After Effects Advanced Course Online (Self-Paced)

This course moves beyond flat animation into dimensional motion design. You work with 3D layers, cameras, and lights to add depth, build custom animated shapes, and design complex text treatments. Motion is refined in the Graph Editor, where small changes to easing make the difference between movement that feels mechanical and movement that feels natural.

Expressions become a workflow tool, automating repetitive tasks and linking properties so a design can be updated quickly. You also drive animation from audio, so graphics react to music and sound. The course ends with a template-driven motion graphics package built for broadcast and social media.

What You Will Learn

• Build 3D scenes with layers, cameras, and lights
• Create and animate custom shape layers
• Design complex animated text treatments
• Refine easing and timing in the Graph Editor
• Automate workflows with expressions
• Drive animation from audio
• Build reusable motion graphics templates
• Deliver a motion graphics package for broadcast and social media

Course Outline

Working with 3D in After Effects

• Working with Layers in 3D Space
• Creating & Animating Camera & Light Layers

Working with Shape Layers

• Creating & Formatting Shape Layers
• Creating Custom Shape Layers with the Pen Tool
• Editing Shape Layer Vertices
• Working with Shape Layer Effects (Pucker & Bloat, Repeater, Etc.)

Advanced Text Animation

• Animating Text as a Graphic
• Working with Dingbat Fonts
• Creating Custom Text Animators & Saving Presets

Creating Custom Easing with the Graph Editor

• Using the Graph Editor

Animating with Effects

• Using Effects

Optimizing Animations with Expressions

• Adding Expressions to Properties
• Creating More Complex Expressions
• Wiring Parameters with Expressions

Beyond Position Keyframes

• Using the Motion Sketch Panel to Capture Motion
• Using the Smoother Panel to Soften Movement
• Using the Nulls to Paths Panel

Working with Audio

• Adding Markers to Audio
• Working with Audio Effects
• Generating Keyframes from Audio Layers