • Digital Media Optimization Techniques

This tutorial is particularly beneficial for students looking to create perfectly looping GIF animations using Adobe After Effects. The instructor provides a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this:

  1. Preparing the Animation: The tutorial begins with the selection of the animation (Project V1) and placing it into a new composition. The instructor emphasizes using the entire duration of the composition for the GIF.

  2. Trimming and Reversing Layers: Demonstrating how to trim the animation to a specific duration (e.g., 2 seconds) and duplicating layers. The instructor shows how to reverse one layer’s timing for seamless looping.

  3. Overlapping Animations for Looping: The layers are overlapped to ensure that the animation flows smoothly from the end of the first layer to the beginning of the reversed layer, creating a loop.

  4. Exporting to GIF using Adobe Media Encoder: The instructor guides on how to use Adobe Media Encoder for exporting the animation as a GIF. The process involves selecting the right presets and ensuring the file is saved in an easily accessible location.

  5. Previewing and Fine-Tuning the GIF: After exporting, the GIF is previewed using a web browser. The instructor notes the importance of checking the loop for any discrepancies and making necessary adjustments for a perfect loop.

  6. Sharing and Usage of GIFs: The tutorial concludes with suggestions on how the created GIF can be used on social media platforms or websites, highlighting its versatility.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • GIF Animation Creation

  • Looping GIF Animations

  • Adobe After Effects Tutorials

  • Time Reversing Layers

  • Animated GIF Export

  • Adobe Media Encoder for GIFs

  • Seamless Looping Techniques

  • Creative Animation Design

  • Digital Media Skills

  • GIF for Social Media

  • Web Animation Techniques

  • After Effects Export Settings

  • Perfect Loop GIF Creation

  • Animation Preview and Adjustment

  • Online Content Creation

CC 2023 - Essential Reveal Techniques with Track Mattes and Pre-Comps

This tutorial is geared towards students eager to improve their motion graphics and visual effects skills using reveal techniques in Adobe After Effects. The instructor outlines the learning journey as follows:

  1. Understanding Reveal Techniques: Introducing the concept of reveal techniques as a fundamental element in creating compelling motion graphics and visual effects in After Effects.

  2. Learning Concepts and Workflow: The tutorial begins with a focus on the basic concepts and workflow associated with reveal techniques, ensuring a solid foundation for learners.

  3. Practical Activities: To reinforce learning, the instructor includes practice activities. These activities are designed to provide hands-on experience and enhance understanding of the concepts taught.

  4. Creating a Fish Jumping Animation: As a culmination of the section, the tutorial features a simple yet impactful project – creating a fish jumping animation. This project is intended to demonstrate the practical application of reveal techniques in a real-world scenario.

  5. Skill Enhancement in Motion Design and VFX: The overall aim of the tutorial is to upgrade the students’ skills in motion design and visual effects through the effective use of reveal techniques in After Effects.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Reveal Techniques in After Effects

  • Motion Graphics Enhancement

  • Visual Effects Skills

  • After Effects Tutorials

  • Practical After Effects Activities

  • Fish Jumping Animation Project

  • Motion Design Concepts

  • VFX Workflow in After Effects

  • Creative Animation Techniques

  • Digital Effects Learning

  • Hands-On Animation Projects

  • After Effects Skill Development

  • Advanced Motion Graphics Techniques

  • Visual Storytelling in After Effects

  • Interactive Learning in Digital Design

This tutorial is tailored for students keen on mastering track mattes in Adobe After Effects CC 2023 to create dynamic text animations. The instructor provides a comprehensive guide covering these key areas:

  1. Introduction to Track Mattes: Explaining the concept of alpha track mattes and their significance in creating motion graphics.

  2. Setting Up the Project: Instructing students to start with the 'Alpha Matt' composition from the provided After Effects Project assets. Emphasis is placed on understanding the project setup and workflow.

  3. Enabling Transfer Control Panels: Guiding on enabling the transfer control panels to access modes and track mattes options.

  4. Understanding and Creating Mattes: Demonstrating how to create shape layers to be used as mattes. The tutorial explains the use of alpha mattes to reveal or hide layers in a composition.

  5. Animating Text Layers with Mattes: Showing how to animate text layers using mattes. The instructor demonstrates creating a basic animation where text layers appear and disappear as they move in and out of the matte areas.

  6. Refining the Animation: Providing tips on improving the animation using keyframe easing and the graph editor for smoother motion.

