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After Effects Apprentice 14: Shape Layers

After Effects Apprentice 14: Shape Layers

with Chris Meyer and Trish Meyer

 


In this course, author Chris Meyer shows how to create and animate vector-based artwork directly inside Adobe After Effects. The course covers the ins and outs of working with shape layers, including creating shape paths, applying shape effects, and reordering shape operators. The course also contains a series of exercises on creating common motion graphics elements using shape layers.

The After Effects Apprentice videos on lynda.com were created by Trish and Chris Meyer and are designed to be used on their own and as a companion to their book After Effects Apprentice. We are honored to host these tutorials in the lynda.com Online Training Library®.
Topics include:
  • Drawing parametric shapes and pen paths
  • Creating multiple shape groups
  • Exploring Wiggle Paths and the Wiggle Transform effect
  • Defining gradient fills
  • Creating a swarm
  • Blending multiple shapes into a texture
  • Crafting and animating dotted and dashed lines
  • Combining effects, layer styles, expressions, and Brainstorm with shape layers
  • Showing tips for stylizing sidebars

show more

authors
Chris Meyer and Trish Meyer
subject
Video, Motion Graphics, Visual Effects
software
After Effects CS4, CS5, CS5.5, CS6
level
Intermediate
duration
2h 13m
released
Jan 25, 2012
updated
Dec 18, 2012

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Chris Meyer

Chris Meyer

Chris Meyer is a principle at Crish Design (formerly CyberMotion), a renowned graphic design studio in New Mexico. Crish Design has created opening titles, promos, and graphics for CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, The Learning Channel, PBS, and PAX; corporations ranging from Apple to Xerox; and several movies, including Almost Heroes and The Omega Code. Chris is a refugee from the music industry where he designed musical instruments and digital recorders for Sequential, Digidesign, and Roland. He still consults on intellectual property issues in the music industry, and has been turning his attention to creating mixed media art. Chris also co-authored, with his wife Trish, the highly respected After Effects books Creating Motion Graphics and After Effects Apprentice.
Course Title   Level   Duration   Released  
Hot Looks Using Floating Point in After Effects Intermediate 14m 14s 10/2007  {8}
Learning the After Effects Glow Plug-In Intermediate 9m 54s 10/2007  {8}
Lighting Tricks in After Effects Intermediate 15m 39s 10/2007  {8}
Understanding Fields & Interlacing in After Effects Intermediate 56m 22s 10/2007  {8}
Working with 3:2 Pulldown in After Effects Intermediate 47m 28s 10/2007  {8}
Adding a Filmic Glow to Your Footage Using After Effects Intermediate 8m 53s 10/2008  {8}
Adding a Filmic Glow to Your Footage Using Motion Intermediate 11m 17s 10/2008  {8}
Adding a Filmic Glow to Your Footage Using Final Cut Pro Intermediate 16m 58s 10/2008  {8}
After Effects CS4 New Creative Techniques Intermediate 1h 1m 09/2008  {8}
After Effects CS4: Wiggle Transform Tips Intermediate 8m 35s 02/2009  {8}
After Effects CS4: Apprentice's Guide to Key Features Intermediate 1h 29m 02/2009  {8}
Motion: Natural Light Effects Intermediate 13m 58s 03/2009  {8}
After Effects: Natural Light Effects Intermediate 17m 24s 03/2009  {8}
After Effects: Light Transmission Intermediate 23m 44s 03/2009  {8}
After Effects: Insight into Effects Intermediate 3h 31m 07/2009  {8}
After Effects: Lighting Effects in Post Intermediate 43m 8s 06/2009  {8}
Final Cut Pro: Lighting Effects in Post Intermediate 36m 42s 06/2009  {8}
Motion: Lighting Effects in Post Intermediate 39m 52s 06/2009  {8}
CINEMA 4D and After Effects Integration Intermediate 1h 27m 01/2010  {8}
After Effects: Extended Vignette Techniques Intermediate 46m 34s 02/2010  {8}
After Effects CS5 New Creative Techniques Intermediate 2h 37m 04/2010  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 01: Pre-Roll Beginner 30m 3s 11/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 02: Basic Animation Beginner 2h 19m 11/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 03: Advanced Animation Beginner 3h 1m 11/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 14: Shape Layers Intermediate 2h 13m 12/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 16: Creating a Medical Opening Title Intermediate 3h 30m 01/2013  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 15: Creating a Sports Opening Title Intermediate 3h 26m 12/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 13: Paint, Roto, and Puppet Intermediate 3h 11m 12/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 12: Tracking and Keying Intermediate 3h 22m 12/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 11: 3D Space Intermediate 4h 49m 12/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 10: Time Games Intermediate 1h 0m 12/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 09: Expressions Intermediate 1h 37m 11/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 07: Parenting Intermediate 1h 39m 11/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 06: Type and Music Beginner 3h 48m 11/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 05: Creating Transparency Beginner 2h 36m 11/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 04: Layer Control Beginner 2h 40m 11/2012  {8}
After Effects CS5.5 New Creative Techniques Intermediate 1h 58m 05/2011  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 08: Nesting and Precomposing Intermediate 2h 25m 11/2012  {8}
Premiere Pro and After Effects: Creating Title Graphics Intermediate 26m 23s 12/2011  {8}
After Effects CS6 New Features Appropriate for all 2h 13m 04/2012  {8}
After Effects: Creative Cloud Updates Beginner 1h 51m 05/2013  {8}

