Required Software
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Media Encoder
Required Demo files (Download from the class D2L site)
- Exercise 8 AE+Photoshop Demo.ai
- 01 Micro Composition A.mp3
- All other sound effect files
Tools and techniques covered in this demo:
- Importing files
- Navigating and animating to specific audio points on a soundtrack
- Animating to create a cause and effect sequence
- Animating properties of layers with keyframes: Anchor points, position, rotation, and scale
- Using easing keyframes
- Using Effects on single layers
- Adding sound effects
- Exporting a .mp4 movie with Media Encoder
Start by opening both After Effects and Media Encoder. Hint: close all other programs to help with memory!
Exercise:
Part 1: Organize your files in a dedicated Asset Folder
Download the required demo file and save them in the dedicated folder on your desktop called “Exercise 8 AE+Photoshop Assets” on your desktop. * Any and all related exercise files will be saved in this folder. This is a critical step to keeping your files linked to your After Effects project and to submitting your project later!
Part 2: Set up auto-save preferences, overview of tools, set up the workspace, import asset files, and create a new Composition
Set up the Autosave preferences:
Go to After Effects>Preferences>Autosave… and change the Auto save to every 5 minutes with 10 previous versions. Save these next to your project. Click Ok.
Set up your workspace & import the demo Illustrator file:
Open After Effects and go to Window>Reset Workspace or set workspace to Default
Create a new project by going to File>New>Projectand title it LastName_FirstName_Exercise8_Photoshop+AE.ae (Example: Anfinson_Erin_Exercise8_ Photoshop +AE.ae)
SAVE this project in the Exercise 8 Asset folder!
Import the Photoshop file into the Project Window by going to: File>Import… Then select the Exercise 8 AE+Photoshop Demo.psd file.
In the dialogue box that pops open, select “Composition-Retain Layer sizes” from the drop down menu and hit Select.
Next make sure Editable Layer Styles is selected, then hit OK.
Back in After Effects, your Photoshop file will be in the Project window. (A composition and a folder of the separate layers will also be there)
Repeat the import process for all .mp3 audio files
Check how the timecode is set. Frames or 00:00:00:00? Command Click the time code in the time line to set it to 00:00:00:00. (Hrs:Minutes:Seconds:Frames)
Set the composition settings and open the Photoshop file on the timeline
Click the composition in the project window to select it
Go to Composition>Composition Settings… and make sure you have 24fps (frames per second) selected and that the duration is 15 (0:00:15:00) seconds long. *Our audio track is 15 seconds long and we want to match that.
Click OK.
Double click the Composition to open it in the timeline.
Lock layers that will not move: Space, Reef Back, Reef Front, and Water
Part 3: Mark key points in the audio soundtrack
Drag the Micro Composition A soundtrack to the bottom layer of the composition and add Markers to the following points on the audio file
Click on the audio layer to activate it.
Twirl down the Audio and then Waveform triangle menus
Move the timeline play head to the 1:07 mark and make a marker at this point by going to Layer>Add Marker or by hitting Control, 8 on your keyboard.
Repeat adding markers to the following three additional points in the audio
3:16, 4:20, 9:15
Part 4: Animate keyframes to marked soundtrack points
Layer Property: Move Anchor points with the Pan Behind Tool
Select each layer individually and use the Pan Behind tool to move the anchor point for each object to the place where you might want it to pivot or rotate from. HINT: Turn on the Isolation mode for each layer as you work.
Save your work.
Layer Property: Position (P)
Animate the Shell & Woman layers to arrive at the 1:07 & 3:16 marked points in the audio track
Our layers are in the position where we want them to land. Start by creating keyframes for the landing places for each layer at the desired audio track marker.
Next, work backward (earlier) on the time line and create keyframes for the each layer’s entry on to the stage from off camera.
Experiment with varied speed and timing of entry and arrival on the stage by moving the keyframes closer and farther apart.
Save your work.
Parent the Hand and Starfish layers to move into the scene together
If it’s not already, move the Starfish 2 layer directly on top of the Giant Hand layer.
Select the Starfish 2 layer and open the drop down menu under the Parent & Link and select the Giant Hand from the menu.
The layers are now linked together.
Add keyframes to animate the Giant Hand layer’s entry on the stage starting offstage at 4:20 and arriving on stage at 9:00
Save your work
Leave the Starfish on the stage & remove the Giant Hand with Layer splitting
Keep the Giant Hand layer selected and move the play head to 9:15.
