All posts by animishmish

Assignment #01, Assignments

GIF ANIMATION || Assignment week 01

WEEK 1: Jan 26

Assignment 01 – GIF Animation

Create one animated GIF

Duration: 5 Seconds

Assignment theme : “Surprise“.

Due:  Session 02 ( 02/03/15)

 

Sketch your ideas before you open After Effects. Use the footage we collected in class with footage you wish to use and create a surprising GIF Animation.   Think about compositions, timing,  transitions and loops.

You can add text to the GIF.

Please Email me your assignments before class.

–  Watch this introduction to After Effects tutorial

or

https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/how-to/aftereffects-create-first-project-cc.html?set=after-effects–get-started–essential-beginners

–  And this GIF Animation tutorial:

Here is how you should export / render your movies in After Effects CC and up:

 

For next class:

1. Introduction to Animation tutorial

2. Please bring your GIF After Effects Project on your Hard Drive with your After effects rendered video file and your GIF file.

3. Please bring your Sketchbook

Inspiration:

http://5secondfilms.com/

http://giphy.com/

http://the12principles.tumblr.com/

 

 

 

Class Notes

Session 01 | (01/26/15) – After Effects Basics

Project organization 

  • When media is imported into After Effects, it does not become part of the AE file but rather links to the AE file from its location on the hard drive.
  • It is very important to maintain a consistent folder structure for every project, or you will lose the links to your imported assets.
  • Create an organized folder structure for each project you work on.folders (0-00-00-00)
  • Never re-name or move your folders and imported assets ( or you will have to re-link them).

 

Basic Interface: Project, Composition, Timeline, Preview, Tools 

Composition settings 
  • When beginning a new project, be aware of your final output requirements (web, broadcast, projection, etc).
  • Some important specs to be aware of are: resolution, pixel aspect ratio, frame rate, duration
  • In this class, your composition settings will be:Screen Shot 2015-01-27 at 9.35.30 PM
    • HDV/HDTV 1080 29.97 fps Progressive
    • resolution: 1920 x 1080
    • pixel aspect ration: square pixels
    • frame rate: 29.97 frames per second
    • Progressive (non-interlaced)

 

  • Zoom in/out of Composition Window: Cmnd & + or –
Importing media: still images, video, audio 
  • option 1: File > Import > File
  • option 2: Right-click in the Project window; Import > File
  • option 3: Select Project window; Cmnd & i
  • option 4: double click inside the project window pannel
  • option 5: Drag a file/folder from your computer to the project window.

Screen Shot 2015-01-27 at 9.38.44 PM

 

Working with layers on a timeline 
  • To bring images, videos and audio files from the project window into the composition:
    1. click-drag an asset from the project window and drop it into the composition window (this will give you the option of positioning the asset using the mouse)
    2. click-drag an asset from the project window and drop it into theleft side of the timeline (the asset will appear in the center of the composition and at the beginning of the timeline)
    3. click-drag an asset from the project window and drop it into theright side of the timeline (the asset will appear at the center of the composition but will give you an option of choosing the desired place on the timeline using the mouse)

 

  • duplicating a layer: select layer; Cmnd & D
  • copying a layer: select layer; Cmnd & C
  • pasting a layer: select layer; Cmnd & V
  • zoom in/out of the timeline: + or –

 

Preview
  • To preview your animation, use RAM Preview: first button on the right side that looks like an arrow with three lines behind it or 0 on the numeric pad ( CMND +0 on laptops).
  • Only RAM Preview allows you to view your animation in real-time.
  •  Spacebar – Your playback will not be in real-time and you will not hear sound.
Links, Resources

Free sound resources

Where can I find CC-licensed music?

Several sites offer music published under Creative Commons’ flexible copyright licenses. Here are some:

For sound fx and some music:

https://www.freesound.org/

Here are some more resources from the Creative Commons’ website:

Always check your music license if  you’re submitting your movie to festivals or competitions.

 

 

 

Inspiration

Animation Sequence Blog

http://animationsequence.com/

“The Animation Sequence Project is an unique co-creation project featuring the world’s greatest animation artists.

Creative minds from all over the world are invited to create a short piece of animation. The only requirement for the content of the animation is that it starts and ends with a 250 pixel square in the exact middle of the screen.

The square then can become anything you want. A box, a character, a building, a circle, and it can tell its own little story. Absolutely anything, as long as it is a square again within 10 seconds.”