Adobe after effects has been completely and utterly the death of me – To put it bluntly. 

The adaptation to this new software has been very overwhelming and extremely frustrating. Since I have never used Adobe After Effects before, and after a number of setbacks during the first couple of weeks of university – in particular with this subject – it has been exceedingly hard to catch up with the rest of my cohort. Though in saying all of this, I have seen some of the magnificent work that can be created with Adobe after effects and all you need is a little patience, the willingness to learn and a lot of time.

DEFINE:

My creative approach began with learning what After Effects is, what it can accomplish, and what we had to do for this assessment task. During the introductory lectures, it became clear that there is a multitude of things that may be done with After Effects, such as complex title sequences. The software is used to create special effects, animation, and motion graphics.

RESEARCH:

My first step in learning about Adbode after-effects was to watch YouTube videos and follow Linked In tutorials. This helped me grasp an understanding of how to begin a composition and the basics of anchor points. The motions of form sizing and scaling, opacity, rotation, and the movement between keyframes were visually amusing to me, and thus generated some sense of inspiration throughout my design. 

IDEATE:

This stage of experimenting with different compositions through the help of youtube videos helps spark inspiration for what I may compose for my assessment task. Experimenting with radiowaves and shapes helped me realise I was making slow but efficient progress. By playing around with position and timing, I gained an interest in creating a composition of what looked like lasers. 

PROTOTYPE:

Playing around with the colour, direction, timing, and direction of these ‘laser’ lines took a bit of time. Through this, I was able to regain my confidence in learning new skills and coming up with fresh concepts for my next composition. 

SELECT:

Through composing these different compositions I was able to pick what movement and shapes I wanted to include in my assessment task. 

IMPLEMENT: 

During this design process, I was able to apply motion fundamentals like sequencing to help select actions in a way that helps create content, that will be clear and memorable for the viewers. 

LEARN:

Several lessons were acquired during the design process that influenced how I produced my motion design. I became aware of how difficult After Effects is to use, as well as how intricate and finicky the application is. I struggled to grasp motions, keyframes, and the moving process, but throughout the course of seven weeks, I improved my skills. I failed a number of designs and composition attempts, but it made me conscious of the abilities I lacked and forced me to focus on areas I didn’t understand and strive to solve problems. My job is progressing well as I continue to comprehend the notion of After Effects. It is all about gradually modifying and iterating concepts to build a unified project! I’m looking forward to seeing where my thoughts come to life in my project.