  7. Practical Example - Text Reveal Animation: The tutorial culminates in a practical example, creating a text reveal animation using track mattes, showcasing the effective use of mattes in motion graphics.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Track Mattes in After Effects

  • Alpha Track Matte Technique

  • Dynamic Text Animations

  • After Effects CC 2023 Tutorial

  • Motion Graphics Skills

  • Shape Layers as Mattes

  • Animating Text with Mattes

  • Keyframe Animation in After Effects

  • Visual Effects Design

  • Creative Matte Usage

  • Advanced Animation Techniques

  • Text Reveal Animation

  • Practical After Effects Projects

  • Track Mattes for Motion Design

  • Enhancing Animation with Track Mattes

This tutorial is ideal for students aiming to enhance their skills in using alpha inverted mattes in Adobe After Effects for dynamic text animations. The instructor carefully walks through these key steps:

  1. Introduction to Alpha Inverted Mattes: The tutorial begins by explaining the concept of alpha inverted mattes, highlighting their role in creating unique visual effects where the text layer appears only outside the matte area.

  2. Creating and Linking Mattes: Demonstrating how to create a matte and link it to the text layer using the pick whip tool. The instructor emphasizes the importance of positioning the matte correctly.

  3. Inverting the Matte: Showing how to invert the matte so that the text layer becomes visible only in areas not covered by the matte.

  4. Simplifying the Timeline with a Single Matte: The tutorial progresses to a more advanced technique, using a single matte layer for multiple text layers. This approach simplifies the timeline and makes the animation process more efficient.

  5. Animating Text Layers: Guiding students through creating a basic animation where text layers move in and out of the matte areas, appearing and disappearing as a result.

  6. Optimizing Animation with Keyframes and Graph Editor: Providing tips on how to use keyframes and the graph editor to smooth out the animation for a more professional look.

  7. Previewing the Final Animation: The instructor shows the completed animation, demonstrating the effectiveness of using alpha inverted mattes for creative text animations.

  8. Preview of Upcoming Lessons: Teasing the next video, which will delve into more complex examples of using both alpha mattes and alpha inverted mattes for graphical animations.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Alpha Inverted Mattes in After Effects

  • Dynamic Text Animation Techniques

  • Simplifying Animation Timelines

  • Creative Visual Effects with Mattes

  • Text Layer Animation in After Effects

  • Efficient Use of Shape Layers

  • Keyframe Animation Tutorial

  • Graph Editor for Smooth Motions

  • Advanced After Effects Techniques

  • Matte Linking and Inversion

  • Creative Animation Concepts

  • Motion Graphics Design

  • Alpha Matte Versatility

  • After Effects Animation Tutorial

  • Professional Text Animations

This tutorial is perfect for students wanting to learn how to create captivating animations using alpha inverted mattes in Adobe After Effects. The instructor leads through the process with a focus on creating a dynamic animation of balls interacting with a cup. Key steps include:

  1. Understanding Alpha Inverted Mattes: Beginning with an introduction to alpha inverted mattes, explaining how they can be used to make objects appear in front of or behind other elements in a scene.

  2. Setting Up the Animation: The instructor starts by animating two balls, emphasizing the importance of establishing the animation first to determine the extent and placement of the mattes.

  3. Creating the Matte for Interaction: Demonstrating the use of the Pen tool to draw a matte around the cup, which will be used to control the appearance of the balls in relation to the cup in the animation.

  4. Applying Alpha Inverted Mattes to Layers: Showing how to apply the alpha inverted mattes to the ball layers, making them appear to go behind the cup as part of the animation.

  5. Fine-Tuning the Matte and Animation: The instructor suggests making adjustments to the matte for accuracy and improving the motion paths of the balls for a more natural animation.

  6. Testing and Refining the Animation: Encouraging students to test the animation, refine the motion paths, and adjust the mattes as needed to achieve the desired effect.

  7. Encouraging Further Practice: The tutorial concludes with a prompt for students to enhance their animation with better mattes and motion paths, as well as to prepare for more complex projects in future lessons.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Alpha Inverted Mattes in After Effects

  • Creating Interactive Animations

  • Motion Path Adjustments

  • Dynamic Ball and Cup Animation

  • After Effects Animation Techniques

  • Using the Pen Tool for Mattes

  • Layer Interaction with Mattes

  • Animation Setup and Testing

  • Enhancing Animation Skills

  • Visual Effects with Alpha Inverted Mattes

  • Simplifying Animation with Mattes

  • Creative Motion Graphics

  • Practical After Effects Exercise

  • Advanced Animation Concepts

  • Realistic Object Interaction Animation

This tutorial is designed for students looking to deepen their understanding of Luma mattes in Adobe After Effects, particularly focusing on the effect of luminosity on the matte and how it controls the visibility of layers underneath. Key aspects covered include:

  1. Introduction to Luma Mattes: Explaining the concept of Luma mattes and how they differ from alpha mattes in terms of the impact of luminosity and opacity on the visibility of layers.

