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Adobe After Effects

Beginner12 hours 37 minutes42 Course Videos149 Test Questions

$179.00

Learn motion graphics and visual effects in Adobe After Effects CC, from keyframes and text animation to masks, Roto Brush and colour grading. 12 hours 37 minutes across 42 videos.

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  • Self-paced. Study on any device
  • StemBoss Certificate of Completion
  • 14-day refund promise

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Download the course outline (PDF)

Adobe After Effects is a practical course in Adobe After Effects CC, the tool used for motion graphics and visual effects in film, TV and advertising. It is for video editors, designers and marketers who want to animate titles, logos and footage. The course runs for 12 hours 37 minutes across 42 videos, with 149 practice questions.

What you will learn

  • Set up projects, compositions and workspaces, and render and export your work
  • Animate with keyframes, keyframe interpolation and the Graph Editor
  • Create and style text, use animation presets and work with Adobe Fonts
  • Build and animate shape layers with the Shape and Pen tools
  • Link layers with parenting and organise work by precomposing
  • Use masks for reflections and vignettes, and track mattes for effects
  • Bend and move objects with the Puppet tools
  • Cut a subject from its background with the Roto Brush and Refine Edge tools
  • Correct and grade colour with Levels and Lumetri Color
  • Build motion graphics templates with the Essential Graphics panel

Course outline

  1. Getting Started: keyboard shortcuts and setup tips.
  2. Getting to Know the Workflow: the interface, keyframes, the timeline and export.
  3. Creating a Basic Animation Using Effects and Presets: importing from Bridge and animating titles and logos.
  4. Animating Text: text layers, presets, parenting and Photoshop text.
  5. Working With Shape Layers: shapes, Pen tool, path operations and nulls.
  6. Animating a Multimedia Presentation: parenting, precomposing and motion paths.
  7. Animating Photoshop Layers: light, shadows, lens flares and time remapping.
  8. Working With Masks: basic masks, reflections and vignettes.
  9. Distorting Objects with the Puppet Tools: pins and Puppet Sketch.
  10. Using the Roto Brush Tool: separating and replacing backgrounds.
  11. Performing Color Correction: Levels, Lumetri Color, keying and adjustment layers.
  12. Creating Motion Graphics Templates: Essential Graphics controls and exporting a template.

Who this course is for

  • Beginners who want to start in motion graphics or animation
  • Video editors who want to add titles and effects
  • Graphic designers who want to make their designs move
  • Multimedia artists building digital content
  • Marketing staff who create video for social media and ads

Before you start

You need basic computer skills and a copy of After Effects to follow along. Some experience with Photoshop or a video editor such as Premiere Pro helps, but the course starts with the interface, so newcomers can keep up.

Jobs this course supports

  • Motion Graphics Designer
  • Video Editor
  • Animator
  • Multimedia Artist
  • Visual Effects Artist
  • Graphic Designer

Skill level

Beginner
Duration

12 hours 37 minutes
Videos

42 Course Videos
Questions

149 Test Questions
Prerequisites

Basic computer skills. Some design or video editing knowledge helps.
Best for

Video editors, graphic designers, multimedia artists, marketing staff, beginners in motion graphics
Topics covered

Keyframes and the timeline, text animation, shape layers, parenting and precomposing, masks, Puppet tools, Roto Brush, Lumetri colour, motion graphics templates
Format

Online video lessons, self-paced
Language

English
Closed captions

Yes
Certificate

StemBoss Certificate of Completion

What is inside this course

12 modules and 57 lessons. Here is the full outline.

