Introduction to Adobe After Effects CS3 (3 days)

Introduction to Adobe After Effects CS3 Overview

In this Adobe After Effects training course, students new to After Effects CS3 will learn to create motion graphics and visual effects. It is packed with hands-on exercises so that students can learn by doing.

Introduction to Adobe After Effects CS3 Course Goals

• Get familiar with the After Effects CS3 work area
• Learn to work with frames
• Learn to import and edit text
• Learn about type
• Learn to work with color and styles
• Learn to link graphics
• Learn to create tables
• Learn to export to PDF
• Learn to work with XML

Introduction to Adobe After Effects CS3 Course Outline

1. Getting to Know the Work Area
   1. Looking at the work area
   2. Changing the magnification of a document
   3. Navigating through your document
2. Setting Up Your Document
3. Working with Frames
   1. Working with Layers
   2. Creating and editing text frames
   3. Creating and editing graphics frames
   4. Working with Frames
4. Importing and Editing Text
   1. Creating and entering text
   2. Vertically aligning text
   3. Flowing text
   4. Working with styles
   5. Flowing text automatically
   6. Adding a jump line page number
   7. Using semi-autoflow to place text frames
   8. Changing the number of columns on a page
   9. Loading styles from another document
   10. Flowing text into an existing frame
   11. Finding and changing
   12. Checking spelling of a story
   13. Adding words to a dictionary
   14. Checking spelling dynamically
   15. Automatically correcting misspelled words
   16. Drag and drop text editing
   17. Using the story editor
5. Working with Typography
   1. Adjusting vertical spacing
   2. Changing fonts and type style
   3. Changing paragraph alignment
   4. Creating a drop cap
   5. Adjusting letter and word spacing
   6. Working with tabs
   7. Adding a rule below a paragraph
6. Working with Color
   1. Defining printing requirements
   2. Adding colors to the Swatches panel
   3. Applying colors to objects
   4. Creating dashed strokes
   5. Working with gradients
   6. Creating a tint
   7. Creating a spot color
   8. Applying color to text
   9. Using advanced gradient techniques
   10. Ensuring consistent color
   11. Color management: An overview
   12. Setting up color management in InDesign CS3
   13. A look at the Adobe Bridge
   14. Color-managing imported graphics in InDesign CS3
   15. Assigning a profile after importing an image
   16. Embedding a profile in a Photoshop image
   17. Assigning a profile while importing a graphic
7. Working with Styles
   1. Creating and applying paragraph styles
   2. Creating and applying character styles
   3. Nesting character styles inside paragraph styles
   4. Creating and applying object styles
   5. Creating and applying table and cell styles
   6. Globally updating styles
   7. Loading styles from another document
8. Importing and Linking Graphics
   1. Comparing vector and bitmap graphics
   2. Updating revised graphics
   3. Adjusting view quality
   4. Working with clipping paths
   5. Importing a Photoshop file and alpha channels
   6. Placing native files
   7. Using a library to manage objects
   8. Creating a library
   9. Using Adobe Bridge to import graphics
9. Creating Tables
   1. Importing and formatting a table
   2. Using graphics within tables
   3. Formatting text within a table
10. Working with Transparency
    1. Importing and colorizing a black-and-white image
    2. Applying transparency settings
    3. Working with effects
11. Working with Long Documents
    1. Defining a book
    2. Working with a table of contents
    3. Maintaining consistency across book files
    4. Indexing the book
12. Output and PDF Exporting
    1. Using Preflight
    2. Using Package
    3. Creating an Adobe PDF proof
    4. Separation preview
    5. Transparency flattener preview
    6. Previewing the page
    7. Printing a laser or inkjet proof
13. Using XML
    1. About XML
    2. Viewing XML tags
    3. Importing and applying XML tags
    4. Tagging images
    5. Importing XML
    6. Using XML snippets

Introduction to Adobe After Effects CS3 Course Materials

Each student will receive a copy of After Effects CS3 Classroom in a Book by the Adobe Creative Team, which will serve as a guide for the class.

Each student will also receive a one-year subscription to Webucator's online reference library, which contains hundreds of the most current electronic technology books - a $149.95 per student value.

Introduction to Adobe After Effects CS3 Technical Requirements

1. Operating Systems Options
   • Operating System Options
     • Windows Vista
     • Windows XP with Service Pack 2
   • Macintosh
2. Adobe After Effects CS3
3. Browser Options
   • Internet Explorer 6.0 or later
     • Download
   • Firefox
     • Download
   • Safari
     • Download

Class Files for Introduction to Adobe After Effects CS3

The class files for this course are included on a DVD that is shipped with the book.