After Effects
Starting this term, we started to learn how to use the editing software After effects. This was completely new to me as the only editing program I ever used was Sony Vegas, and it's always really challenging to learn a new program.
Starting this project we did some practise tests to get used to the tools. This first one was using some space pictures already drawn on photoshop and added them to the composition on after effects.
I really struggled with this and it took me a long time to figure things out, but I did enjoy using the program and learning new things as I went along. I am happy with how it looks though.
For our next exercise, we were given a scene with an animated robot and some effects that we were supposed to put together and edit properly. I really enjoyed doing this as it was the most similar to what I've done in the past on sony vegas. I managed to add little details and effects to the scene for authenticity to look like the example shown to us in class.
For the next exercise we were shown a small scene that was used in an advert for TV and shown a way we could create a similar example. I added lots of masks at different sizes and times, and I think it looks quite good as it finished. It was difficult figuring out the camera and 3D effects in the program, so I think of all things to improve on and get used to thats something I need to practise.
For this exercise we were given a drawn out scene in photoshop for us to colour ourselves, so that it'd be original. we were then supposed to put it into after effects and have it track across the scene and zoom into the window. We also had to add a raining effect outside. This exercise was a big challenge to me as again getting the camera to work properly and look good was difficult. I'm still not happy with how it turned out but struggled too much in fixing it.
For this last exercise we were given this image and the layers and using the puppet tool in after effects, make the spaceman and the machine move. I really enjoyed playing around with this and really like the puppet tool. I think this is something I would most likely use in the future.
For our final exercise, where we could do our own personal scene and edit it however we wanted, I chose to try out an idea I had. This involved using actual hand drawn images and try putting them together, cutting them out and making a quick clip using them in after effects. I was planning to do something a bit better and more extravagant with this scene, but that proved to be too difficult and time consuming. I am still happy with how it looks, but would have liked to use more effects in the scene to make it look better. I did have a better understanding of the tools and program in general however, after doing this.
