After Effects Apprentice (DV Expert Series) [Paperback]

Chris Meyer (Author), Trish Meyer (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0240809386 | ISBN-13: 978-0240809380 | Publication Date: April 20, 2007

If you're new to After Effects and want to get up to speed quickly, After Effects Apprentice was created just for you. With 11 core lessons plus a fun final project, you'll quickly get into the program and learn how to tap its potential - whether you want to create motion graphics for a network program, your company's video, or your own independent production.

In this book, you'll get a professional perspective on the most important features a motion graphics artist needs to learn to use this program effectively. You'll learn to creatively edit and combine layers, animate eye-catching titles, replace a screen on a computer monitor, place a studio shot in anew environment, manipulate 3D space, and use effects to generate excitement or enhance the realism of a scene. Easy to follow step-by-step instructions take you through each technique, including projects that encourage you to express it in your own way. You'll learn more than just the tools; you'll learn skills that you can immediately put to work in your own projects.

Topics include how to:
* Animate, layer, and composite images and text.
* Manipulate keyframes to create more refined animations.
* Use masks, mattes, stencils and modes to add depth.
* Manage layers to make them easier to coordinate.
* Add 3D to your animations.
* Use tracking and keying to create special effects.
* Includes new CS3 features; Shape layers, the Puppet tool, Brainstorm, and Per-Character 3D Text.

DVD contains: All exercise source material and projects in AE7 and CS3, video guided tours, and movies of the finished projects.

* Full color presentation of professional workflows
* Core motion graphic techniques in 12 engaging lessons
* Companion DVD features QuickTime movies and lesson media

Editorial Reviews

Review

"After Effects Apprentice" provides a strong foundation for the aspiring motion graphics designer or visual effects artist. It is an excellent resource to help users get up to speed in After Effects quickly and to maximize their creative expression.
Steve Kilisky, senior product manager, Adobe After Effects.

The Meyers have once again shown their eloquence and expert knowledge of After Effects. It is my opinion that After Effects Apprentice will be the primer for all those who are learning After Effects in production work.
R.Christopher Biggs, special digital effects animator, Walt Disney Imagineering

I literally learned After Effects from Trish Meyer two weeks before starting work on "Star Wars: Episode 1".... Their commitment to quality, and more importantly clarity, makes all of their books a "must-have." "After Effects Apprentice" is a great way to get started in After Effects...possibly the best way.
Alex Lindsay, chief architect Pixel Corp

.an essential primer for anyone exploring their creativity with Adobe After Effects. Trish and Chris Meyer set the standard for their knowledge and teaching ability.
Michael Coleman, product manager, Adobe After Effects

Chris and Trish Meyer's clear and concise instructions make motion graphics accessible to everyone.
Louise Ping, senior product marketing manager, Adobe After Effects

The text is a brilliant introduction to the world of motion design and visual effects. The Lessons move through fundamental concepts and workflows that are at the heart of professional compositing and motion graphic techniques
Eugene Pak, motionmonk studios

This book provides a "missing link" for those who need to master essential After Effects techniques but also want to improve their overall grasp of broad motion graphics and VFX principles and methods.
Dave Hurley, Instructor, San Francisco State University MSP

The lessons are structured very well, the writing is easy to understand, and each step builds on the previous one. I will defiantly use this book in my Motion Graphics class at MiraCosta College. Thanks for making my job much easier!!
Dan Wagner, Instructor - Motion Graphics, MiraCosta College

The Meyers are truly masters at teaching Adobe After Effects. A must-have for all those wanting to learn Adobe After Effects . [with] tutorials designed to systematically improve the skills to cover even more advanced areas.
Roland Kahlenberg, broadcastGEMs.com

Trish and Chris have done it again...I have always liked Trish and Chris' approach to teaching complex lessons...they talk to you, not at you...It is a great book even if your not new to AE.
Steve Whatley's After Effects Cookbook (blogs.adobe.com/aftereffectscookbook

From the Back Cover

If you're new to After Effects and want to get up to speed quickly, After Effects Apprentice was created just for you. With 11 core lessons plus a fun final project, you'll quickly get into the program and learn how to tap its potential - whether you want to create motion graphics for a network program, your company's video, or your own independent production.

In this book, you'll get a professional perspective on the most important features a motion graphics artist needs to learn to use this program effectively. You'll learn to creatively edit and combine layers, animate eye-catching titles, replace a screen on a computer monitor, place a studio shot in anew environment, manipulate 3D space, and use effects to generate excitement or enhance the realism of a scene. Easy to follow step-by-step instructions take you through each technique, including projects that encourage you to express it in your own way. You'll learn more than just the tools; you'll learn skills that you can immediately put to work in your own projects.

Topics include how to:
* Animate, layer, and composite images and text.
* Manipulate keyframes to create more refined animations.
* Use masks, mattes, stencils and modes to add depth.
* Manage layers to make them easier to coordinate.
* Add 3D to your animations.
* Use tracking and keying to create special effects.
* Includes new CS3 features; Shape layers, the Puppet tool, Brainstorm, and Per-Character 3D Text.

DVD contains: All exercise source material and projects in AE7 and CS3, video guided tours, and movies of the finished projects.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press (April 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240809386
• ISBN-13: 978-0240809380
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 8.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #192,301 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Trish & Chris Meyer are the founders of Crish Design (formerly known as CyberMotion), an award-winning motion graphic design studio that has recently relocated from Los Angeles to the Albuquerque area. Their design and animation work has appeared on shows and promos for CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, HBO, PBS, and TLC; in opening titles for several movies including Cold Mountain and The Talented Mr. Ripley; at trade shows and press events for corporate clients ranging from Apple to Xerox; and in special venues encompassing IMAX, CircleVision, the NBC AstroVision sign in Times Square, and the four-block-long Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas.

In addition to their motion graphics work, Trish and Chris were among the original users of After Effects, and have written numerous books including "Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects" and "After Effects Apprentice" (both published by Focal Press). They speak regularly at conferences around the country, and perform custom training for studios.

Both Chris and Trish have backgrounds as musicians, which informs their motion graphics work. They are also currently fascinated with exploring fine art and mixed media in addition to their commercial design work. They have recently relocated from Los Angeles to the mountains near Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT BOOK!, January 20, 2008

By 

Michael A. Gruich "Elwhappo" (Iowa) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: After Effects Apprentice (DV Expert Series) (Paperback)

I have bought over 32 books in the last year on various subjects related to After Effects and other video software tools. Out of these only 2-3 really stand out, and this book is one of them.
It covers quite a bit and it layed out quite well and easy to read. I was so impressed with it, I came back and bought the PDF version for the road. If you are looking for a good book on After Effects, do not pass this one up.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book if you want good information mixed w/ solid tutorials, October 23, 2007

By 

S. Weirich (Melbourne, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: After Effects Apprentice (DV Expert Series) (Paperback)

I am enrolled at a local community college and the teacher is using this book. I would highly recommend if you are (like me) new to after effects. It does a great job of providing you with side notes about the application and how to use it effectively. If you do the additional items at the end of each chapter you will really have a good grip on this program. A+

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for apprentices, June 10, 2007

By 

Frank Capria (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: After Effects Apprentice (DV Expert Series) (Paperback)

As advertised, this book is a great introduction to motion graphics design and After Effects. The Meyers are both great artists and great teachers. They really understand how to present both the theory and the practice of building compelling motion graphics.

I'll be using this book for my intro video post production class in the fall, but the name is a little misleading. After Effects users who consider themselves proficient, but aren't familiar with all the ins and outs of the application can benefit from the book as well. I've been using After Effects professionally since version 3, and I've learned a lot from this book.