After Effects Apprentice

by Trish Meyer, Chris Meyer

New to the 2nd
* All instructions, screen shots, Guided Tour video training movies, and project files updated for After Effects CS4. CS3 and CS4 features have been integrated throughout, including the pervasive use of Shape layers, Layer Styles, and Brainstorm
* More integration with other Adobe applications, including using After Effects with Illustrator, Photoshop (including new Vanishing Point and 3d Layer exercises) and Flash CS4
* Redesigned first and last lessons, including an all-new final project that walks through the creation of a widescreen broadcast TV promo
* Free bonus chapters on the DVD from other books on Photoshop, Cinema 4D, Flash, and broadcast design
* Coupon for 15% off stock footage from Artbeats on DVD New CS5 Tip
Chris and Trish Meyer have authored a PDF that covers all changes a reader (including professors) might experience when using this book (authored for CS4) with After Effects CS5.
The PDF is available

If you're new to After Effects and want to get up to speed quickly, After Effects Apprentice was created just for you. With 11 core lessons plus a hip final project that pulls it all together, you'll learn how to tap this program's vast potential -whether you want to create motion graphics for network television, corporate communications, or your own work.

Fully updated to cover After Effects CS4, this book presents a professional perspective on the most important features a motion graphics artist needs to learn in order to use this program effectively. You'll learn to creatively combine layers, animate eye-catching titles, manipulate 3D space, key and stabilize a shot to place it in a new environment, and use effects to generate excitement or enhance the realism of a scene.

DVD All exercise source material and projects, guided video tours, and movies of the finished projects.

Genres: Design, Nonfiction, Reference

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Hugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Used this for class. I think we had a different edition with more pages, but I'm sure the info is basically the same. These are mind numbingly boring to read and the exercises are broken down step by step. You will learn something when you do them but I don't know if there's anything here you couldn't learn on YouTube.

[VampireNovelFan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you know nothing about After Affects, this publication is what you want to buy. The tutorials are rich and colorful and have substance to them. While it gives you more of a skeleton understanding for how to use the program, you may be tempted (and are encouraged) to play around a bit and learn a thing or two for yourself. It also helps to have a DVD so that you can work through the exercises yourself.

[Helen Newall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, which I still use, because even though I'm out of the starting blocks with After Effects, there's still much to learn. The authors have videos on Lynda.com which I also find to be the most useful of any. They are both skilled teachers. This is a must-have even though it's CS4 and AE is now at CS6. I don't think any AE novice could regret this acquisition!

[Lauren]

This is not exactly pleasure reading. It's required for class and that said, I'm learning a lot about After Effects...one day I may even become "adept"...don't hold your breath though...

[Antti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tolles Buch.