Aftereffects workshop IIII

KEY POINTS

motion paths :

• How to orient a layer to its motion path : Select layer - layer window --> 'auto orient' 
• How to make speed even throughout keyframes : select all keyframes - right click --> 'rove across time' (then can adjust without pressing alt)

switches :

• Shy : use it to simplify layer menu so you can focus on the ones you are working on. Click for ones you want to hide, and then hide/unhide them using master switch. 
• Dotted line : click to adjust quality of layers to make playback better (not best way of doing this tho)
• fx : use to turn on and off effects on layers. 
• Motion blur (3 circles): to turn on put on layer, and then switch on using master. It makes objects blurry to give the effect of fast motion. 
• Adjustment layer (ying yang symbol thing): make a solid layer to the size of the full composition and switch on adjustment layer. You can then apply an effect to this layer, and this will affect anything below it in the layer menu. (good way to apply an affect to whole composition e.g. adjusting levels of image)
• Mode menu - same as photoshop, can use multiple, overlay ect. 
• Trkmat - this works with the transparency of images, and works like mask layers in photoshop) 

This is an example of what can be achieved through using the trkmat switch - I think this technique could be really useful in the making of my final stings as I can see now how it could work really well with the way in which I like to make images.

Adding effects to layers :

• 'Effects and presets' - can type in what you want, or scroll through, then drag the effect onto the layer you want to use it on. 
• You can keyframe an effect - effects will appear as a drop down menu, as transform would do as well. 
• Turn off an effect to improve playback. 
• To delete an effect, select window in project menu and press backspace.

Nesting compositions :

• You can drag images into composition button, and make a composition that size. 
• You can make isolated animations/movements in one composition, and then nest this into another. 
• If you were to make the 30 sec animation you could make 3x10 sec compostions, and then nest these into one 30 sec and add transitions. 

(To copy everything you need into one folder: File - dependencies --> 'collect files')