After Effects and now general VFX talk

Started by Reinhold, May 14, 2006, 02:35:10 PM

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Reinhold

I got my hands on a copy of After Effects 7.0. I'd like to start learning the program this summer. I'm decent with Photoshop and I hear that they're very similar programs... other than that, I'm starting from scratch.

I also own Motion but have only used it to do a couple tutorials. I don't like the interface very much, and I've heard that I'm better off using After Effects anyway.

Is anybody already familiar with the program? If so, any tips are welcome.

I'm going to install the program and check it out so that I can guage whether or not to buy a book, but I'm looking at Adobe After Effects 7.0 Classroom in a Book, which is written by a team of Adobe people. It also appears to be the only one on the market specifically for 7.0.
Quote from: Pas Rap on April 23, 2010, 07:29:06 AM
Obviously what you are doing right now is called (in my upcoming book of psychology at least) validation. I think it's a normal thing to do. People will reply, say anything, and then you're gonna do what you were subconsciently thinking of doing all along.

Ghostboy

I'm still on version 6. I absolutely love the program. Despit my initial hopes, Motion doesn't even come close to holding a candle to it.

I'd say the learning curve is pretty steep...steeper than a nonlinear editor. But the key is to not think of it as an editing program -- the interface is only vaguely similar, but still, that was my main hangup when I was learning the software. You really just have to think of it as Photoshop on a temporal plane, so if you're familiar with Photoshop, you should have a fine old time. But I'd get a book anyway, just so you can pick up some shortcuts....there are so many little tricks to the program that I'd never have figured out on my own. And some of the features, like Time Remapping, are really confusing, so it's helpful to have someone explain them.

This is one program where having two monitors would really come in handy, though. Especially when you start working with comps of upwards of 100 layers.

Reinhold

Quote from: Ghostboy on May 14, 2006, 02:42:49 PM
I'm still on version 6. I absolutely love the program. Despit my initial hopes, Motion doesn't even come close to holding a candle to it.

I'd say the learning curve is pretty steep...steeper than a nonlinear editor. But the key is to not think of it as an editing program -- the interface is only vaguely similar, but still, that was my main hangup when I was learning the software. You really just have to think of it as Photoshop on a temporal plane, so if you're familiar with Photoshop, you should have a fine old time.

thanks.

Quote from: Ghostboy on May 14, 2006, 02:42:49 PM
But I'd get a book anyway, just so you can pick up some shortcuts....there are so many little tricks to the program that I'd never have figured out on my own. And some of the features, like Time Remapping, are really confusing, so it's helpful to have someone explain them.

ordering it on amazon as soon as my paychecks go through. thanks.

Quote from: Ghostboy on May 14, 2006, 02:42:49 PM
This is one program where having two monitors would really come in handy, though. Especially when you start working with comps of upwards of 100 layers.

sigh; if only i had the money. i want another 20 inch LCD monitor, but my budget is $300 absolute max. suggestions? feel free to redirect.

---------------------------------------

edit: the copy i have won't install... something to do with my library files and an error.  regarding the new monitor, i settled on a dell 2007WFP and am waiting to see how an eBay auction turns out. there were a lot of other widescreen displays in the $200-300 range, but they all kinda suck comparatively. this one is over my budget, but getting it below its list price is the beauty of eBay if i have patience and luck. if i have neither, then there's a benq 20.1" monitor that'll do an okay job for the price.

i'm really bummed about not being able to install AE... but a second monitor has been long overdue with FCP, Photoshop, etc. at least i didn't shell out for the book yet. when i get home, i'll ask one of my Mac friends to look at it and help me pirate it properly.

Quote from: Pas Rap on April 23, 2010, 07:29:06 AM
Obviously what you are doing right now is called (in my upcoming book of psychology at least) validation. I think it's a normal thing to do. People will reply, say anything, and then you're gonna do what you were subconsciently thinking of doing all along.

Neil

So, this may not be the appropriate place to "hi jack" a thread or whatever,  but making a new thread just isn't necessary.

So, i've been trying to get CS5 to work on my computer, and i was wondering, does anyone know anything about sudo (pseudo??)  commands for transmission so my computer won't attempt to validate the serial number at the adobe website?  If so, i'd owe eternal gratitude because i'd really like to start using After Effects and company without going bankrupt.


Shoot me a pm with a link or suggestions,


Thanks a lot

it's not the wrench, it's the plumber.

polkablues

How did you acquire it? Torrent download, or did you just download the free trial and are looking for a way to activate the full version?

Typically, you should be able to find a keygen (be very discriminating what you download and who from), at which point you go through the registration process for the program and select the option to register over the phone (it's a good idea to disable your Internet before starting the process). It will give you a serial number which you paste into the keygen, which then kicks out a registration number that you enter into the program. Once you've activated, you'll want to go into the options and disable the program automatically checking for updates, as a safety precaution.
My house, my rules, my coffee

Neil

I downloaded a trial version from adobe.  All of this is way over my head and i'm not try to get the FBI to arrest us or me.  I plan on disconnecting from online when i put the serial in.  I can't find a key gen and i've been looking for just serials.  No luck.
it's not the wrench, it's the plumber.

polkablues

Holy crap.  Has anyone had a chance to use the Warp Stabilizer effect in After Effects CS5.5 yet?  It's basically magic.  You don't have to set tracking points, it analyzes the footage in the background while you work on other things, it can correct rolling shutter issues, you have full manual control over the type of stabilization and the degree of smoothness you want... it's amazing.
My house, my rules, my coffee

polkablues

I finally got around to editing a visual effects reel, to try and scrounge up more work in that area. I'm putting it in this thread even though I barely use After Effects anymore since I learned Nuke, which is so much deeper and more flexible. But I didn't want to start a whole new thread, so here we are. Anyway,

SPOILERS FOR THE LAST RESCUE, IN CASE THAT BOTHERS YOU
My house, my rules, my coffee

matt35mm

#8
TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT

Jeremy Blackman

SPOILERS FOR THE LAST RESCUE! Jeez.

That was really quite amazing though. :shock:

polkablues

Sorry, I forgot that people like to be warned about those things.
My house, my rules, my coffee

Jeremy Blackman

Seriously though, the effects on that house blew my mind. It kind of opens the video by throwing down the gauntlet.

polkablues

Thanks! I'm really happy with how that part turned out. Surprisingly, that was actually one of the easier effects to do.
My house, my rules, my coffee

jenkins


polkablues

On the chance that anyone else here does or is interested in VFX work/3d rendering, the Redshift renderer is 30% off for the next three days. It's a GPU renderer, as opposed to CPU, so it tends to render much, much faster on a personal computer that doesn't have the benefit of a render farm. I had been holding off on buying it, just making do with Houdini's native renderer (which is painfully slow), but the discount was too damn tempting. It should be compatible with the 3d program of your choice (I know for sure Houdini, Maya, 3dsMax, and Cinema4d... I think there's a Blender plugin in development).

https://www.redshift3d.com/
My house, my rules, my coffee