In fourteen weeks, together we will learn the basics of AE.
We will produce three projects: Bumper; Kinetic Poem; Movie Title Sequence.
The theme for the course is PLAY. When you are playing you are learning. Be playful!
WK01 Play time:
01. Create a YouTube account.
You will post your weekly exercises and three projects here. http://www.youtube.com/create_account
02. View WK01 EXERCISE video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLlIIdofKZQ
03. Read WK01.PDF which includes the steps to complete the exercise. See Professor's Course Web Site.
04. View WK01 HOWTO video. Coming Soon. Stay tuned!
05. Complete the exercise using AE.
06. Practice, practice, practice... and make notes on a couple of the tips and techniques learned this week.
07. Apply what you learned this week to something of your own. Post this work on your YouTube account. http://www.youtube.com/create_account
08. Share what you have learned with someone in the class. This will help you remember what you have learned this week.
A title sequence is the method by which cinematic films or television programs present their title and/or key production and cast members, utilizing conceptual visuals and sound. This project is based upon the inspirational work of Kyle Cooper. Kyle Cooper is a designer of motion picture title sequences. His work includes the opening credit sequences of Seven (1995), The Mummy (1999), Dawn of the Dead (2004), Spider-Man 2 (2004), Godzilla: Final Wars (2004), Superman Returns (2006), Across the Universe (2007), The Incredible Hulk (2008), and the video games Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001) and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004). His work in the credits field is often compared to Saul Bass. Rationale Text Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyle_Cooper
DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: Based on a movie, video game, software, or a book, design a title sequence to introduce the story. Create a video using AE and post it on YouTube.
The project must include the following technical items and criteria: 1. At least 10 lines of text; 2. Use of text animation presets; 3. Use of ease-in/out; 4. Animated type and custom shapes with a motion path; 5. Masking; 6. 3D layers; 7. Multiple lights; 8. Cameras; 9. Puppets; 10. Expressions; 11. Time stretching; 12. Motion tracking; 13. Use of a track matte; 14. Output final to QuickTime file format; 15. Post the video on YouTube; 16. Include music track; 17. At least six special effects; 18. All production and final files must be archived to a CD-R and/or DVD-R.
DELIVERABLES: CD-R and/or DVD-R including all files: design rationale, production and final files; In-class presentation with a peer evaluation; Design Rationale: Include sketches, design process notes, and time management worksheet.
PROJECT EVALUATION: The Project will be evaluated according to the following: • time management, • creativity, • aesthetics, • following a design rationale and design principles, • functionality, • ease-of-use, • reliably demonstrating all technical specifications.
What is an expression? An expression is basically a Javascript line of code (scripts, set of instructions, formulas) used to generate and animate property values.
EXERCISE #1: Pickwhip Tool
We will use one layer's properties to control another layer's properties directly, using the Pickwhip Tool.
STEPS: 1. Create Text • Create text in a layer: "Blast Off". • Create a layer with the words "into space".
2. Animate "Blast Off" • In the layer with the text "Blast Off", in the Timeline Ruler, use two keyframes to animate the Opacity from 100% to 0% over 10 seconds. This will create a fade out.
OPTION and Drag the CTI to scrub through the animation.
3. Link the "Blast Off" animation to "into space" using the Pickwhip Tool • In the layer with the text "into space", do the following: 1. Open up the property layers, and click on Opacity. 2. Hold OPTION and click on Opacity. - reveals the expression in the Timeline Ruler; - reveals a set of switches next to the property Opacity. 3. Click the Pickwhip (the swirl) and drag the Pickwhip to the Opacity property of the layer with the text "Blast Off". RESULT: This links into space with Blast Off. thisComp.layer("Blast Off").transform.opacity
4. Repeat this action with the Z Rotation and Scale • Hold OPTION and click on the Property. • Click the Pickwhip (the swirl) and drag the Pickwhip to the property .
