Books
We are proud that our books have become valued references, enjoyed by beginners and professionals alike. More information on each are detailed below.
Creating Motion Graphics for After Effects, 4th Edition for AE CS3, was released November 2007. More details and sample PDFs below.
Meanwhile, our entry-level book, After Effects Apprentice, for AE7/CS3 was released April 2007; see samples below. (The 2nd Edition for CS4 is in progress; expect a release date in early 2009.)
Creating Motion Graphics for After Effects
4th Edition AE CS3
ISBN: 978-0-240-81010-2
CMG4 was published by Focal Press (November 2007) as one volume (704 pages, full color, with DVD). ISBN: 0240810104. Order now on Amazon.
CMG4 covers:
- Extensive coverage of the new CS3 features including the Shape and Puppet tools, Per-character 3D text, Brainstorm, color management, and more!
- Mastering animation through the use of keyframes, motion paths, and the Graph Editor
- Blending imagery using alpha channels, masks, mattes, modes, and stencils
- Building groups and hierarchies through parenting and nested compositions
- Extended coverage of type animation, paint tools and 3D space
- Advanced subjects such as keying, motion tracking, expressions, and video issues
Download Table of Contents (250KB PDF)
Download Index (110KB PDF)
Download Chapter 24 excerpt, Presets and Variations (1.5MB PDF)
Download Chapter 30 excerpt, Shape Layers (2MB PDF)
Download Chapter 38 excerpt, Integrating with 3D Applications (1.5MB PDF)
After Effects Apprentice
For AE 7 + CS3
ISBN: 978-024 080 9380
After Effects Apprentice is aimed at those who want to get up to speed quickly. This 320-page full color book contains a series of 12 lessons with numerous step-by-step exercises that will introduce you to the core features in After Effects, including how to use them in the real world. One entire lesson is devoted to three major new features in AE CS3: Brainstorm, the Puppet Tool, and Shape Layers.
Download Table of Contents (1.3MB PDF)
Download sample PDF for:
Chapter 1 excerpts, Basic Animation (3MB)
Chapter 6 excerpts, Parenting and Nesting (3MB)
This book is available on Amazon
NOTE: Fall 2008: After Effects Apprentice 2nd Edition for CS4 is in progress; expect a release date in early 2009.
Errata
If you own any of the current editions, we have an errata page that you might want to check out. It also includes instructions for replacing a damaged CD or DVD.
For After Effects 6.5:
We have three other books in print covering After Effects 6.5. The reference books Creating Motion Graphics for After Effects, Volume 1: The Essentials (3rd Ed) plus Volume 2: Advanced Techniques (3rd Ed), as well as the companion tutorial-based book, After Effects in Production (2nd Ed).
After Effects in Production
2nd Edition for AE 6.5 - ISBN #1578202647
Note: There are no plans to update After Effects in Production beyond the 2nd edition. Grab a copy while it's still in print; the real-world projects and concepts taught inside it – especially the case studies – will remain valid for a long time.
CMG was created as a reference for using After Effects. For those who like to learn how to use its features by studying and creating compelling projects, we have created After Effects in Production ("AEP" for short).
This book includes a broad collection of tutorials, step-by-steps, and real-world case studies that demonstrate various design ideas and production techniques. Many of the tutorials cover the significant new features introduced in After Effects versions 5 and 6 such as Parenting, Expressions, 3D Space, Text Animation, and Paint, as well as basic topics such as keyframing, blending modes and effects through advanced subjects such as motion tracking, time remapping, and non-square pixels. Every tutorial cross-references companion chapters in Creating Motion Graphics for those who want to dive in deeper and learn more.
AEP also includes guest tutorials from Alex Lindsay (ex-ILM, now of dvGarage) on realistic compositing of 3D images using multipass renders, and from Kristin Harris Design on creating a fun Flash animation using parenting and Illustrator artwork.
In addition,
there are also in-depth case studies of real-world broadcast jobs from
award-winning studios such as ATTIK, Belief, Curious Pictures, The Diecks
Group and Fido, as well as our own studio CyberMotion.
The 2nd Edition of this book was released in December 2004 for After Effects 6.5.
We
have several PDFs you can download to learn more about this book: an overview,
the Table of Contents,
the Index, an excerpt from
The Planets tutorial,
and an excerpt from the Belief
case study.
2nd edition of AEP: Order from Amazon.
CMG Volume 1: The Essentials
3rd Edition for AE6.5 (2005)
ISBN: 1578202493
Volume 1 covers all the core concepts needed to use After Effects on a daily basis.
Download a PDF of the Table of Contents.
Printed in full color (496 pgs), with accompanying DVD-ROM.
Creating Motion Graphics Volume 1: The Essentials (3rd Edition) (2005) covers After Effects up through version 6.5. It can be ordered on Amazon while supplies last.
Over 95% of the features in After Effects 7.0 were also present in After Effects 6.5, so the concepts discussed in the 3rd edition of Creating Motion Graphics are still highly relevant. Click here for the main differences.
CMG Volume 2: Advanced Techniques
3rd
Edition for AE6.5 (2005) -
ISBN: 1578202698
Volume 2 is aimed at the working professional or advanced student who wants to get deeper with After Effects, and how it integrates with other programs vital to the motion graphics work flow. It includes coverage of After Effects Professional including its additional effects, keyframe assistants, network rendering, as well as advanced features common to all versions.
Note that Volume 2, 3rd edition, includes a few chapters that are NOT included in the 4th edition, including:
- a special chapter on alpha channels, covering basic and advanced details of this core concept
- expanded chapters on Photoshop and Illustrator, covering what you need to know about how these applications relate to After Effects
- an extensive section on video and film techniques, including a deeper discussion of widescreen and hi-def issues (with hi-def footage to experiment with), film project workflow, and a chapter on the oft-misunderstood subject of video luminance issues
Click here to download a PDF of the Table of Contents. You can also download PDF samples from the chapters on Paint, Expressions, Time Games, and 3:2 Pulldown.
If you are a serious After Effects user, Volume 2 will pay for itself many times over in saved time, happy clients, and work that looks good and is technically correct on the first shot.
Creating Motion Graphics Volume 2: Advanced Techniques (3rd Edition) shipped in June 2005. Order from Amazon.