After Effects Domain 2 - Project Setup and Interface

TThis objective covers the interface setup and program settings that assist in an efficient and effective workflow, as well as knowledge about importing digital assets for a project. This section contains presentations, projects, and quizzes to help you pass the Adobe After Effects CC Certification Exam.

2.1 Create and modify projects and compositions.

a. Choose appropriate project settings to meet requirements.
  • Key Concepts: project location on drive(s), folders with media assets, VideoRendering and Effects (GPU), etc.

b. Create and modify compositions to match the delivery requirements.

  •  Key Concepts:frame rate, resolution, duration, dimensions, aspect ratio, presets, adjusting the work area, background color, naming compositions, composition from footage, etc.

2.2 Navigate, organize, and customize the application workspace.

a. Identify, navigate, and manipulate elements of the After Effects interface.

  • Key Concepts: menus, toolbars, panels, navigating, and zooming, search within panels, etc.
  •  Key Panels: Project panel, Timeline panel, Composition panel, Preview panel, Effects & Presets panel, Effect Controls panel, Layer panel, etc.

 b. Customize and manage workspaces.

  • Key Concepts: using/switching workspaces; showing, hiding, nesting, and docking panels; Workspace panel, shortcuts, menus; customizing, saving, and resetting workspaces 

c. Configure application preferences. 

  • Key Settings: Appearance, Auto-Save, Grids & Guides, Media & Disk Cache, Memory, Previews, etc. 

2.3 Use non-visible design tools in the interface to aid in video workflow.

a. Controlling and working with the timeline and media.

  • Key Concepts: panning, zooming, playing, pausing, keyboard shortcuts (spacebar, mouse wheel, etc.), timecodes, current time indicators (playhead), etc.

b. Use markers.

  •  Key Concepts: composition (timeline) and layer (clip) markers

 c. Use guides and grids

  •  Key Concepts: title/action safe zones (areas); adding, removing, locking, and unlocking guides; setting color; hiding and showing guides and grids; using snap or align options; rulers

2.4 Import assets into a project.

a. Import media from various sources.

  • Key Concepts: compatible files, importing layers from Photoshop (.psd) and Illustrator (.ai) files, Adobe Dynamic Link, understanding that all files are linked, dragging and dropping, image sequences

b. Manage assets/footage in an After Effects project.

  • Key Concepts: finding, replacing, and reloading linked media files; interpretingfootage; organizing assets using folders, placeholders, metadata, etc.