October 22, 2009 by John Dickinson | 3,702 views | Comments (32)
Design skills are important but good workflow is also critical when working with Adobe After Effects. In this tip learn how a seemingly simple technique can be simplified further, saving keyframes, expressions and, most importantly, time! Watch tutorial (5mins, 15MB)
32 Responses to this post
October 22, 2009 at 5:16 am |
Thanks, John, as always was a very good tip, and very quick, workflow tips to get the job done faster, and quick tips videos gotta be the new way go these days.
October 22, 2009 at 1:33 pm |
Hi Joel, I’m glad you are finding them useful. Best wishes, John.
October 22, 2009 at 8:27 am |
Man……..I’m kicking my self now, thanks for the tips.
October 22, 2009 at 1:34 pm |
Hi Pat, my butt is still sore from my kicking myself
Best, John.
October 22, 2009 at 9:06 am |
The synchronicity is getting bizzar here Jon because this is not the first time it has happened but I was on Kopriva’s site just yesterday and it led me to the Adobe help document and this page – Examples and resources for text animation – . So I was working on the per character 3D animating text and was also reviewing an old Kramer tut where he links up 3 text layers using the source text parameter in order to make quick changes. So when you started out I was actually thinking you were going to use source text but I didn’t know exactly how …sorry so long winded …I know but…thanks great tip. You should add this tut to that Adobe help doc page.
However, being old I truly resent the old bad sad combo… LOL : – )
Rock on!
October 22, 2009 at 1:35 pm |
Ha, good one Jim. I’ll put this tip in the After Effects online help. Best, John.
October 22, 2009 at 10:37 am |
always awesome JD ,. i have been so afraid of the txt setting . very handy tip
keep teach us man
beast regards
October 22, 2009 at 1:36 pm |
Hi Ahmed, I’m glad you are losing your fear! Best, John.
October 22, 2009 at 2:13 pm |
Cool! Learned someting new today!!
October 22, 2009 at 6:23 pm |
Just wanted to point out that your expression for the opacity could be simplified.
Rather than:
(layer(“old”).transform.opacity * -1) + 100
I would put in:
100 – layer(“old”).transform.opacity
the result, of course, would mean that the opacity for the output layer would be the opposing value for the source…. eg, if the source layer opacity is at 25, the output layer would be 75… if the source is 100, output layer is 0, etc…
either expression gives the same result, my version is merely a handful of keystrokes less!
October 23, 2009 at 2:02 pm |
Nice one Tom, I’m certainly not an expert with expressions! Best, John.
October 23, 2009 at 2:35 am |
hi John,
want to ask one thing tht really bothering me these days, a lot of motion graphic artists are using C4D these days & obv it makes sense cos Maxon knows its competitors well and they want more foucs on Motion Arts (with Mograph) but for some time i am using maya & along side motion graphis , i have keen interest in product modeling & product animation (other than camera). is it a good time to switch to C4D or should i stay with the maya?
October 23, 2009 at 2:04 pm |
Hi xsid, Maya is still a popular choice. If you already have skills in that area why would you bother switching? On the other hand it’s good to know as many apps as you can if you are looking for employment. Best, John.
October 23, 2009 at 11:48 am |
Very useful John, create more on “Workflow” I don’t know why but most of my projects becomes very very heavy even with my 4GB PC ( which is lets say OK for After effects) If u have some advises on subject with precomposing and switch on continue rasterizing, and switch on 3D and Dublicate and then the same thing again and again
Keep it up with ur great work !
October 23, 2009 at 2:07 pm |
It really depends on the project but you should always be looking at ways to simplify what you are creating. This makes it easier to render, make changes, and remember what you did when you next open the project!
Best, John.
October 23, 2009 at 6:26 pm |
Hi John,
I’m a complete beginner to After Effects. Have you any suggestions for learning?
Many thanks in advance.
October 24, 2009 at 3:52 am |
Heyy,
simply and efficient John
Thanks a lot…
October 25, 2009 at 12:46 am |
You’re welcome Onskin. Best, John.
October 24, 2009 at 12:24 pm |
You just simplified my workflow. Thanks.
October 25, 2009 at 12:48 am |
Good to hear, Fernando, thanks for letting me know. Best, John.
October 25, 2009 at 4:27 pm |
Great tip Jhon, I love your site! keep goin!
October 27, 2009 at 2:17 am |
Thanks George.
October 27, 2009 at 5:43 am |
John….you always nice…most people know to work in after effect…but most of them don’t know a good workflow….
your workflow tips are nice…i am looking forward more workflow tips from you John….Thank You, Thank you Very Much indeed…for this tip….
October 27, 2009 at 4:49 pm |
Thanks Siraz, I appreciate your appreciation
Best, John.
October 27, 2009 at 1:22 pm |
Great Tip as always. Thanks John
October 27, 2009 at 4:51 pm |
Thanks Tunde
Best, John.
November 3, 2009 at 7:52 am |
Hi JD,I am doing a promo ad for the new service my company is introducing and this is just what i need. This will realy save me a lot of text layers
Thanks, u are great
November 3, 2009 at 2:32 pm |
It really does save a lot of layers. One limitation of Source Text is it doesn’t recognise attributes such as tracking or kerning. Best, John.
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