  2. Creating and Adjusting a Matte: Demonstrating the creation of a simple rectangle matte and adjusting its opacity to show its effect on the layer it mattes. The instructor emphasizes how changes in opacity affect the layer's visibility.

  3. Exploring Luminosity Effects: Discussing how the brightness and saturation of the matte’s color can affect the layer beneath it. A practical example is shown by adjusting the brightness, which results in varying levels of transparency in the matted layer.

  4. Practical Application of Luma Mattes: The tutorial moves on to a more practical example, using a linear gradient on the matte and showing how different parts of the gradient affect the visibility of the layer beneath in diverse ways.

  5. Creating a Radial Gradient Matte: Transitioning to a radial gradient, the instructor demonstrates another practical use of Luma mattes, where the gradient creates a dynamic, circular reveal effect on the underlying layer.

  6. Animating the Gradient: Showing how to animate the gradient for a more engaging visual effect, making the layer appear and disappear in a dynamic manner.

  7. Encouraging Experimentation: The instructor encourages students to experiment with different colors and luminosity levels to fully understand the impact of Luma mattes on layer visibility.

  8. Teaser for Advanced Techniques: The video concludes with a teaser for the next lesson, promising to delve into more complex visual effects using Luma mattes, such as creating ghost-like effects.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Luma Mattes in After Effects

  • Effects of Luminosity on Mattes

  • Creating Dynamic Visual Effects

  • Gradient Mattes and Layer Visibility

  • Animating Luma Mattes

  • Practical Uses of Luma Mattes

  • Radial Gradient Matte Technique

  • Understanding Luminosity in Mattes

  • Advanced Matte Animation

  • Visual Effects with Luma Mattes

  • Creative Uses of Gradient Mattes

  • Layer Visibility Control

  • Luma Matte Experimentation

  • Next-Level Visual Effects Techniques


This tutorial provides an in-depth look at using Luma mattes in Adobe After Effects to create a ghost-like visual effect. The instructor demonstrates a step-by-step process for achieving this effect:

  1. Setting up the Scene: The tutorial starts with a scene featuring a ghost graphic. The goal is to create an effect where the ghost appears to move in and out of visibility.

  2. Creating a Luma Matte: The instructor demonstrates how to create a Luma matte using the Pen tool, carefully drawing around the ghost to define the area of effect.

  3. Adjusting the Matte with Radial Gradients: To give the ghost a more dynamic appearance, a radial gradient is applied to the Luma matte. This gradient dictates where and how the ghost appears and disappears in the scene.

  4. Fine-Tuning the Matte: The instructor suggests making adjustments to the radial gradient to ensure the ghostly effect is smooth and realistic. This involves resizing and repositioning the gradient within the Luma matte.

  5. Animating the Ghost: A simple animation is created where the ghost moves across the screen. The Luma matte effect causes the ghost to fade in and out, depending on its position relative to the matte.

  6. Exploring Blending Modes: The tutorial also introduces blending modes as a way to further enhance the visual effect. Different modes like 'Screen' and 'Multiply' are experimented with to see their impact on the ghost animation.

  7. Encouraging Experimentation: The instructor encourages students to experiment with different settings within the Luma matte and blending modes to understand their effects better and to create more customized visual effects.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Luma Mattes in After Effects

  • Creating Ghostly Visual Effects

  • Using Radial Gradients in Mattes

  • Animation Techniques in After Effects

  • Blending Modes for Enhanced Effects

  • Customizing Luma Matte Settings

  • Dynamic Ghost Animation

  • After Effects Visual Effects Tutorial

  • Creative Use of Pen Tool for Mattes

  • Mastering Luma Mattes for Visual Effects

  • Realistic Ghost Appearance in Animation

  • Experimenting with Blending Modes

  • Practical After Effects Skills

  • Advanced Matte Techniques

  • Ghost Effect Animation Tutorial

This tutorial guides students through the process of creating a ghost animation using Luma Mattes Inverted in Adobe After Effects. The instructor provides a detailed step-by-step approach:

  1. Setting Up the Scene: The scene includes a ghost and three windows. The goal is to make the ghost visible as it passes each window, creating an illusion of the ghost lighting up the windows.

  2. Creating the Luma Matte: A Luma matte is created using the ellipse tool, with adjustments made to its position and size to align with the windows.

  3. Using Multiple Shapes in a Single Matte: To accommodate all three windows, the matte is duplicated within the same shape layer, and each copy is positioned over a window.

  4. Applying the Luma Matte to the Ghost: The ghost layer is linked to the Luma matte. The matte is set to Luma Matte Inverted, so the ghost appears brighter as it passes over each window.

  5. Adjusting Ghost Opacity and Blending Mode: The ghost’s opacity is reduced for a more realistic effect, and a blending mode is applied for better integration with the background.

