how do i get started?

[Aharon Rabinowitz]

This is a great place for tutorials.

If you click on the word “tutorials” to the left (in the navigation bar) it will take you to a place where you can choose from different articles and tutorials.

A direct link to to just straight AE tutorials (as opposed to AE/Photoshop or AE/Other programs) is this:

https://www.creativecow.net/show.php?forumid=2&page=/articles/script_gen/productsort/aftereffects_aftereffects_script.html

Hope that helps.

—————————————-
Aharon Rabinowitz
aharon(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
http://www.allbetsareoff.com
—————————————-
Creative Cow Master Series DVD
particleIllusion Fusion Volume 1
available @ http://www.pIllusionFusion.com

[Mike Clasby]

To get a feel for the basics in AE, I think the Editor’s Guild is a great place to start:

https://www.editorsguild.com/AfterEffects.html

Then come back to the Cow.

[Joseph W. bourke]

Go straight to your local bookstore (or online) and buy the Chris and Trish Meyer book, Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects, Volume 1: The Essentials.

I had been working with Discreet Logic’s Combustion for a few years, when it became obvious that our parent company was going to standardize on AE. I bought the book, and within a month (granted I already knew a compositing app) I was fluent with After Effects, and able to create the same level of project I had been doing with Combustion. The book comes with a CD that has projects of all sorts; there are tips and tricks, gotchas, and all sorts of valuable information for those in the motion graphics field. It’s the bible for AE.

By the way, I’m not in any way affiliated with the Meyers. I just feel that if you find a tool that helps you out, you should tell people about it. Good luck.

Joe Bourke
Art Director / WMUR-TV

[Michiel]

yep, it’s definitely a fantastic book. Very good for a beginner, but also gives you all the necessary info to develop your skills further.

[Jayse]

All of the above are awesome tips. you might also want to attend a conference – LA DV, NAB post Production world, NAB East, NY DV etc. where they have some intense AE classes. I did this when I was first learning – and although it was expensive I looked at it as an investment. It was WELL worth it. It accelerated me beyond measure. (for me it was AE West)

you can also volunteer at most of these things and get a VIP pass in exchange.

Hope that helps!

// jayse

Ultimate After Effects Video Training CDs


Free Photoshop CS Video Tutorials
by jayse!

[Aharon Rabinowitz]

Also, don’t forget to ceck your local art/design school or college to see if they offer continuing education classes.

I teach advanced AE at pratt in NYC, and they charge about $850 for a 15-week (30 hour) course. Other schools may charge as much as $1500. But truthfully, taking a class is a great way to learn, if only becasue it’s hard to ask a book a question when you don’t know the proper terminology. A teacher can really help you solve problems.

That said, I learned AE by reading Trish Meyer’s books. Then I started making up fake commercials to animate, and learned a ton more. Then I went out and got some freelance work, and realized that up until that point I didn’t know nearly as much as I thought I did. EVen as a teacher I still do tutorials. There is always more to learn.

I don’t say any of that to discourage you – only to point out that we’re all in the same boat- so keep at it.

—————————————-
Aharon Rabinowitz
aharon(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
http://www.allbetsareoff.com
—————————————-
Creative Cow Master Series DVD
particleIllusion Fusion Volume 1
available @ http://www.pIllusionFusion.com