Digital Photography and Imaging - Week 10

25.11.2024 - 29.11.2024

Chan Zhi-Ren Zenndan / 0369069

Digital Photography and Imaging / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Week 10: After Effects Exercise

Week 10 Lecture

Mr. Fauzi held a short lecture briefing students on Adobe After Effects, which is the application essential for Project 4. It allows for visual effects, motion graphics, and overall allows for motion picture compositing. He also highlighted that organising elements in Photoshop allows for a smooth flow of animation when compositing in After Effects.

1. After Effects Exercise Process

To start things off, we are to import a given PSD file into After Effects. Below is what the file (composition) consists of.

Fig 1.1 Provided PSD file (28/11/2024).

Once imported into After Effects, I created the necessary folders and separated the files into their respective folders.

Fig 1.2 Separating files into respective folders (28/11/2024).

Next is to adjust the composition settings, specifically setting the correct resolution and setting the duration to 15 seconds.

Fig 1.3 Setting up composition settings (28/11/2024).

Then, we are to create a new column with the 'Keys' setting.

Fig 1.4 'Keys' column (28/11/2024).

For the next part, to animate a certain element, we have to select that element and expand the dropdown list. Then, for practice, we selected 'rotation' and animate (loop) by multiplying it by 1x. To paint a clearer picture, below is what the process looks like.

Fig 1.5 The subject, 'rotation' tool being used (28/11/2024).

Fig 1.6 Starting keyframe with 1x + 0.0° values (28/11/2024).

Fig 1.7 Ending keyframe with 0.0° values (28/11/2024).

So, the 1x + 0.0° value goes in a full 360° loop within the 15-second timeframe.

Fig 1.8 Rotation tool (28/11/2024).

Next, we were taught to use the 'scale' tool, but this time on the other circle. Using the same method, I created keyframes between 2 sides.

Fig 1.9 Start and end keyframes, scaled to drop from 100% to 90% within 7 seconds (28/11/2024).

After scaling the other circle, we moved on and used the 'position' tool on the fish. The process is very similar, but this time we get to move the subject manually and pin the keyframes.

Fig 1.10 Different keyframes for different positions (28/11/2024).

To export our work, go to File > Export >  Add to Render Queue > Select H.264 format > Render

Fig 1.11 Export and render (28/11/2024).

The GIF format can be seen below.

Fig 1.12 GIF format of the exercise (29/11/2024).

The uploaded YouTube video, as instructed to submit by Mr. Fauzi, can be seen by clicking here.

2. Reflection

In week 10, we learned the basics of After Effects animations, which we’ll use for our final project. I initially thought it would be complicated, but Mr. Fauzi encouraged us to start with simple animations. It was a fun exercise that gave me the confidence to incorporate animation into my final project.

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