  6. Adding a Mask to the Ghost: A mask is added to the ghost to soften its edges and make the animation more seamless. Feathering is applied to the mask for a smoother transition.

  7. Animating the Ghost: The ghost is animated to move across the screen, passing over each window. The instructor suggests separating the position dimensions and adding a wiggle expression to the Y-axis for a more dynamic movement.

  8. Finalizing the Animation: The tutorial concludes with a review of the completed animation, showcasing how the Luma Matte Inverted technique can be effectively used to create interesting visual effects.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Luma Mattes Inverted in After Effects

  • Ghost Animation Technique

  • Using Multiple Shapes in a Matte

  • Creating Realistic Ghost Effects

  • Softening Edges with Masks

  • Dynamic Ghost Movement

  • After Effects Animation Tutorial

  • Blending Modes for Ghost Effects

  • Wiggle Expression in Animation

  • Visual Effects with Luma Mattes

  • Enhancing Opacity for Realism

  • Creative Use of Ellipse Tool

  • Mask Feathering for Smooth Transitions

  • Practical Ghost Animation Example

  • Advanced Matte Techniques in After Effects

This tutorial introduces students to the concept of animating mattes in Adobe After Effects, demonstrating its effectiveness, particularly in typography animations. The instructor covers the following key points:

  1. Matte Creation and Application: The tutorial begins with creating a simple rectangle matte (using the rectangle tool) and applying it as an alpha matte to a text layer. This sets the stage for exploring matte animations.

  2. Animating the Matte: Instead of animating the text layer, the instructor focuses on animating the matte itself. By moving the matte over the text, a swipe effect is created, revealing or hiding the text layer in a dynamic way.

  3. Using Luma Mattes for Enhanced Effects: The tutorial progresses to experimenting with Luma mattes. By applying a radial gradient to the matte and switching to a Luma matte, a more nuanced effect is achieved, with shadows or blur effects on the text's edges.

  4. Practical Tips on Matte Usage: The instructor shares practical insights, preferring alpha mattes for their straightforwardness and suggesting the use of masks for creating shadows and other effects.

  5. Encouraging Creative Experimentation: Students are encouraged to experiment with different types of mattes and animations, such as using the Luma inverted matte or adding a wiggle expression to create irregular motion for more creative results.

  6. Building Confidence in Animation Skills: The video concludes with an assurance that through practice and exploration of these techniques, students will gain expertise in creating compelling typography animations using mattes in After Effects.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Matte Animation in After Effects

  • Typography Animation Techniques

  • Using Alpha Mattes for Text

  • Creative Use of Luma Mattes

  • Radial Gradient in Matte Animation

  • Text Layer Swipe Effect

  • After Effects Animation Tutorial

  • Creative Typography in Motion Graphics

  • Enhancing Text Visibility with Mattes

  • Practical Tips for Matte Usage

  • Experimenting with Matte Movements

  • Motion Graphics Design Skills

  • Developing Animation Expertise

  • Typography Reveal Techniques

  • Advanced Matte Animations

This tutorial guides students through the process of using pre-compositions (pre-comps) in Adobe After Effects to create reveal animations. The instructor focuses on the efficiency and flexibility of pre-comps compared to traditional track mattes. Key topics covered include:

  1. Understanding Pre-Comps: Pre-comps are defined as nested compositions within a main timeline. They are an alternative to track mattes, offering a different approach to animation.

  2. Creating Pre-Comps: The instructor demonstrates creating a pre-comp from a text layer. The process involves right-clicking the layer, selecting 'Pre-compose,' and adjusting settings in the dialog box.

  3. Editing Pre-Comps: Pre-comps are edited by double-clicking them in the timeline. The tutorial shows how to crop a pre-comp to the size of the original layer using the 'Region of Interest' tool and then cropping the composition.

  4. Animating within Pre-Comps: Animation is done within the pre-comp. For example, animating the position of a text layer inside the pre-comp so that it reveals itself in the main composition.

  5. Advantages of Pre-Comps: Pre-comps offer several benefits:

    • Simplifies the main timeline by consolidating multiple layers into a single pre-comp layer.

    • Allows for more manageable animation and editing within the pre-comp.

    • Provides a non-destructive way to experiment with different animation styles and changes.

  6. Practical Example: The instructor provides a practical example where three text layers are pre-composed and then animated. This demonstrates how pre-comps can simplify complex animations involving multiple elements.

  7. Efficient Layer Management: Pre-comps make it easier to manage and reposition multiple layers in the main composition, as changes inside the pre-comp reflect immediately in the main timeline.

