Animate with Depth: Cameras, Lights and 3D Layers in AE

Learn to master 3D composition and animation in Adobe After Effects with this thorough, step-by-step guide

Created by: Rich Armstrong
Multi-hyphenate Artist

What Will I Learn?

• Create 3D compositions, from Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop layers, inside Adobe After Effects
• Add and animate cameras and lights inside compositions Create 3D animations productively and with greater understanding.
• Set up your Photoshop and Illustrator documents for After Effects importing
• Create 3D layers in After Effects.
• Change and animate 3D layer properties.
• Add and animate cameras.
• Add and animate lights.
• Understand the different types of lights and cameras.
• Understand material options layers can have.
• Work with Depth of field, camera blur, orientation, aperture and focus distance.
• Easily navigate compositions with a lot of lights, shadows and layers.
• Be productive and efficient when working with many layers.
• Understand the concept of 2.5D.
• Add multiple views to view your scene with.
• Work with parenting and precomposition
• Create different camera angles.
• Preview your work quickly
• Render and compress animations.

Requirements

• You need to have Adobe After Effects installed on your Mac or PC. The course is recorded using After Effects CC.
• Some foreknowledge of After Effects will be beneficial, but you’ll be able to take the course if you’ve never opened After Effects before – especially if you’re comfortable with Illustrator or Photoshop.

Target audience

• The target audience of this course is designers and animators who want to learn how to make use of their existing 2D skillset to create 3D scenes and animations.
• A designer or illustrator who’d like to see their flat-artwork come to life through animation and 3D layout
• An animator who wants to learn more about working with 3D in After Effects.
• Don’t take this class if you’re comfortable working with 3D in After Effects and other 3D apps.