Code Notes – Free Programming Reference by Vaibhav Rathod

Adobe After Effects

5 min read

History

  • Created by: Dave Simons and Daniel Wilk at the Company of Science and Art (CoSA).
  • First release: 1993 (CoSA After Effects 1.0, Mac only).
  • Acquired by: Adobe Systems in 1994.
  • Why: Provide a compositing and motion graphics tool for desktop computers — previously only possible on expensive workstations.

Introduction

  • Adobe After Effects is the industry-standard tool for motion graphics, visual effects (VFX), and compositing.
  • Works on a layer-based timeline — each element (video, image, shape, text) is a layer.
  • Tightly integrated with Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Media Encoder.

Advantages

  • Industry standard — used in film, TV, web, and advertising.
  • Massive plugin ecosystem (Video Copilot, AEJuice, Motion Bro, etc.).
  • Powerful expression engine (JavaScript-based) for procedural animation.
  • Deep integration with Adobe Creative Cloud.
  • 3D compositing with Cinema 4D integration (Cineware).

Disadvantages

  • Subscription-based (Adobe CC) — ongoing cost.
  • Very resource-intensive — needs a powerful CPU/GPU and RAM.
  • Steep learning curve for beginners.
  • Not real-time — requires RAM preview or rendering to play back smoothly.

Core Concepts

Composition (Comp)

  • The main workspace — like a canvas with a timeline.
  • Has its own resolution, frame rate, and duration.
  • Comps can be nested inside other comps (pre-composing).
Composition Settings:
- Width / Height (e.g., 1920x1080)
- Frame Rate (e.g., 24, 30, 60 fps)
- Duration
- Background Color

Layers

  • Everything in a comp is a layer — stacked from top to bottom.
Layer Types:
- Footage (video/image)
- Solid (colored rectangle)
- Shape Layer (vector shapes)
- Text Layer
- Null Object (invisible, used for parenting/control)
- Adjustment Layer (applies effects to all layers below)
- Camera
- Light
- Pre-comp (nested composition)

Keyframes & Animation

  • Keyframes mark property values at specific points in time.
  • After Effects interpolates between keyframes automatically.
Common Animated Properties (shortcut to reveal):
P — Position
S — Scale
R — Rotation
T — Opacity
A — Anchor Point
U — All keyframed properties

Easing (Graph Editor)

  • Control the speed curve between keyframes.
  • Easy Ease (F9) — smooth in and out.
  • Graph Editor — fine-tune velocity curves manually.
  • Bezier handles control acceleration/deceleration.

Parenting

  • Link a layer’s transform to a parent layer.
  • Child layer inherits parent’s position, rotation, scale.
  • Null Objects are commonly used as invisible parent controllers.
Layer A (parent: Null)
Layer B (parent: Null)
→ Move Null → both A and B move together

Effects & Presets

Common Built-in Effects

Category        Effect                  Use
Blur            Gaussian Blur           Soft blur
Blur            Camera Lens Blur        Depth-of-field look
Color           Curves                  Color grading
Color           Hue/Saturation          Color shift
Color           Lumetri Color           Advanced color grading
Distort         Warp Stabilizer         Stabilize shaky footage
Generate        Gradient Ramp           Background gradients
Stylize         Glow                    Light bloom effect
Transition      Linear Wipe             Simple wipe transition
Noise           Fractal Noise           Textures, smoke, clouds

Masks & Track Mattes

  • Masks: Draw shapes on a layer to reveal/hide parts of it.
  • Track Matte: Use one layer’s alpha or luminance to mask another.
Track Matte Types:
- Alpha Matte       — use layer above's alpha channel
- Alpha Inverted    — inverse of alpha
- Luma Matte        — use layer above's brightness
- Luma Inverted     — inverse of luma

Expressions

What Are Expressions

  • JavaScript-based scripting applied to individual layer properties.
  • Automate animation without manual keyframes.
  • Alt+click the stopwatch icon on any property to add an expression.

Common Expressions

// Wiggle — random jitter
wiggle(2, 30)
// wiggle(frequency, amplitude) — 2 times/sec, 30px range
 
// Loop animation
loopOut("cycle")
loopOut("pingpong")
 
// Link one property to another
thisComp.layer("Control").transform.opacity
 
// Time-based rotation
[0, 0, time * 90]  // rotates 90°/sec
 
// Value at specific time
thisLayer.transform.position.valueAtTime(time - 0.1)
// creates a "ghost trail" effect

3D in After Effects

  • Enable 3D on a layer by clicking the cube icon in the timeline.
  • Add Camera and Light layers for 3D scene control.
Camera Types:
- One-Node Camera   — fixed orientation
- Two-Node Camera   — always points at a target point of interest

Light Types:
- Ambient    — global fill light, no shadows
- Directional — parallel rays (like sunlight)
- Point      — radiates in all directions
- Spot       — cone-shaped beam

Rendering & Export

Render Queue (built-in)

  • Add comp to Render Queue: Ctrl+M (Win) / Cmd+M (Mac).
  • Choose Output Module (codec, format) and Output To (file path).
  • Best for lossless renders (PNG sequence, ProRes, etc.).

Adobe Media Encoder (AME)

  • Queue exports from After Effects to AME for background rendering.
  • Supports H.264, H.265, ProRes, GIF, and more.
  • Allows continuing work in AE while rendering in background.

Shortcuts (Essential)

Action                        Win                  Mac
RAM Preview                   Space / Numpad 0     Space / Numpad 0
New Composition               Ctrl + N             Cmd + N
New Solid                     Ctrl + Y             Cmd + Y
Duplicate Layer               Ctrl + D             Cmd + D
Pre-compose                   Ctrl + Shift + C     Cmd + Shift + C
Toggle Graph Editor           Shift + F3           Shift + F3
Easy Ease                     F9                   F9
Add Expression                Alt + click ⏱        Opt + click ⏱
Render Queue                  Ctrl + M             Cmd + M
Split Layer                   Ctrl + Shift + D     Cmd + Shift + D
Trim to Work Area             Ctrl + Shift + X     Cmd + Shift + X
Solo Layer                    S (in timeline)      S (in timeline)

Useful Links

Graph View

Backlinks

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