  8. Encouraging Exploration: The tutorial encourages students to explore the possibilities with pre-comps, highlighting their practicality and ease of use for creating dynamic and engaging animations.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Pre-Composition in After Effects

  • Creating Reveal Animations

  • Efficiency of Pre-Comps in Animation

  • Cropping and Editing Pre-Comps

  • Simplifying Complex Animations

  • Managing Multiple Layers

  • Motion Graphics Techniques

  • Nested Compositions in After Effects

  • Animation Workflow Improvement

  • Practical Animation Examples

  • Advantages of Using Pre-Comps

  • Region of Interest Tool Usage

  • Layer Consolidation for Animation

  • Creative Animation Strategies

  • Enhancing Animation with Pre-Comps

This tutorial walks students through using pre-compositions (pre-comps) in Adobe After Effects to create alpha track mat animations for video reveals. This technique is showcased as a practical and versatile method for creating engaging video compositions. Key steps covered include:

  1. Setting Up the Workspace: The instructor begins by organizing the workspace, creating a new folder for importing videos, which are then added to the project.

  2. Creating a New Composition: A new composition is created using one of the imported videos, with adjustments made to its duration.

  3. Designing the Reveal Animation: The instructor demonstrates how to design a reveal animation using rectangles as mats. This involves creating rectangles, duplicating them, and positioning them in a desired layout.

  4. Pre-Composing the Mats: The rectangles are then pre-composed, turning them into a single manageable layer. This pre-comp is used as a track mat for the video layer.

  5. Animating the Pre-Comp: The animation involves moving the pre-comp's rectangles from off-screen to their designated positions, creating a dynamic reveal for the underlying video.

  6. Refining the Animation: Adjustments are made to the pre-comp's size using the Region of Interest tool, ensuring that the animation fits the video frame accurately.

  7. Applying the Technique to Multiple Videos: The instructor shows how the same pre-comp can be duplicated and applied to different video layers, maintaining consistency in animation style while allowing individual adjustments.

  8. Advantages of Using Pre-Comps for Reveals:

    • Simplifies the animation process by reducing the number of layers and animations needed.

    • Provides flexibility to modify the pre-comp, affecting all instances where it is used.

    • Allows for creative and complex animations that are still easy to manage and adjust.

  9. Encouragement to Experiment: Students are encouraged to experiment with different shapes and animations within the pre-comps, highlighting the creative possibilities of this technique.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Pre-Compositions for Video Reveals

  • Alpha Track Mat Animation

  • Creating Dynamic Video Compositions

  • Efficient Video Editing Techniques

  • Managing Complex Animations with Pre-Comps

  • Versatile Animation Tools in After Effects

  • Simplifying Video Reveals

  • Practical Animation Methods

  • Creative Video Composition Ideas

  • Enhancing Video Projects with Pre-Comps

  • Animation Workflow Efficiency

  • Region of Interest Tool for Cropping

  • Experimenting with Pre-Comp Animations

  • Engaging Video Reveal Techniques

  • Customizable Animation Strategies

This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide on using text layers to create track mattes in Adobe After Effects. The instructor demonstrates the process of turning a simple text layer into a dynamic visual element that reveals or interacts with other layers in a composition. Key steps and techniques covered include:

  1. Setting Up the Composition: The video starts with an existing composition containing a text layer titled "Climate."

  2. Applying Track Mattes: The instructor shows how to apply an alpha track mat to a video layer placed underneath the text layer, creating a visually appealing effect where the video plays inside the text.

  3. Creating Solid Layer: A new solid layer is introduced, and the alpha track mat is applied to it, demonstrating the versatility of the track mat technique with different types of layers.

  4. Adding Effects to Solid Layer: The tutorial explores how adding effects, like the four-color gradient, to the solid layer can enhance the track mat. Keyframes are added to animate the gradient colors, showing the text layer dynamically changing colors over time.

  5. Exploring Creative Possibilities: The instructor encourages experimentation with different effects and animations on the solid layer to create unique and engaging visual styles.

  6. Practical Application: The tutorial emphasizes the practicality of using text layers as track mats, highlighting their usefulness in creating complex visual effects with relative ease.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Track Matte Creation with Text Layers

  • Alpha Track Matte Technique in After Effects

  • Dynamic Text Layer Effects

  • Video Layer Reveal with Text

  • Solid Layer as Track Matte

  • Four-Color Gradient Effect on Solid Layer

  • Animation of Track Mattes

  • Creative Video Composition Techniques

  • Versatile Visual Effects with Text Layers

  • Enhancing Text with Video and Color

  • Keyframing in After Effects

  • Practical Visual Effects Strategies

  • Customizing Text Layer Properties

  • Exploring Effects and Animations in After Effects

  • Track Mattes as a Tool for Creative Video Editing

This tutorial video presents a challenge for learners to create a specific visual effect using the track matte feature in Adobe After Effects. The instructor encourages viewers to apply their learned skills to recreate an animation that resembles a moving periscope view. Key aspects of this challenge include:

  1. Understanding the Effect: The effect to be recreated involves a circle that moves around the screen, similar to the view from a periscope.

