Adobe After Effects CS4 Visual Effects and Compositing Studio Techniques

by Christiansen, Mark

• ISBN13: 9780321592019
• ISBN10: 0321592018
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-12-10
• Publisher: Adobe Press

Summary

This is the only book in the After Effects market to focus exclusively on the creation of visual effects, and is a one-stop resource for anyone who wants in-depth explanations that demystify the realm of visual effects and how they were created, thanks to veteran author Mark Christiansen's friendly and accessible style. A thoroughly packed, informative read, this masterful guide focuses on explaining the essential concepts, features, and techniques that are key to creating seamless movie-quality visual effects. Users who are comfortable with After Effects will find a helpful review of After Effects fundamentals-managing footage, viewing and editing layers, animating type, and more-so they can learn how to work smarter and more efficiently. Readers of all levels will learn core techniques for effects compositing including color matching, keying, rotoscoping, motion tracking, emulating the camera, and concluding with using expressions in After Effects, written by contributor and expert Dan Ebberts. The final section of the book delves into creative explorations, demonstrating professional effects that readers might want to re-create. Readers will also find comprehensive coverage of all that's new and makes this version of Adobers"s effects program such a boon to video pros of all stripes: searchable timelines and projects, Photoshop 3D layers import, the Cartoon effect, Imagineer Systemsrs" Mocha for Adobe After Effects, improved workflow for mobile devices, and more. Throughout the book, beautiful full-color examples demonstrate what's possible, while the companion DVD offers demos of After Effects CS4, sample footage, and software plug-ins.

Author Biography

Mark Christiansen has created visual effects and animations for feature films, network television, computer games, and an array of high technology companies. Recent clients include Adobe Systems Inc., Evil Eye Pictures, The Orphanage, History Channel, and HBO as well as Seagate, Sun, Intel and Medtronic. Feature credits include The Day After Tomorrow, Pirates of the Caribbean 3, and films by Robert Rodriguez. He is the author of the previous editions of Adobe After Effects Professional Studio Techniques.

Table of Contents

Composite in After Effects	p. 3
The timeline	p. 39
Selections : the key to compositing	p. 77
Optimize the pipeline	p. 109
Color correction	p. 135
Color keying	p. 175
Rotoscoping and paint	p. 211
Effective motion tracking	p. 237
The camera and optics	p. 269
Expressions	p. 309
32-bit HDR compositing and color management	p. 345
Light	p. 381
Climate and the environment	p. 405
Pyrotechnics : heat, fire, explosions	p. 429
Index	p. 448
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