I. General Information

1. Course Title:
After Effects

2. Course Prefix & Number:
GDES 2128

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 2

Lab Hours: 2

4. Course Description:

This course demonstrates how to build motion graphics and animations for video productions using Adobe After Effects. Students will work with key frame animation with lighting, shadows, and special effects for typography, photographs, graphics, and video footage.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

No placement tests required

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

3. Prior Learning - the following prior learning methods are acceptable for this course:

• Advanced Standing
• Military Experience
• Specialty Schools
• Demonstration
• Portfolio

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course fulfills a requirement for the following program(s):

Graphic Design A.A.S.
Graphic Design Diploma
Graphic Design - Media Technologies Diploma
Videography Production A.A.S.
Videography Production Diploma

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Analyze and follow a sequence of operations	Follow a step-by-step procedure in developing a motion title animation.
Utilize appropriate technology	Develop motion graphics using other media files.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Manipulate Adobe After Effects interface;
• Develop compositions;
• Timeline control;
• Applying transform effects;
• Apply key frame animations;
• Animate typography;
• Adding sound;
• Add behaviors;
• Animating shapes with paths;
• Create masks with objects;
• Animate paint strokes;
• Importing graphics;
• Animating a logo from Illustrator;
• Work in 3D space;
• Control cameras;
• Animating backgrounds;
• Changing template settings;
• Working with Particle Emitters;
• Building Essential Graphic templates;
• Working with Drop Zone templates;
• Applying Rotoscope Masks;
• Export to render queues;
• Export to Media Encoder; and
• Integrate with video edits.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1.  After Effects Interface
   
   • Timeline
   • Assets
   • Effects panel
   • Tools
2. Compositions
   
   • Resolution size
   • Frames per second
   • Letngth of time
3. Understanding Motion Graphics
• Key framing
• Frames per second
• 3D space
4. Using Background Textures 
• Use with generators
• Create for type
• Create depth
5. Creating Transitions
• Using replicators
• Using filters
6. Shapes
• Drawing geometric shapes
• Manipulating shapes
• Fill and stroke colors
7. 3D Space
   
   • Animating lighting
   • Transform objects
   • Understand depth of field
   • Adjusting camera angles
8. Masks
   
   • Shape masks
   • Animating masks
   • Rotoscope masks
9. Lighting
   
   • Applying style of light
   • Animating light
10. Particles
• Adding Emitters
• Controlling Emitters
11. Essential Graphics
• Control of shapes
• Control of color
• Control of typography
12. Template Development
• Creating Drop Zone
• Controlling templates
13. Applying Camera Animation
14. Publishing to Premeire
• Lower thirds
• Scale, color, position
15. Linking Assets
16. Exporting from After Effects
    
    • Quicktime movies
    • Render queue
    • Media Encoder
    • Export to Adobe Premiere

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions

1. Compositions
   
   • Resolution
   • Frames per second
   • timeline
   • Safe zones
2. Shapes
   
   • Drawing shapes
   • Manipulating shapes
   • Fill and stroke color
3. Timeline
1. Key frame animation
2. Transform functions
3. In and Out points
4. Working with Type
1. Adding and formatting
2. Text on a path
3. Text behaviors
5. Backgrounds
1. Using color generators
2. Using text generator
3. animating ramps
4. Adjusting presets
6. Transitions
1. Replicating objects
2. Animating a replicator
3. Replicating a video file
7. Working in 3D space
1. Working with cameras
2. Creating depth
3. animating light
4. Viewing different camera angles
8. Masks
1. Creating masks
2. Animating masks
3. Mask tracking
9. Keying
1. alpha key
2. Green screen chroma
10. Adding Sound
    
    • Sound effects
    • Animating to narations
    • Background music
    • Working with video
11. Adobe Premeire Integration
    
    • Creating drop zones
    • Lower thirds
12. Exporting
    
    • Movie
    • Render queue
    • Media Encoder