Go to Edit>Split Layer The Giant hand layer is split and sits immediately above. It is no longer parented to the Starfish layer.
Select the new split layer, Open the Position (P) and delete the unnecessary keyframes by clicking the stopwatch.
Create a new keyframe for the hand’s position at 9:15
Move the play head to 11:00 and then move the hand offstage to create it’s exit keyframe.
Save your work
Layer Property: Rotation
Add Keyframed Rotation to each layer
Work back through the entire animation and add small keyframed rotations to each layer’s entry and/or exit
Save your work
Add Keyframe Easing to make movements more natural
Work back through the entire animation and add Ease In to each layer’s arrival keyframes and arrival Rotation keyframes on stage
Also add an Ease Out to the Giant Hand’s exit at 9:15
Instructions:
Select all layers by hitting Command A, then hit UU on your keyboard to reveal all animated properties
Select the top layer to work with. Click and drag around the end keyframes for all animated properties of that layer (Position, Rotation, and Scale)
Go to Animation > Keyframe Assistant…> Ease In (or Ease Out) This will add easing and more dynamic movement to your motion paths and rotations.
Save your work.
Layer Property: Scale
Add a Keyframed minor scale change to the Water Layer
Reveal and unlock Water layer and move the play head to the beginning of the timeline
Open the Layer Scale properties (S), keep the scale at 100%, and add a keyframe by clicking the stopwatch
Move the play head to the end of the composition and change the scale to 110% add a keyframe. This will create a slow scale growth change over the course of the entire animation.
Save your work.
Change the color of a layer with an Effect
Click on the starfish layer to select it
Go to Effect>Color Correction and select Hue/Saturation. The effect will be active on the Starfish layer and the Effect Controls will pop up in the Project Window
Click Colorize and change the color of the starfish by changing the colorize Hue and Saturation dials below the button. Notice you can keyframe these changes!
Add at least 2 other effects of your choice on different layers
Save your work.
Part 5: Add sound effects to your animation
Drag the Golf Clap sound effect to the timeline and place the in-point at 9:15
To make the sound fade, open the audio wave form and place a keyframe at 10:15 at 0.0db
Next, go to the end of the animation and place another keyframe and drag the volume level down to -60db.
Repeat, adding at least 2 other sound effects of your choice to different areas on the timeline.
Part 6: Making changes to your Photoshop File
If you need to make masking changes to Photoshop collage, open the demo .psd file in Adobe Photoshop. Make any changes and then Save. The file is dynamically linked to the AE file and will be updated automatically in the AE workspace. This works well for making changes to masking in Photoshop. Keep your effects and colors in AE.
NOTE: This only works for existing elements. New drawn elements will have to be imported into AE individually.
Part 7: Export a .mp4 of your animation with Media Encoder
If Adobe Media Encoder is not opened, open it now. It may take a few minutes to load.
In After Effects, go to Composition>Add to Adobe Media Encoder Queue…
Your After Effects composition will pop up in the Queue window in Media Encoder.
Make sure the following settings are set:
Format: H.264
Preset: Match Source – High bitrate
Output File: Click the link and navigate to your Exercise 8 AE+Photoshop Asset Folder to save the export there
Click the Green Play Arrow in the upper right and wait for your movie to export!
Exercise requirements & submission guidelines
Successful exercises will demonstrate and be evaluated on the following:
Use of all images from the provided .psd demo file
Anchor points moved on all layers for improved rotation
All required layer properties animated to marked points on the audio soundtrack: Position, Rotation, and Scale
Keyframe easing added to smooth motion
Color effects, or other effects of your choice, added to 3 layers
Sound Effects added to 3 layers
Correctly exported .mp4 movie file
Workspace Organization
Exercise Output & Submission Requirements:
Send a copy of your Exercise 8 AE + Photoshop Asset Folder with all of the required contents with the free file transfer service, WeTransfer.com, to Erin.Anfinson@mtsu.edu by the due date.
Asset Folders must contain the following to be graded:
Exercise 8 AE+Photoshop Demo.psd
All sound effects and audio soundtrack .mp3’s
After Effects File: LastName_FirstName_Exercise8_Photoshop+AE.ae
Exported .mp4