After Effects Guru: Expressions (2016)

2h 30mIntermediate2016-10-12

Authors

Luisa Winters

Certified Instructor for Adobe and Apple

Course details

Expressions are an incredibly powerful feature in After Effects. They are a way to affect the values of properties using lines of code rather than keyframes. This makes expressions faster and cleaner than traditional animation techniques. In this course, author Luisa Winters demonstrates how to use expressions in Adobe After Effects. Watch and learn how to add and edit expressions, change dimensions like rate and value, and use variables to assign and change values globally. Plus, find out how to use the After Effects Expression Language menu and introduce randomness into expressions for more creative possibilities.

Learning objectives
Adding expressions
Editing expressions manually
Changing expression dimensions: rate, value, music amplitude, etc.
Working with expression variables
Using the Expression Language menu
Using random values

Skills covered

Motion GraphicsAfter EffectsRenderingMotion Graphics and VFXVisualization and Real-TimeLimited SeriesAdobeAECProduct and ManufacturingAnimation and Illustration

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome
02 - Using the exercise files

1. What Are Expressions

03 - Things to keep in mind when adding expressions
04 - Adding expressions
05 - Commenting expressions
06 - Editing expressions manually
07 - Pick-whipping expressions
08 - How to modify an expression you did not create

2. Expression Dimensions

09 - Changing the rate of an expression
10 - Changing the value of an expression
11 - Wiggle expression
12 - Music amplitude
13 - Expression controls
14 - Converting an expression to keyframes
15 - Post-Expression Graph with visible expression editor

3. Variables

16 - Variables and arrays
17 - Elements of an array
18 - Using simple variables to adjust just one dimension
19 - Controlling minimum and maximum return values

4. Expression Language Menu

20 - Using the playhead for control
21 - Ease expressions
22 - More wiggle
23 - JavaScript math
24 - Loops

5. Other Expressions

25 - Random values
26 - Delay
27 - Amplitude, frequency, and decay
28 - Bounce
29 - toComp expression

Conclusion

30 - Goodbye