  2. Applying Learned Techniques: The challenge requires utilizing techniques and effects covered in previous lectures. This includes working with track mattes and possibly integrating other effects and animations.

  3. Encouraging Experimentation: The instructor motivates learners to experiment and explore different methods to achieve the desired outcome, emphasizing the importance of hands-on practice in learning After Effects.

  4. Self-Discovery and Problem-Solving: The challenge is designed to test the learners' ability to analyze and reverse-engineer a given effect, encouraging problem-solving and creative thinking.

  5. Solution in the Next Video: While the instructor promises to provide the solution in the following video, they urge learners to attempt the challenge first before proceeding to the solution. This approach aims to reinforce learning through active participation.

  6. Real-World Application: The challenge is not just a learning exercise but also a demonstration of how such effects can be applied in real-world projects, highlighting the practical use of After Effects skills.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Track Matte Challenge in After Effects

  • Creating a Periscope Effect

  • Applying Track Matte Techniques

  • Experimentation in Animation

  • Learning by Doing in After Effects

  • Problem-Solving in Visual Effects

  • Reverse-Engineering Animation Effects

  • Encouraging Creative Solutions

  • Practical Skills in After Effects

  • Self-Discovery in Learning Process

  • Enhancing Animation with Track Mattes

  • Hands-On Practice in After Effects

  • Discovering Animation Techniques

  • Challenge for After Effects Learners

  • Real-World Application of Visual Effects Skills


This tutorial demonstrates how to create a visually engaging periscope-like effect using Adobe After Effects. The instructor guides viewers through the process, emphasizing the following steps:

  1. Setting Up the Project: Begin by importing a video, such as the Grand Canyon footage, and create a new composition.

  2. Creating the Circles: Utilize the Ellipse tool to draw two circles - an outer circle and a smaller inner circle. The inner circle should have full luminosity, while the outer circle's luminosity is reduced for a distinct visual contrast.

  3. Applying the Track Matte: The track matte is applied to the video layer, enabling the circles to act as a window through which the video is visible.

  4. Adjusting Video Transparency: Modify the transparency of the video layer to achieve the desired luminosity effect and ensure that the circles' movement creates a dynamic visual.

  5. Animating the Circles: Keyframe the position of the circles to simulate the periscope movement, allowing them to traverse across the video frame in a manner that mimics looking through a periscope.

  6. Refining the Motion Path: Fine-tune the motion path of the circles for a smoother animation. The tutorial encourages experimenting with the timing and trajectory of the circles to create a more appealing effect.

  7. Encouraging Creativity: Viewers are invited to use their imagination to enhance and personalize the animation, potentially making it more complex and visually appealing.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Periscope Effect in After Effects

  • Creating Circles for Visual Effects

  • Track Matte Animation Technique

  • Luminosity Adjustments in After Effects

  • Animating Shapes in After Effects

  • Motion Graphics with Track Mattes

  • Keyframing for Smooth Animation

  • Creative Animation Techniques in After Effects

  • Enhancing Visual Effects with Transparency

  • Motion Path Adjustments for Dynamic Animation

  • Engaging Visual Effects in Video Editing

  • Using Ellipse Tool for Animation Effects

  • Practical Tips for After Effects Animation

  • Experimenting with Visual Effects in After Effects

  • Hands-on Approach to Learning After Effects Techniques

This tutorial presents a creative challenge to animate a rabbit coming out of a hat in Adobe After Effects. The animation involves the rabbit first emerging from the hat, then jumping back in, and finally leaping onto the floor. The tutorial's focus is on selecting the appropriate track matte to achieve this effect, with options including alpha, alpha inverted, luma, and luma inverted mattes. The challenge encourages experimentation and creativity, urging viewers to create a simple yet impactful animation.

Steps and Key Considerations:

  1. Understanding the Animation Concept: The rabbit should first appear from the hat, then jump back in, and finally leap onto the floor.

  2. Choosing the Right Track Matte: Decide whether to use alpha, alpha inverted, luma, or luma inverted mattes for the animation. Each type of matte offers a different way to reveal or hide portions of the animation.

  3. Animating the Rabbit: Create keyframes for the rabbit’s movement, ensuring the animation is fluid and natural.

  4. Experimenting with Techniques: Viewers are encouraged to explore different methods and techniques to enhance the animation. This might include duplicating layers or using additional effects.

  5. Aiming for Simplicity and Impact: While the challenge encourages creativity, the goal is to keep the animation simple yet visually appealing.

