Adobe After Effects: introduction to visual effects

About this course

Participants learn to navigate After Effects and build compositions using layers, masks, text, shapes and keyframes. Practical sessions cover animation, transitions, colour correction, green-screen keying, rotoscoping, compositing and exporting, with exploration of digital collage and visual storytelling. Teaching combines demonstrations, guided exercises, creative briefs and individual project work. Ongoing verbal and written feedback, including peer review, supports a final project that brings together editing, animation, sound, visual effects and AI-generated elements.

What you'll learn

• Create and organise compositions in Adobe After Effects
• Animate text, images and video layers using keyframes
• Apply masks, keying, rotoscoping and compositing techniques
• Use colour correction, transitions and other visual effects
• Export and organise projects within video-editing workflows
• Combine editing, animation, sound and AI-generated elements in an individual project

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for adults aged 19 and over at beginner level, including learners with little or no After Effects experience. Basic computer skills are expected, while previous video-editing or Adobe experience is helpful but not required. Participation includes guided practical tasks, feedback and individual project work.

• Suitable for learners exploring video editing, visual storytelling, media, design or post-production
• Basic computer skills are expected
• Previous video-editing or Adobe experience is helpful but not required
• There is no required work outside class

Before you go

• Mac computers and Adobe After Effects are provided during sessions.
• No specialist equipment needs to be brought.
• A notebook and storage device may be brought if desired for notes or saving work.
• There is no required work outside class; practising between sessions is optional.