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A Recommended Read?
So I’ve been doing After Effects for the past few years, have read the 3 Meyer books, do internet tutorials all the time, do some little projects on my own, etc. So I like to think I know the program in a pretty advanced way.
However, my problem is not that I can’t do the program, but with a lack of creativity as far as motion graphics go. If someone were to ask me to pull off some type of visual effect, I can usually pull it off. If someone tells me exactly what they want done as far as graphic work goes, I can pull it off. I just can’t seem to come up with creative stuff on my own.
So having said that, I wanted to know if anyone has an opinion on the book “Creative After Effects 7: Workflow Techniques for Animation, Visual Effects and Motion Graphics” by Angie Taylor. I don’t really need a manual type of book that explains the program (which I’m sure this book has some of), but I’m more or less looking for something that gives creative examples of what to do with the program. I need inspiration!!!
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4 Replies
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Angie Taylor’s book is a great book. David Bogie once did a review of her v5 book (which has now been updated for v7) which can be found at:
https://www.creativecow.net/articles/bogie_david/angie_taylor_ae_book/index.html
The book is designed for exactly such an one as you. Read David’s review. It still applies to this updated and expanded edition.
Best,
Ron Lindeboom
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One person wrote a great developped critique here.
I just wanted to point out that, in my case, whenever I need inspiration, I just open AE, drop in my comp Photoshop’s custom shapes already saved in PNG and then just play around and the results are always incredible.
There’s a proverb that says..if I remember well…Appetite comes with eating.
Well we could easily compare this as getting inspiration for your work. I’m not making any fact here or trying to bring some kind of complicated theory, I’m just saying that sometimes it’s just a great way to start something…fresh and new. So yeh, it works for me, and after reading your post I just supposed we are quite at the same level in AE.
Still, I hope that helped.
Have a nice day.
Justin Productions
Tangerin01@hotmail.com
Adobe After Effects 6.5 Professional -
Books – Keep reading ones about the specific tools you use but also look into some general concept ones and ones that look at examples of others work.
Here are three books I’ve read
Motion Graphic Design and Fine Art Animation: Principles and Practice
On Screen In Time: Transitions in Motion Graphic Design for Film, TV and New Media
Type in Motion (there is a version 2 out now)Web – This site is a great place to check every couple of days for info and new pieces coming out as well as having an extensive list of of websites to look at. https://www.motionographer.com/
TV – I prefer the free kind but if you must there are lots of things to see on the other kind as well.
If you want to do something “truly inspired” as they say look outside of the books about the tools or other peoples work and look around at the landscape, urban or otherwise, people, other art forms maybe start doing some other form of artist expression as a hobby. This will give you a chance to look at the Mograph work in a new way.
TonyTony
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Thank you guys for your thoughts on it. I think I may just end up picking up that book afterall. TonyTony, I was even looking into some of those books before that you named in hopes of getting an overall understanding of design concepts. And as Justin said, I think part of my problem is that I don’t just jump in there and do it. I’m always waiting for a time that I have some perfect thought in my head of what I want to do.
Thanks for all the advice you guys. It’s been most helpful.
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