 
Trish Meyer

Trish Meyer

Trish Meyer is a principle at Crish Design (formerly CyberMotion), an award-winning graphic design studio in New Mexico. She has created opening titles, promos, and graphics for CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, The Learning Channel, HBO, and PBS. Crish Design's corporate clients range from Apple to Xerox, and Trish has worked on several major movies, including Now and Then and The Talented Mr. Ripley. She works in a wide range of formats, and her projects have included IMAX movies, the NBC AstroVision sign in Times Square, and the four-block-long Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas. Trish founded Crish Design after an extensive career in print, including a stint as the art director for a music magazine. Trish also co-authored, with her husband Chris, the highly respected After Effects books Creating Motion Graphics and After Effects Apprentice.
Course Title   Level   Duration   Released  
Hot Looks Using Floating Point in After Effects Intermediate 14m 14s 10/2007  {8}
Learning the After Effects Glow Plug-In Intermediate 9m 54s 10/2007  {8}
Lighting Tricks in After Effects Intermediate 15m 39s 10/2007  {8}
Understanding Fields & Interlacing in After Effects Intermediate 56m 22s 10/2007  {8}
Working with 3:2 Pulldown in After Effects Intermediate 47m 28s 10/2007  {8}
Adding a Filmic Glow to Your Footage Using After Effects Intermediate 8m 53s 10/2008  {8}
Adding a Filmic Glow to Your Footage Using Motion Intermediate 11m 17s 10/2008  {8}
Adding a Filmic Glow to Your Footage Using Final Cut Pro Intermediate 16m 58s 10/2008  {8}
After Effects CS4 New Creative Techniques Intermediate 1h 1m 09/2008  {8}
After Effects CS4: Wiggle Transform Tips Intermediate 8m 35s 02/2009  {8}
After Effects CS4: Apprentice's Guide to Key Features Intermediate 1h 29m 02/2009  {8}
Motion: Natural Light Effects Intermediate 13m 58s 03/2009  {8}
After Effects: Natural Light Effects Intermediate 17m 24s 03/2009  {8}
After Effects: Light Transmission Intermediate 23m 44s 03/2009  {8}
After Effects: Insight into Effects Intermediate 3h 31m 07/2009  {8}
After Effects: Lighting Effects in Post Intermediate 43m 8s 06/2009  {8}
Final Cut Pro: Lighting Effects in Post Intermediate 36m 42s 06/2009  {8}
Motion: Lighting Effects in Post Intermediate 39m 52s 06/2009  {8}
CINEMA 4D and After Effects Integration Intermediate 1h 27m 01/2010  {8}
After Effects: Extended Vignette Techniques Intermediate 46m 34s 02/2010  {8}
After Effects CS5 New Creative Techniques Intermediate 2h 37m 04/2010  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 01: Pre-Roll Beginner 30m 3s 11/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 02: Basic Animation Beginner 2h 19m 11/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 03: Advanced Animation Beginner 3h 1m 11/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 14: Shape Layers Intermediate 2h 13m 12/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 16: Creating a Medical Opening Title Intermediate 3h 30m 01/2013  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 15: Creating a Sports Opening Title Intermediate 3h 26m 12/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 13: Paint, Roto, and Puppet Intermediate 3h 11m 12/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 12: Tracking and Keying Intermediate 3h 22m 12/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 11: 3D Space Intermediate 4h 49m 12/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 10: Time Games Intermediate 1h 0m 12/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 09: Expressions Intermediate 1h 37m 11/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 07: Parenting Intermediate 1h 39m 11/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 06: Type and Music Beginner 3h 48m 11/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 05: Creating Transparency Beginner 2h 36m 11/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 04: Layer Control Beginner 2h 40m 11/2012  {8}
After Effects Apprentice 08: Nesting and Precomposing Intermediate 2h 25m 11/2012  {8}
Premiere Pro and After Effects: Creating Title Graphics Intermediate 26m 23s 12/2011  {8}

Suggested courses to watch next:

Design in Motion (8h 15m)
Rob Garrott

CINEMA 4D Essentials 1: Interface, Objects, and Hierarchies (1h 22m)
Rob Garrott


CINEMA 4D: Designing a Promo (7h 0m)
Rob Garrott

After Effects Apprentice 15: Creating a Sports Opening Title (3h 26m)
Chris Meyer


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