  6. Invitation for Creativity: The tutorial emphasizes that there might be multiple ways to achieve the desired effect and encourages viewers to possibly find a better solution than the one proposed in the tutorial.

  7. Completing the Challenge Before Proceeding: The tutorial suggests that viewers first attempt the challenge themselves before moving on to the next video where a possible solution is presented.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Rabbit Animation Challenge

  • Track Matte Selection in After Effects

  • Alpha and Luma Mattes in Animation

  • Creative Animation Techniques

  • Keyframing for Character Animation

  • Simplicity and Impact in Motion Graphics

  • Experimenting with After Effects Features

  • Engaging Animation Projects in After Effects

  • Learning Through Practical Challenges

  • Enhancing Skills in Digital Animation

  • Motion Graphics Creativity and Experimentation

  • Practical Animation Exercises in After Effects

  • Viewer Engagement in Learning Animation Techniques

  • Problem-Solving Skills in Motion Graphics Design

  • Encouraging Creative Solutions in Animation Projects


This tutorial demonstrates how to animate a rabbit jumping out of a hat using Adobe After Effects. It covers importing graphics, setting up a composition, creating and animating shapes as track mattes, and incorporating motion graphics techniques to create a playful and engaging animation.

Steps and Key Considerations:

  1. Importing Graphics: Start by importing the rabbit and stage graphics into After Effects.

  2. Creating a Composition: Set up a new composition, ensuring layer sizes are retained.

  3. Animating the Rabbit: Place the rabbit layer in front of the stage layer. The goal is to make the rabbit jump out of the hat and move to the side.

  4. Using Track Mattes: Create an ellipse shape as a track matte to hide and reveal the rabbit as it jumps. Adjust the size and position of the ellipse to match the animation's needs.

  5. Using Alpha Inverted Matte: Instead of a regular alpha matte, use an alpha inverted matte for more control over the animation. Draw a custom shape around the hat to define the matte.

  6. Animating Position and Rotation: Animate the rabbit's position to make it jump out of the hat and onto the stage. Use keyframes to control the motion path and timing.

  7. Adding Additional Elements: Optionally, animate additional elements like a magic wand to enhance the storytelling aspect of the animation.

  8. Fine-Tuning Animation: Adjust keyframes, motion paths, and timing for a smoother animation. Use the graph editor for more precise control over the motion.

  9. Adding Motion Blur: Apply motion blur to all moving elements for a more realistic and dynamic effect.

  10. Experimentation and Learning: The tutorial encourages experimentation with different animation techniques and learning from mistakes to improve skills.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Rabbit Jumping Animation in After Effects

  • Track Matte Animation Techniques

  • Alpha Inverted Mattes for Motion Graphics

  • Creative Character Animation in After Effects

  • Motion Path and Keyframe Adjustment

  • Enhancing Animations with Motion Blur

  • Practical Animation Exercises in After Effects

  • Learning Through Experimentation in Motion Graphics

  • Engaging Character Animation Projects

  • Tips for Smoother Animations in After Effects

  • Fun and Playful Animation Challenges

  • Integrating Elements for Enhanced Storytelling

  • Improving Animation Skills with Practical Challenges

  • Motion Graphics Design Creativity and Experimentation

  • Animation Techniques for Character Movement and Interaction

Aim of the Tutorial:

  • To guide students in creating a special effect where a magician appears on stage with fire beneath him, focusing on both the creation of the fire effect and the animation of the magician's jump.

Key Learning Objectives:

  1. Creative Fire Creation: Students are tasked with generating a fire effect that originates from the middle of the fire, not the border, encouraging creativity and innovation in visual effects.

  2. Animation Techniques: Emphasis on helping the magician character jump up, requiring skills in animation and motion.

  3. Technical Skills Application: The tutorial suggests using the "Luma inverted" technique for the magician, offering a specific technical tip to enhance the effect.

  4. Sharing and Engagement: Students are encouraged to complete the challenge, share their results on platforms like YouTube or other social media, and post links in a Q&A section for community interaction.

  5. Encouragement and Community Building: The instructor expresses eagerness to see the students' work, fostering a supportive learning environment.

Overall, this tutorial focuses on combining creativity with technical skills to create compelling visual effects, while also encouraging sharing and engagement within the learning community.


In this video tutorial, students will learn how to create a dynamic animation in After Effects where a character emerges from fire on a stage. The tutorial covers several key steps:

  1. Importing and Setting Up Graphics: You will learn to import the necessary graphics for the stage and fire, setting them up in the composition while ensuring layer sizes are retained.

  2. Creating and Animating a Matte for the Stage: The tutorial demonstrates how to create a matte (mask) for the stage and animate it using the scale property. This step is crucial for revealing and hiding the fire effect beneath the stage.

