Proj 7 - Intro to After Effects
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 3:53 pm
This is an intro assignment to AfterEffects, a step towards our final project. Take only 1 image and transform it using filters creating an interesting rhythmic experience. Think of a drummer who has only 1 drum (in our case, only 1 image) and his/her goal is to create an interesting rhythm through when to hit to generate the drumming experience - and then where to hit the skin to produce subtle differences.
Open After Effects
- Bring in an image about 1024 x 768, 72dpi by pulling it into the "Assets" window which usually is at the left.
- Once there, grab it and pull it into the timeline screen, usually bottom center of screen. Make sure the open window at the bottom is the timeline and not the "render queue" window. You should see 06s, 08s, etc. evenly marked across. Your timeline should be anywhere from 15seconds to 60sec. You can set the length of the animation by selecting Composition settings, and punching in the length next to "Duration".
- Apply a filter by selecting one - like Gaussian blur - position the playback head (red line with yellow mark on top) where you want the filter to take effect. You should see the name of your jpg to the left of the timeline (bottom left window). Click on the little grey arrow tab to get access to the filter. Now you should see two words" Effects" and "Transform". Click on the arrow tab next to Effects, do the same for the filter, and click on the stopwatch icon to place a marker in your timeline. Punch in a number value to set the filter. You should see on the center screen the effect of your numeric setting. Move your playback head to a location near. Click on the diamond on the far left of your effects window (left side of screen). Punch in a different set of numbers.
Redo until the animation is complete. To export as a movie you need to render your animation. Go to Composition in the menu, click on "Add to queue". THe timeline should turn into the "Render Queue" timeline. ON the far right, click on "Render" button. in "OutPut Module" you can leave it as is, or set a different compression. In "Output To:" select desktop. You should see the name of the your file with.mov at the end. Click on "render" at the far right. Once its complete, you should have your video on your desktop. YOU can now publish on YouTube or Vimeo.
Open After Effects
- Bring in an image about 1024 x 768, 72dpi by pulling it into the "Assets" window which usually is at the left.
- Once there, grab it and pull it into the timeline screen, usually bottom center of screen. Make sure the open window at the bottom is the timeline and not the "render queue" window. You should see 06s, 08s, etc. evenly marked across. Your timeline should be anywhere from 15seconds to 60sec. You can set the length of the animation by selecting Composition settings, and punching in the length next to "Duration".
- Apply a filter by selecting one - like Gaussian blur - position the playback head (red line with yellow mark on top) where you want the filter to take effect. You should see the name of your jpg to the left of the timeline (bottom left window). Click on the little grey arrow tab to get access to the filter. Now you should see two words" Effects" and "Transform". Click on the arrow tab next to Effects, do the same for the filter, and click on the stopwatch icon to place a marker in your timeline. Punch in a number value to set the filter. You should see on the center screen the effect of your numeric setting. Move your playback head to a location near. Click on the diamond on the far left of your effects window (left side of screen). Punch in a different set of numbers.
Redo until the animation is complete. To export as a movie you need to render your animation. Go to Composition in the menu, click on "Add to queue". THe timeline should turn into the "Render Queue" timeline. ON the far right, click on "Render" button. in "OutPut Module" you can leave it as is, or set a different compression. In "Output To:" select desktop. You should see the name of the your file with.mov at the end. Click on "render" at the far right. Once its complete, you should have your video on your desktop. YOU can now publish on YouTube or Vimeo.