Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Practical Concepts of Things You Need to
Remember
Using After Effects can be both inviting and intimidating at the same time. As
you'll come to learn, the program is an empty canvas with many tools, options,
and capabilities waiting for you to dabble. Using After Effects right 'out of the
box' doesn't require much setup - you just need to know how After Effects
interacts with your computer and media resources, that and how your project
will be used.
In addition, it also helps to clarify a few concepts of technical gobbledygook.
What's an Alpha Channel (and can I get it on my satellite?) and where's this 3:2
Pulldown I've heard about? Pixel Aspect Ratio - aren't all pixels square? And
what's all the malice regarding Fields vs Frames?! Understanding these four
technical issues, and their impact on imported files and your rendered
production, will vastly help simplify your workflow and probably make your
peers gasp in awe.
Project Preparation - Who, How and Why?
Are you a non-linear editor about to add some cool typography effects to your
AVID/FinalCut/Premiere Pro project or are you an on-air broadcast designer
who needs to build a quick promo bumper with a transition that has to offer a
keyable wipe into and out of the footage? Or perhaps you're a 3D animator
making a photo-reel visualization of a client's product to be composited over
live footage. No matter who you are, you need to ask yourself (and your client)
two things: 'who' is going to use your project's final result and 'how' are they
going to use it. If you know the answer to these two little questions, your
production flow will progress much more smoothly, your client will appreciate
your diligence, and your bottom line will just appreciate. It just makes sense to
spend a little pre-production time determining the answers to these little
details.
Who Will Use My Project?
Are you delivering your work to another After Effects user? Or perhaps an
editor who does a significant amount of compositing will use your work. Master
control? A promotions producer? A web designer? An art director? A moving
