Once you have completed steps 1, 2 and 3 you are ready to begin animating your logo.

1. Start Adobe After Effects
2. After Effects (AE) will open up with an Untitled Project. This will be a good time to name and save your project.
3. Create a new composition - Click Composition / Composition New. This will open the Composition Settings dialog.
4. Name the composition - for instance, Logo, Background, etc.
5. Select composition size from Preset pulldown - HDV/HDTV 720 29.97 (1280x720)
6. Check the frame rate - should be 29.97 frames per second
7. Resolution - Full
8. Start timecode - 0;00;00;00
9. Duration (length of composition/project) - 10 seconds - 0;00;10;00
10. Background color - the default is usually black, - you can change it to something close to the color you have planned. For this project a medium gray might be a good color to start with. You can always change it later.

IMPORT

1. Click File / Import / File. This will open the Import File box
2. Import your files.

Now have some FUN.

TIPS

- Experiment with Blend Modes, transparency, ease-in/out, motion blur, type on a path, etc
- Get into the habit of saving your project often. There is no excuse for work lost because AE crashed or your work “disappeared”
- Especially if either your logo and background animation have numerous layers, it may be helpful to do each as a separate composition
- Having good file organization will make things easier. Try to name files consistently.

You can download these instructions for Step 4 HERE

Important dates

Monday, Oct 5 - Company backstory worksheet due
Monday, Oct 5 - Logo animation analysis homework due
Monday, Oct 12 - Preproduction due
Monday, Oct 19 - Progress render for feedback during Oct 20th class Zoom
Thursday, October 22rd - PROJECT DUE

Please note that since this is meant to be more like a real-world, professional project, you will be required to meet deadlines much more closely than the Kinetic Type project.