SZABIST Summer Animation workshop
Video from session 1 on Tue 24 Aug 2021
Course outline:
WORKSHOP 1: INTRODUCTION TO Adobe After Effects -
Motion Graphics for Multimedia
CONDUCTED BY Qazi Fazli Azeem – qazifazli.azeem@szabist.pk
SESSIONS: 6 (2 classes per week)
Tentative starting date 24 th of August 2021
Faculty availability: online only
Workshop objectives
How to use the international industry-standard animation software Adobe After Effects with
a practical project oriented hands-on approach for media objectives.
Learn how to animate logos created in Adobe Illustrator.
Learn how to make short, animated title sequences for YouTube videos and films.
Learn to manipulate videos with effects.
Learn how to animate text in exciting and vibrant ways to created animated infographics for
presentations and advertising
Workshop session outline:
1. Compositing – what it means.
After effects basics: software interface layout explanation
After effects basics: Project formats, composition layers and layer properties
After effects basics: importing assets
After effects basics: masks
Animation: a brief introduction to different Computer Graphics animation types in the
industry
Animation in After Effects.
Keyframes – the most important concept in basic animation. How to understand temporal
(time related) changes to visual objects.
Animating basic layer properties: Position, rotation, scale and transparency.
Understanding the anchor point.
Relative modification using anchor point.
Hierarchical animation (parent – child link): linking objects in hierarchy, constraining
rotations to joints.
Animating masks.
2. Working with imported assets.
Importing illustrator files: layers and rasterization.
Importing video footage: formats and codecs.
applying animation techniques to imported assets.
Using paths for animation
Understanding motion blur
Grouping and nesting layers inside compositions
Understanding Layer switches
3. Creating and working with basic shapes.
Using Masks to create shapes.
Using Shape layers to create shapes.
Shape layer vs Masks : when to use either one.
Advanced shape layer techniques : grouping, Boolean operations and effects.
Advanced masking techniques: multiple masks, Boolean and feathering.
Using effects on Shapes and Masks: Fractal noise and Turbulent displace.
4. Text animation
Text properties: Position, rotation, scale, skew, line spacing, anchor, line anchor, character
offset, character value, character range, blur.
Text animation basics: understanding animators, selectors and ranges.
Putting text on a mask path and animating the path.
Using the built-in text animation library and modifying results to specific needs.
Title overlays, lower thirds and water marks.
5. Putting things together I: Outdoor scene
Creating a cloudy sky with perspective (with animation).
Creating a textured ground.
Creating animated birds.
Creating light shafts (with animation).
Creating fire (with animation).
Creating smoke (with animation).
Adding live footage elements (basic keying techniques used)
Rendering the final scene
6. Putting things together II: Short product TVC or Opening Title for short Video
Preparing a basic storyboard / shot list.
Preparing / getting elements (e.g logo, product illustration / photo).
Creating an animated background.
Sparkly effects : basic particle effects.
Glowing objects : different techniques to add glow effects
Transition techniques
Animating text
Animating the logo: animating elements of the logo.
Merging separate composition into a final composition.
Schedule
Week 1
Tuesday 24th August, 2021
Friday 27th August, 2021
Week 2
Tuesday 31st August, 2021
Friday 2nd September, 2021
Week 3
Tuesday 7th September, 2021
Friday 10th September, 2021