After Effects VFX, Competency

Level 1

After Effects Badge 1 is the same for both the Animation and VFX tracks

Demonstrate skill with:

Creating a new composition and changing its settings

  • Width and height
  • Frames per second
  • Length

Navigation

  • Zoom in and out (,.)
  • Forward and back one frame (Command + arrow keys)
  • Scroll (Hold Space)

Tools

  • Selection (v)
  • Rotation (w)
  • Text tool 
  • Shapes
  • Move Anchor Point (y)

Import Footage

  • Command + I

Layers

  • Footage Layer
  • Shape Layer
    • Shape and pen tool
  • Text Layer

Keyframe Animation

  • Enable keyframe animation for a layer property
  • Edit existing keyframes
  • Reveal all keyframes on a layer (u)

Layer Transformations

  • Position (p)
  • Scale (s)
  • Rotation (r)
  • Opacity (t)
  • Anchor Point (a)

Effects

  • Learn to apply and edit 3 effects. They could include
    • Curves
    • Hue and Saturation
    • Gaussian Blur
    • Turbulent displace

Export

  • Export as Quicktime video

Questions

  • Explain the work space of After Effects
  • Explain the difference between frames and keyframes.
  • Why should you ALWAYS Name your Layers?

Level 2

Demonstrate skill with:

Tracking Motion

  • Learn how to make a null object layer
  • Learn to track persons or objects 
    • Learn to link that trackage to the null object
  • Parent text or object to null object

Masks

  • Learn to create masks
  • Learn to feather masks
  • Lean to change masks with key frames

Rotoscoping

  • Learn to use the RotoBrush tool to mask out subjects
  • Learn to Rotoscope the traditional way, frame by frame, using the pen tool. (Rotobrush tool is better, but doing it the traditional way can be necessary when there is little contrast between the subject and the background.)

Green Screen

  • Learn to edit out green screens

Blending Modes

  • Learn to toggle blending modes of footage
  • Use this to hide black or white backgrounds.

Effects

Questions

  • Explain the benefits of a null object layer

Make a project that uses the tools that you have learned. Use either Rotoscoping or Green screen. You don’t have to use both for the project but you do have to understand them both.

Level 3

Demonstrate skill with:

Content aware fill layer

  • Know how to do it
  • Understand the different between Object fill, Surface fill, and Edge Blend

Clone Stamp Tool

  • Learn to use the Clone Stamp Tool
  • Know how to change brush size, opacity, and feather.
  • Know how to change from constant to frame by frame. 

Mocha Tracker

  • How to use as a mask
  • How to put footage or compositions on surfaces.

Create 3d objects or Text

  • How to switch between Classic 3D and Cinema 4D in composition settings.
  • Toggle the 3D checkmark Box
  • Manipulate text/objects in 3d
  • How to extrude 3D objects

Lighting

  • Create a spot light
  • Create an ambient light
  • Be able to move the lights in 3D space.

Track Camera

  • How to create Null, solid, or text from a camera.
    • How to replace the solid with footage/a composition.

Effects:

Plugins and Scripts:

Questions

  • Pros and Cons of using Content Aware Fill V the Clone Stamp Tool?
  • Difference between Classic 3D and Cinema 4D.
  • Difference between Track Camera, Track Motion and Mocha Tracker?
  • Difference between Plugins and Scripts?

Make a project that uses the tools that you have learned. Make a project using these tools. You can use either Clone stamp OR Content aware fill.