Add a light, Pickwhip the Light Intensity to the Scale property of Blast Off. NOTE how the Scale goes from 100% to 0, Now the Light Intensity goes from 100% to 0%. In other words it fades out. So, one property value may control another different property value.
thisComp.layer("Blast Off").transform.scale[0] is now in the Light Intensity expression ---------------------------------------
Add a camera, Pickwhip the Camera Zoom to the Scale property of Blast Off. NOTE how the Scale goes from 100% to 0, Now the Camera Zoom goes from 100% to 0%. In other words, it zooms away. So, one property value may control another different property value.
thisComp.layer("Blast Off").transform.scale[0] is now in the Camera Zoom expression ---------------------------------------
Pickwhip the spacemen to the Blast Off property of Z Rotation NOTE how the Z Rotation goes from 0 to -1x (in other words -360 degrees) Now the Camera Zoom goes from 100% to 0%. In other words, it zooms away. So, one property value may control another different property value.
thisComp.layer("Blast Off").transform.scale[0] is now in the spacemen expression
EXAMPLE #2:Creating motion using an expression:
EXERCISE #2: Motion Using an Expression
1. Enable Time Remapping Layer > Time > Enable Time Remapping
2. Apply the following expression to the Time Remap property layer cycle = 4; f = timeToFrames(); framesToTime(Math.floor)f/cycle) + f%cycle);
EXAMPLE #3: Audio triggering animation using Audio Amplitude:
EXERCISE #3: SetUp 1. shape on a layer 2. Audio file with variable amplitude 3. Select the audio layer, then Animation > Keyframe Assistant > Convert Audio to Keyframes. This creates an Audio Amplitude layer
4. Apply the following script to the Scale property of the shape
TIME STRETCH alters the duration (and therefore speed) BUT, it does not let you animate the retiming itself, that requires TIME REMAP, or TIMEWARP
HOW TO: locate the icons on bottom left of the TImeline In/Out/Duration Stretch columns
1. Place the CTI in the Timeline frame 2. Change the Stretch % (Change the Stretch value from 100% to 300% to slow or stretch it out) =============================================================
TIME REMAP This sets two Time Remap keyframes the final keyframe becomes the HOLD keyframe. you can then scale (pick up the clip and drag it down the timeline) the layer length beyond the last frame.
Select the layer, and apply TIME REMAP, Layer > Time > Enable Time Remapping or COMMAND & OPTION & T move the keyframes together to speed up the area inbetween the keyframes.
EXAMPLE: Place the keyframes together at the beginning, and the video will speed through the entire clip, then hold on the last frame for the time after the second keyframe. =============================================================
TIME WARP Effect > Time > Timewarp Usually used for slowing down ( using a value of less than 100) TIP: 1. first apply TIME REMAP Layer > Time > Enable Time Remapping (don't worry, TIME WARP will over ride the TIME REMAP settings) 2. then apply TIME WARP Effect > Time > Timewarp 3. reduce Speed property 4. Extend the length of the clip in the Timeline to accommodate the new ( reduced) time.
EXAMPLE: reduce Speed to 50.00, and drag out the clip
NOTE: may need to Preserve Frame Rate for nested clips Composition Settings > Advanced panel and toggle Preserve Frame Rate When Nested ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can also FREEZE FRAME Layer > Time > Freeze Frame creates a similar effect as Time Remap at the CTI, when selected. =============================================================
THE DIFFERENCE MATTE EXAMPLE This process compares the two images, and removes everything that matches identically, leaving only the foreground object/actor.
NOTES & HOW TO EXPLANATION:
Both shots are Locked-off NOTE: a "clean" background is referred to as a clean plate
SHOT SET UP These shots are as follows: Frame two shots. These shots must be locked-off or motion stabilized to match. Any offset will cause the matte effect not to work properly.
