AE Panel (part 1)

1. Start With the Project Window

The starting point for all After Effects projects is the project window. All your assets such as video, vectors, bitmaps, audio and compositions are kept in this one window. The project windows features reflect its function, like a mini file system. You can nest folders within folders, and rename and reposition items at will. With an eye towards entropy, keep this window well organized. 2. Import Footage [your assets] The term footage is what Adobe chose to call assets intended for After Effects. Just as one captures video prior to editing, the very first step in an After Effects project is to import footage, the source files to be used in the composition. After Effects accepts most file formats for bitmaps, vectors, video and audio. To import footage: Choose: File > Import > File Choose: File > Import > Multiple You will then are presented with a file navigation dialogue, from here locate the asset, select it, then choose Open, or simply double click it. If you’re using the multiple imports you will have the added step of choosing Done before you’ll be returned to the project window. 3. Create a Composition After importing your assets you need to have some place in order to compose your animation, that place is called the composition. To create a composition: Choose: Composition > New Composition Click: the “Create a new Composition” button at the bottom of the project window. Then, you will have new composition and can start editing the video. 4. Composition Settings After you click the new composition, this window will appear after clicked. Here you can setting the composition own your own. This is where you establish the dimensions, aspect ratio of frame and pixel, as well as frame rate and 3D render engine. You can choose any preset that you like such as NTSC, PAL, HDV, and others. You can access the Composition Settings dialogue at any time, even after the settings have been established, by: Choose: Composition > Composition Settings Then, you can change again the setting with what you want. I recommended that you guys just use the basic preset that have been given. But, if you do not want, you can create the dimension with your own right. Ok, this is only what I will talk about. See for the next tutorial about AE Panel (part 2).