Adobe After Effects assignment one (prelab)

Due Wednesday, June 15th, 2009 Lang 213 class


Link to Video Workshops here
  1. Watch each of the 4 video tutorials that are listed below here and take some notes. Three of the four tutorials are shown above and are in the Getting Started category of After Effects video tutorials. Turn in one half page of notes based upon your video watching. You are learning After Effects by taking notes and drawing pictures.
  2. Read the tutorial (HTML) for each of the same four videos. Take some more notes. Turn in another half page of notes based on your reading of and looking at the screen snapshots in the HTML versions of the tutorials.
    1. Creating and Organizing Projects tutorial in HTML.
    2. Creating and Managing Layers tutorial in HTML.
    3. Applying Effects in After Effects tutorial in HTML.
    4. Animating Text tutorial in HTML.

  3. Explain what the feature called Brainstorm is. Draw a picture of what the Brainstorm icon looks like for After Effects so you more easily recognize it when you see it in the user interface. You will read about Brainstorm and watch a video that demonstrates Brainstorm as you watch the videos and read the tutorials.

  4. Read Chapter One of The Art and Science of Digital Compositing, Second Edition: Techniques for Visual Effects, Animation and Motion Graphics - Introduction to Digital Compositing and answer the following questions. The answers are in the first 4 pages of the PDF document.

    1. Define digital compositing. Then discuss and expand the definition in your own words based on your notes and reflections on the 14 page reading.
    2. What is the most difficult part of the compositing process, according to the author?
    3. Why did the author choose the title for the book that he did, according to the reading.
    4. Below is a list of 17 case studies from the book. Which three case studies would you most like to look into and discuss later on this spring for the Adobe After Effects portion of our class? Please rank your 3 choices 1st, 2nd and 3rd.


Assignment due on Wednesday at the start of class in Lang 213
The assignment has the following four parts.


  1. Notes on video tutorial watching.

  2. Notes on HTML tutorial reading.

  3. Brainstorming in After Effects explanation and your drawing/diagram of the AE icon shortcut.

  4. The 4 questions about Chapter One of The Art and Science of Digital Compositing, Second Edition: Techniques for Visual Effects, Animation and Motion Graphics.