[Frank Hardie]

Isn’t this a very similar question to the one you asked two days previously?

[Frank Hardie]

Just to add to what Steve has written, the terms “most common” and “least expensive” are two entirely different things, often contradictory of each other when used in the same sentence. Unfortunately, maximizing output compatibility sometimes means spending the big bucks. Which is why renting (as Steve suggested) is a wise option.

[Frank Hardie]

[Chris Cauchon] “how to keep the paints tracked on the body if the camera is moving around the him into a 3d environment ?”

The “3d environment” could rule out using AE’s Motion Tracker (there are work-arounds, but very time consuming). I’d start looking at Mocha.

[Frank Hardie]

Normally for the end result your after (if I understand correctly), I’d create the complex shapes with the lasso selection tool, cut the selection from the background, create new layer and paste to new layer. This way, you get your elements each on their own layer, rather than a mask on each layer. When you bring your PSD into AE, you have full control of each layer in the timeline.

[Frank Hardie]

For a class of kindergarten kids (hyperactive little blighters that they are), you don’t need motion tracking. You need motion prevention (A.K.A. shackles).

[Frank Hardie]

[zygotesoup] “(thank god!… i mean thank creative cow!!!)”

There’s a difference?

[Frank Hardie]

Not sure what you mean, but maybe if you select all layers and pre-compose, then apply the effect to the pre-comp. You can open the pre-comp to work on the layers independently.

If that’s not what you wanted, perhaps you’d better explain a bit more clearly.

[Frank Hardie]

[shogun3001] “when a class is adobe certified is it the equivalent to say a microsoft certification for pc techs?”

In a word, yes.

[shogun3001] “one thing i am trying to sharpen up on is the camera… i get the basics but at points i lose control of the camera and cant quite figure out what i did wrong.”

The camera is also one of my problem areas. I came across an expression that allows you separate control over the x, y and z positions of the camera. I haven’t tried it yet, but here it is, in case you want to try it out.

(The source of the following expression is unknown to me.)

Get a null and name it MOVER add three sliders to it and name them X, Y and Z.

Apply this expression to the position of your camera.

x = thisComp.layer(“MOVER”).effect(“X”)(“Slider”);
y = thisComp.layer(“MOVER”).effect(“Y”)(“Slider”);
z = thisComp.layer(“MOVER”).effect(“Z”)(“Slider”);
[x, y, z];

you now have independent control of the X, Y and Z.

[Frank Hardie]

I believe there may be classes available at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles.

Computmatics, in West Los Angeles run certificate-level courses (3 levels) in After Effects.

These are just two of the numerous results of a Google search. It seems there are a lot of available courses running in Los Angeles. You’d have to look into which ones are Adobe certified, then decide which one is for you.

In the meantime, you can get a good head start by going through the tutorials, here at the Cow. Some of the tutorials will teach you skills that won’t be covered by any formal training course.

[Frank Hardie]

I must admit that my comments in regard to punctuation might have appeared somewhat abrupt. In hindsight, I should have used a bit more tact. More to the point, if I wasn’t going to attempt to answer the question that was asked, I shouldn’t have replied at all.

In the future, I’ll try to put my brain into gear before posting.