Upcoming Dates
July 13 - 15, 2026 (Online Only)
Aug 3 - 5, 2026 (In Person or Online)
Aug 31, 2026 - Sept 2, 2026 (In Person or Online)
Click HERE for information regarding online workshops.
Adobe After Effects Level I | 3 Day
An Introduction to Adobe After Effects - $1,295
[THREE-DAY INTENSIVE, 10am-6pm]
Students can bundle our After Effects Level I, After Effects Level II, and After Effects Level III workshops and save 15%!
Our three-day introductory class is designed to teach you the essentials of Adobe After Effects for motion graphics and visual effects. Throughout the course, you'll learn about traditional After Effects workflow, basic animation using effects and presets, introductory text animation, basic keying, and 3D. You'll also learn about rendering and output, which are crucial for producing high-quality projects. By the end of the course, you'll have a solid foundation in After Effects and be equipped with the skills needed to create compelling motion graphics and visual effects.
Who should attend? Producers, editors, assistant editors, and motion graphics artists interested in the basics of Adobe After Effects.
Prerequisite: Basic Mac OS X knowledge
Each student gets their own workstation.
Students can bundle our After Effects Level I, After Effects Level II, and After Effects Level III workshops and save 15%!
Course Outline:
Fundamentals of Motion Graphics
After Effects and the RGB Color
Mode Frame Size
Resolution
Pixel Aspect Ratios
Working with Native Transparency and Alpha Channels
Understanding Frame Rates
Time Code Options
File Import Format Compatibility
Interpreting Footage, Frame Rates, and Field Order
Getting Started
System Requirements
Hardware Recommendations
After Effects for Apple Silicon
Upgrading & New Features
Controlling Automatic Updates
Startup and Repair Preferences
Keyboard Shortcuts
Workspaces and the User Interface
General User Interface Items
Get to know After Effects interface
Improved User Interface
Workspaces, Panels, and Viewers
Customizing the Transparency Grid
Changing Panel Background Colors
Standard Workspaces.
Customizing and Creating Workspaces
Getting to Know the Workflow
Creating a Project
Planning and Setup
Setting and Changing Preferences
Importing Footage
Supported File Formats
Working with Photoshop and Illustrator Files
Creating a Composition and Arranging Layers
Adding Effects and Layer Styles
Modifying Layer Properties
Animating Compositions
Previewing Timelines
Optimizing Performance
Collaborating in After Effects
Finding Resources for Using After Effects
Animation Basics
Understanding Keyframing Basics
Keyframing Position, Rotation, Scale, and Opacity
Keyframing Anchor Point
Navigating and Changing Keyframes
Temporal vs Spatial Keyframes
Bezier Keyframe Types
Using Keyframe Interpolation
Using Hold and Roving Keyframes
Other Animation Options
Animating using Motion Sketch
Using the The Smoother and The Wiggler
Using Motion Blur
Using the Graph Editor
Auto Orienting Motion Paths
Splitting and Sequencing Layers Using
Adjustment Layers
Animating Text
Creating Text Layers
Installing Fonts using Adobe Fonts
Creating and Formatting Text
Using Point and Area Type
Working with the Source Text Option
Animating Type with Source Text
Working with Text on a Path
Using Text Animator Groups
Adding Properties to an Animator Group Direct
Text Keyframing
Using Range Selectors
Animating Tracking and Motion Blur
Using Per Character 3D
Using the Wiggly Selector
Using Text Animation Preset
Converting Text to Shape Layers
Converting Photoshop Text to Text Layers
Working With Shape Layers
Creating Shape Layers
Duplicating a Shape
Positioning Layers with Snapping
Animating a Shape
Transforming Shapes
Creating and Editing Shapes with the Pen Tool
Using Path Operators
Creating Self-Animating Shapes
Commands for Creating Nulls from Points
Converting Shapes to Bezier Paths
Converting Text and Illustrator Layers to Shapes
Saving Shape Layers as Presets
Working with Layers and Timeline Panel
Understanding Layer Switches
Blending Modes and Track Matte Options
Creating and Duplicating Layers
Moving Layers on the Timeline
Changing Layer Stacking Order
Trimming Layers
Splitting Layers
Introduction to Parenting Layers Pre
Composing Layers Sequencing
Layers
Using Adjustment Layers
Adding an Audio Track
Using Time Stretch
Time Stretch Panel and Shortcuts
Manipulating Time and Time Remapping
Using Frame Mix and Pixel Motion for Frame rate Mismatches
Using the Time Reverse Layer Command
Freeze Frame Options
Time Remapping a Layer
Using the Graph Editor with Time Remapping
Using the LoopOut Expression with Time Remapping
Working with Masks
Masking Basics
Creating a Mask with the Pen Tool
Masking with Shape Tools
Editing a Mask
Feathering the Edges of a Mask
Using the Mask Feather Tool
Replacing the Content of the Mask
Adjusting Mask Opacity
Animating Masks
Distorting Objects with the Puppet Tools
Puppet Tool Basics
Adding Position Pins
Using the Classic Puppet Tool
Using Motion Sketch with the Classic Puppet Tool
Posing with the Advanced Puppet Tools
Adding Advanced and Bend Pins
Stiffening an Area
Easing Pin Keyframes
Performing Color Correction
Adjusting Color with the Lumetri Color Effect
Basic Options
Creative Options
Curves Options
HSL Secondary Options
Color Wheels Options
Vignette Options
Using Lumetri Scopes
Rendering and Outputting
Render Queue Basics
Render Settings Output Modules Creating
Templates for the Render Queue Exporting
using the Render Queue Rendering with
Adobe Media Encoder
Note: The curricula above comprise activities typically covered in a class at this skill level. The instructor may, at their discretion, adjust the lesson plan to meet the needs of the class