Week 2 (20/01)
Updated 10 Sec Animation
Main Composition
Description
Learned how to split up a composition into small different scenes, in order to organise and simplify processes, useful for larger and longer videos.
Timelines
(Top) Timelines for individual scenes, from 1-3
(Bottom) Timeline for the main composition, a compilation for the 3 scenes
Process and Reflection
The animation created this time was a slide in, scale change, then slide out style, with these 3 parts split into different scenes then composed in a main composition. Despite being a simple animation, I was taught the importance and usefulness of splitting up a main video into different scenes.
Ease and Graph
Description
Learned to adjust the speed and value graphs, using ease keyframes and adjusting the curves and graphs manually in the graph editor.
Timelines
(Below) Timeline and value graph
Process and Reflection
The animation created this time was a comparison of a simple ball increasing in size, using different functions. I followed the lesson and created the circles accordingly, putting them next to each other. This was done in order to compare the difference between normal speed adjustments, ease keyframes, and value graphs to see the different effects that can be born from adjusting those values.
Loop and Graph
Description
Learned how to use expressions
Timelines
(Below) Timeline, speed graph, value graph
Process and Reflection
The animation created this time was a comparison of a simple ball increasing in size, using different functions. I followed the lesson and created the circles accordingly, putting them next to each other. This was done in order to compare the difference between normal speed adjustments, ease keyframes, and value graphs to see the different effects that can be born from adjusting those values.
Activity: Update and improve on the 10 second animation created during the first class
Description
(1-3) Timeline of improved 10 second animation
(4) Speed graph
(5) Value graph
Reflection
After finally learning about the speed and value graph, I decided to experiment more with the details in my animation, rather than the storyboard. The changes I made were adding a ripple effect to the fires and adjusting the speed graphs for the meteor, along with the earth and other intricacies. As for the ending of the animation, due to time constaint and lack of skill, I was not able to follow exactly what I did during the initial storyboard, hence the random and abrupt text cut off. However, I am satisfied to a certain extent with the things that I tweaked to make the animation look smoother.
With time, I hope that I am able to create even better and smoother animations, despite going into this blind and unsure. Despite only being 3 lessons deep into After Effects, I came to a conclusion that this is not for me... Although I would still love to improve and work on this software further in the future when I have the luxury to :)
Week 2 (21/01)
Animated Logo
Path Trim
Description
Learned how to use trim paths, on both shapes and paths.
Timeline
Process and Reflection
Following the tutorial, I learned how to use the trim path function on a star and a drawn path. It was simple, just using the function then adding keyframes and adjusting the values from there. There was also a function to reverse the path direction, incase I wanted my lines to start from the left rather than the right. The star and path animations were done inversely, one starting from 100% to 0%, and the other from 0% to 100%.
Text Animator
Description
Learned how to use different text animators
Timeline
Process and Reflection
This exercise was relatively simple as well, and I think this is greatly useful for video editing, for subtitles or just accented words within a video. There are 2 types of text animation within this video, one that appears to be typed out then erased, and the other one shifting from the bottom to the top.
Animate Object Along Path
Description
Learned how to animate an object along any path, as well as integrating Illustrator into the After Effects workflow.
Timeline
Process and Reflection
First, I created some shapes in my Illustrator file, consisting of a blue triangle, pale orange circle, and a small green square. In order for the graphics to be properly imported into After Effects, I would have to separate these objects into separate layers on Illustrator. After this is done, I saved the file then dragged it into After Effects, clicking the ‘Composition’ option in the pop up window when prompted. When this was done, I copied the pale orange graphic into my main composition, creating a shape layer. In hindsight, I should have checked the vectorise option to make sure the graphic isn’t pixelated. After this was done, I created a a new shape layer and randomly drew a path directly on there, using the pen tool. After I was done, I copied the entire path and pasted it into the ‘position’ value under ‘transform’ for the circle. This automatically created a bunch of keyframes for me and my circle was able to move along the path I drew previously.
Activity: Animate a logo created during the previous semester
Initial (Failed/Abandoned) Attempt
Initially, the plan was to animate the logo from last semester’s studio project, This Connection. I started out by separating the vectors into different layers on Illustrator, preparing for import into After Effects. However, I was unsure how to export a gradient from Illustrator to After Effects. I googled this issue and apparently it was impossible to move a vectorised gradient path from Illustrator to After Effects without an external plugin which costs way too much for me (im broke). I then tried to just export the gradient path as a png, then animating it on After Effects. The initial idea was to create sort of melting/dripping animation with the gradient, but uh... due to an inherent skill issue I was unable to recreate what I envisioned to do. Therefore, I decided to animate another logo I created earlier on in the previous semester, Marro Tries.
Final Animated Logo