Does what it says on the tin, featuring interviews with leading motion design studios and a dissection of broadcast and corporate branding.
After Effects in Production: A Companion for Creating Motion Graphics
If you have ever wondered about the differences between the various Keying plugins available and advice on how to make your own versions using only the standard After Effects filters, then this book is for you.
Did you know what a 3D colour keyer is why some keyers and methods produce better results than others?
Essentially the book describes the logarithmic processes common to all compositing software, so you will need to translate the explanations to make them applicable to AE. But having done so, you will have equipped yourself with the requisite knowledge to tackle the most arduous of greenscreen rushes – with or without the helping hands of those illustrious premium plugins.
Digital Compositing for Film and Video, Second Edition (Focal Press Visual Effects and Animation)
Different companies tend to approach animation projects with different solutions. For example when presented with greenscreen footage, one company may like to use a keying plugin, another may opt for a high-contast matte, whilst yet another may implement a combination.
Freelancing provides exposure to a wide range of techniques and methods and from which you can devise your own best practices. Having a little knowledge of more than one way of doing things will only enhance your ability.
The original and definitive guide to every bell and whistle within After Effects and presented through fantastic tutorials. Not for the faint hearted. Its pages are brimming with requisite technical knowledge. Follow up with After Effects in Production and Angie Taylor’s Creative After Effects for more of ways to apply the methods in the real world.
Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects (With CD-ROM) (Dv Expert Series)
Alex Lindsay started the Pixelcorps with a view to creating the next generation of multi-skilled Special Effects Artists, only this time they are networked, worldwide.
Global tutorials lead on to global productions – with a big push towards developing a wealth of visual effects artists in Africa.
Pick and choose the software that you wish to progress with carefully, as PXC love you to bite off more than you can chew – The more multiskilled you are, the better!
Check the Pixelcorps website for current Membership tarifs.
Aannon provides his visitors with lovely insights on getting the most from After Effects, and with a little experimentation, it’s possible to create some beautiful and outline-independent 3D typography.
Worth a look for this tutorial alone.
Simply the best After Effects and visual effects tutorials on the interweb…
Angie Taylor’s masterpiece encourages one to approach animation from a creative angle right from the very start.
Taylor’s explanation of the software’s capability is really an exploration as she shares some serendipitous tricks, rather than imposing technical jargon.
If you are going to buy an after effects book I highly recommend beginning here – It’s well-written and will have you up to an intermediate standard very quickly.
Creative After Effects 7: Workflow Techniques for Animation, Visual Effects and Motion Graphics
A series of professionally-presented DVDs imparting a bunch of trade secrets which will leave a great taste in your mouth…