  3. Importing and Positioning the Fire Asset: You will learn how to import a fire video asset and position it correctly under the stage layer to create the illusion of fire beneath the character.

  4. Creating and Animating the Character’s Matte: The tutorial guides you through creating a matte for the character, ensuring the character appears to emerge from the fire seamlessly.

  5. Animating the Character: You will learn to animate the character’s position, making him jump out from the fire and land on the stage. This involves keyframing the position property and adjusting the timing for a natural-looking movement.

  6. Adjusting the Matte During Animation: A crucial part of the tutorial is learning to adjust the matte layer as the character moves. This includes trimming the matte layer at the right moment to ensure the character appears and disappears at the correct times.

  7. Fine-Tuning the Animation: The tutorial emphasizes fine-tuning the animation using the graph editor to adjust the speed and timing of the character’s movements for a more polished result.

  8. Creative Experimentation: Finally, you are encouraged to experiment with the motion and timing to create a more refined or different animation style.

This tutorial is designed to teach you advanced techniques in After Effects, focusing on creating and animating mattes, layer positioning, and timing adjustments to create a visually appealing animation where a character interacts with a dynamic background element like fire.

The aim of this lecture is to empower students with the skills to analyze and recreate a specific fish animation using Adobe After Effects. The instructor highlights the importance of combining previously learned skills to produce visually appealing results. This tutorial encourages students to first attempt the animation on their own, offering tips and insights to guide them.

Key Learning Objectives:

  1. Analyzing Animations: Understand how to deconstruct an existing animation to figure out its creation process.

  2. Skill Application: Apply a combination of skills learned throughout the course to create an engaging animation.

  3. Self-Initiated Learning: Encourage students to attempt creating the animation independently before seeking guidance.

  4. Resource Utilization: Learn to effectively use provided artwork and project assets in After Effects.

  5. Creative Enhancement: Motivate students to not only replicate but also improve upon the demonstrated animation.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Adobe After Effects Tutorial

  • Fish Animation Techniques

  • Animation Analysis Skills

  • Creative Skill Application

  • After Effects Project Assets

  • Self-Learning in Animation

  • Enhancing Animation Creativity

  • Step-by-Step Animation Guide

  • Animation Skill Development

  • Adobe After Effects for Beginners


The primary aim of this lecture is to guide students through the process of creating a playful fish animation in Adobe After Effects, emphasizing enjoyment and creativity in learning. The instructor focuses on the enjoyment aspect of the project, encouraging students not to view it merely as a lesson but as an opportunity to experiment with animation techniques. The tutorial covers a range of skills, from basic to more advanced After Effects functionalities, ensuring students grasp the concepts at their own pace.

Key Learning Objectives:

  1. Importing and Organizing Assets: Learn how to import and organize project files and assets in Adobe After Effects.

  2. Animation Techniques: Understand key animation techniques including pre-composing, parenting layers, and using transform tools.

  3. Creative Problem-Solving: Develop skills in creative problem-solving by addressing challenges like animating fish movement and tail dynamics.

  4. Efficiency in Animation: Gain proficiency in using efficient methods like duplicating layers and modifying keyframes for varied animation effects.

  5. Color Adjustment and Effects: Explore the use of effects such as TriTone for color adjustments to enhance visual appeal.

  6. Artistic Freedom and Experimentation: Encourage experimentation with motion paths, scale variations, and color changes to personalize the animation.

Keywords and Keyphrases:

  • Adobe After Effects Animation

  • Fish Animation Tutorial

  • Creative Animation Techniques

  • After Effects Asset Management

  • Layer Parenting in After Effects

  • Animation Keyframing

  • TriTone Color Effect

  • Motion Graphics Fundamentals

  • Playful Animation Projects

  • Efficient Animation Workflow in After Effects


Introduction to Masks
How to create Masks - Masking Videos
How to Edit Masks
Overview of Mask Properties
The Rotobezier Mask
Type Graphics: Type Animator - Animation & Effects
Type (text) Layers - Overview and Styling
How to work with the Source Text
How to Create Per Character Animation
How to combine & Animate Animator Properties
How to Animate the Offset with the 'Shape Properties'
How to Create Ramp Up/Ramp Down Text Animation
How to Animate Text on Path
How to use Shape layer as Path
Combining Animator with Path Options

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After effects: basic to advanced

According to students, the course called The Complete Adobe After Effects Bootcamp: Basic to Advanced is a basic course in Adobe After Effects that is well-received. Students say that the instructor is knowledgeable and engaging, and that the assignments are fun and helpful. Overall, students recommend this course to anyone who wants to learn about Adobe After Effects.

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