COMP SET UP Layer 1 holds the animation ( Screen with actor in front of it) Duplicate the layer. Layer 2 holds the freeze frame (Screen has no actor in front of it) ---------------------------------------------------
Create the Freeze Frame Layer 2 will hold the freeze frame layer. In the Timeline place the CTI in a frame with no object/actor. It should be a clean view of the background. select Layer > Time > Freeze Frame [RESULT: a square is placed in the Timeline at the CTI location ] ---------------------------------------------------
Apply the Difference Matte Effect 1. Apply Effect > Keying > Difference Matte to layer 1 (the layer with the animation)
Change the Difference Layer setting in the Effects Controls 2. In the Difference Matte Effect Controls for layer 1, Difference Layer to 2. freeze frame Adjust Tolerance ( Increase/decrease %) to fine tune the image ---------------------------------------------------
Animation to Disappear Set a couple keyframes to increase Difference properties to have the object disappear In Layer 1, adjust the Effects, Difference MAtte, _ increase Matching Tolerance _ increase Matching Softness _ increase Blur Before Difference
In our basic example, wiggle includes two parameters: frequency and amplitude. wiggle(frequency, amplitude)
A wiggle expression animates a camera, light, and shape. Shape: position and scale are animated using wiggle() Camera: Z rotation is animated using wiggle()
• New Project • Import video • COMMAND & N, [New Comp] • Drag video clip into Timeline • COMMAND & K [set comp time to the clip time, ex. 27;15] • Add text • Add Null layer: SHIFT & OPTION & COMMAND & Y or Layer > New > Null Object • Set the parent of the text layer, to layer Null • Place CTI at the beginning of the video clip • Double-click the video clip layer and then open the Tracker Panel • Tracker Panel: -- Click Track Motion button -- Select Position -- Edit Target: Null layer -- Motion Target should now read: Motion Target: Null -- Analyze -- Apply
Video example: The phrase "the leaf" is tracking a leaf of the plant. The word "cloud" is tracking one of the clouds.
1. It starts with choosing a keyword from the proposed "kinetic" poem. 2. With four coloured markers, choose a colour and write your keyword from your poem, on the board, around (not in) the circle. 3. Outside of the circle, on another board, group the words by colour, and locate a new story with only these words. 4. In the next inner circle, put a word from each group that feels to be the keyword of the "coloured words" story. 5. In the next inner circle, use a word to describe what might be in the center of the circle. 6. We arrived at an energy of SELF/NO-SELF to be in the center. 7. What is the point in the center of all this? (TO BE DETERMINED IN A FUTURE EXERCISE)
This week, be prepared to shoot some green screen.
TO DO: Bring objects to film in front of a green screen, plus we will film each other in front of a green screen, then key out the green and use the video in our TITLES project.
DIGITAL Comp 1. Type the word DIGITAL into a Comp ------------
Fill Comp 1. Layer > New > Solid 2. Double-click the layer to paint on the layer 3. Select a brush 4. Paint some random lines 5. In the Effects & Presets Panel type wiggle, and choose wiggle-gelatin, to wiggle the solid. ------------
Final Text Comp 1. Drag DIGITAL Comp into layer 1 2. Drag Fill Comp into layer 2 3. Set TrkMat in Fill Comp layer to Luma 4. Drag Fill Comp into layer 3, to act as a background 5. Apply Effect > Blur & Sharpen > Gaussian Blur to the background layer ------------
Any image that is used to define transparency in another image is called a MATTE.
A matte's alpha or luminance information is used to define transparency in the fill layer. [In the Timeline, the fill layer is the image layer directly below the matte layer.] Black defines transparent areas; white defines opaque areas. If the matte is inverted, white will determine transparent areas.
TODAY'S EXERCISE: CREATE AN IMAGE WITH A TRACK MATTE
In Illustrator, Create star shape, with a filmstrip stroke.
In AE, Create an image with a Luma Matte.
I. theMatteComp [ this comp will hold only the theMatte.ai file] 1. Command & N to create a new composition 2. Name the composition theMatteComp. 3. Drag theMatte.ai file to the TImeline
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II. MatteWithImage [ contains theMatteComp and an image (leaves & water)] 1. Command & N to create a new composition 2. Name the composition MatteWithImage. 3. Drag theMatteComp to the Timeline, layer 1 4. Drag image.jpg to the Timeline, layer 2 5. Set the TrkMat switch to: Luma Matte "theMatteComp"
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II. LumaMatte [ contains MatteWithImage and an image (leaves)] 1. Command & N to create a new composition 2. Name the composition LumaMatte. 3. Drag MatteWithImage to the Timeline, layer 1 4. Drag image.jpg (leaves with shadow figure) to the Timeline, layer 2 5. Scale up the MatteWithImage 200%
This blog will follow a fourteen week introduction course to the basics of AFTER EFFECTS.
Weekly topics, tips and techniques, designer ideas, video tutorials, AE support links, and other goodies related to learning about compositing, special effects, and animation will be posted here.
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