Module 1: Getting Started4 lessons
  1. 1.1 Course Introduction
  2. 1.2 Keyboard Shortcuts
  3. 1.3 Keyboard Tips
  4. 1.4 Things to Do Before Starting
Module 2: Getting to Know the Workflow7 lessons
  1. 2.1 General Interface and Starting a Project
  2. 2.2 Basic Title Animation Using Keyframes
  3. 2.3 Keyframe Interpolation and Keyframe Assistan
  4. 2.4 Renaming a Composition
  5. 2.5 Soloing a Layer for Individual Edits
  6. 2.6 Interface Continued: Tool bar, Timeline panel, Preferences, Workspaces
  7. 2.7 Render and Export
Module 3: Creating a Basic Animation Using Effects and Presets3 lessons
  1. 3.1 Importing Files from Bridge and Creating a New Composition
  2. 3.2 Horizontal Type Tool and Guides
  3. 3.3 Controls, Effects and Presets for Titles and Logos
Module 4: Animating Text5 lessons
  1. 4.1 Create and Stylize a Text Layer With the Characters and Paragraph Panels
  2. 4.2 Preview and Apply Text Animation Presets and Use Keyframes
  3. 4.3 Animate Layers Using Parenting
  4. 4.4 Editing and Animating Imported Photoshop Text
  5. 4.5 Install Fonts Using Adobe Fonts
Module 5: Working With Shape Layers6 lessons
  1. 5.1 Create and Customize a Shape with Shape Tool
  2. 5.2 Self Animating Shape with a Wiggle Path (green marker)
  3. 5.3 Create and Customize a Shape with Pen Tool
  4. 5.4 Snap Layers
  5. 5.5 Animating Shape Layers with Path Operations
  6. 5.6 Creating Nulls from Paths
Module 6: Animating a Multimedia Presentation5 lessons
  1. 6.1 Animate Multiple Layers Using Parenting
  2. 6.2 Precomposing Layers
  3. 6.3 Keyframing a Motion Path
  4. 6.4 Animating a Character to Create Movement
  5. 6.5 Animating Precomposed Layers with Effects
Module 7: Animating Photoshop Layers6 lessons
  1. 7.1 Animating Change in Light
  2. 7.2 Animating Birds Flying with a Track Mat
  3. 7.3 Animating Shadows and Using Corner Pin
  4. 7.4 Adding a Lens Flare Effect
  5. 7.5 Render Composition and Retime
  6. 7.6 Use the Graph Editor to Remap Time
Module 8: Working With Masks4 lessons
  1. 8.1 Setup a Basic Mask
  2. 8.2 Refine and Apply Mask
  3. 8.3 Creating a Reflection with a Mask and Blending Modes
  4. 8.4 Create a Vignette
Module 9: Distorting Objects with the Puppet Tools4 lessons
  1. 9.1 Puppet Position Pen Tool
  2. 9.2 Starch Pins
  3. 9.3 Manually Animate with Puppet Tool
  4. 9.4 Automate Animation Using Puppet Sketch Tool
Module 10: Using the Roto Brush Tool3 lessons
  1. 10.1 Extract Foreground Object from Background and Create a Mat
  2. 10.2 Touch Up a Mat with the Refine Edge Tool
  3. 10.3 Edit or Replace the Separated Background
Module 11: Performing Color Correction5 lessons
  1. 11.1 Set up Composition and Use Levels to Start Balancing the Color
  2. 11.2 Basic Color Grading with Lumetri Color Effects
  3. 11.3 Use Basic Masking, Tracking and Keying to Replace the Background
  4. 11.4 Use an Adjustment Layer to Create a Global Color Effect
  5. 11.5 Gaussian Blur Effect
Module 12: Creating Motion Graphics Templates5 lessons
  1. 12.1 Add New Font with Adobe Fonts and Create a Title with Basic Effects
  2. 12.2 Using Adjustment Layers to Apply a Specific Effect
  3. 12.3 Use Essential Graphics Panel to Build Custom Controls and Share as a Template
  4. 12.4 Create Checkboxes to Toggle Visibility of a Background Image
  5. 12.5 Protect Portions of a Project from Time Stretching and Export Template

Your learning path

Where Adobe After Effects fits. Build your skills one step at a time.

You are hereAdobe After Effects
Next stepAdobe Premiere Pro TrainingNext stepIntroduction to Animation Training CourseNext stepAdobe Photoshop Training

Frequently asked questions

Is this After Effects course suitable for beginners?

Yes. It starts with the interface, keyframes and exporting, then builds up to masks, Roto Brush, colour grading and templates.

What is the difference between After Effects and Premiere Pro?

Premiere Pro is used to cut and arrange video. After Effects is used to create motion graphics, animated titles and visual effects that you can add to that video.

Does the course cover removing backgrounds?

Yes. A full module shows how to use the Roto Brush and Refine Edge tools to separate a subject and edit or replace the background.

Will I learn colour correction?

Yes. You use Levels and Lumetri Color for colour balance and grading, plus keying and adjustment layers.

What are motion graphics templates?

They are reusable After Effects designs with simple controls. The course shows how to build them in the Essential Graphics panel so others can edit text and options without changing the design.

Do I get a certificate?

Yes. You get a StemBoss Certificate of Completion when you finish the course.

Can I get a refund?

Yes, within 14 days if you have completed less than 20% of the course. See our refund policy for details. Read the refund policy.

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