Class 1: Introduction to After Effects — "Why After Effects is the Editor's Secret Weapon

🎬✨
Welcome to the Logicrowned After Effects Course — made for creators, editors, and curious
minds who are tired of basic tutorials and want the real deal.

This isn't just a guide on which buttons to click. It's a behind-the-scenes breakdown of how After
Effects can turn your editing from meh to magnificent. And no, you don’t need to be a motion

🧠⚡
designer or VFX wizard to get started. You just need curiosity, consistency, and a bit of
Logicrowned logic.

🤔
🖼️ 🎞️ had a genius child. That’s After Effects.
What Even Is After Effects?
Imagine Photoshop and Premiere Pro

It’s Adobe’s powerhouse for motion graphics, visual effects, text animation, logo reveals,

🌶️
transitions — basically, everything that makes videos feel alive. It's where editors go when they
want that extra sauce that makes a clip unforgettable.

📹 🎥
📲
Whether you're editing YouTube videos , making short films , or designing reels for

🚀
Instagram — After Effects is the weapon of choice for the editor who refuses to stay
average.

💡
🎬. You just need the mindset to push your visuals beyond
Why Should You Learn It?

⏩
You don’t need a Hollywood budget
the timeline.

✅ Want animated text that doesn’t look like a PowerPoint from 2007? 🧓 AE’s got you.
✅ Want clean, modern transitions instead of basic crossfades? 💨 AE’s your tool.
✅ Want to flex with animated logos, seamless effects, and buttery-smooth motion? 🎨 You
guessed it.

🏖️
🌊 🏊‍♂️
If you’re editing with only Premiere Pro, you’re swimming in the shallow end . After Effects is
the deep water — scary at first, but once you learn to swim, you won’t want to go back.

👀
✅
Who Is This Course For?

✅ 📈
Beginners who want a clear, no-fluff entry into motion graphics

✅ 🧩
Video editors who want to level up their visuals

✅ 😱
Creators tired of YouTube tutorials that either go too fast or just scratch the surface
Anyone who’s opened After Effects, got scared , and closed it again (it’s okay, we’ve all
been there)

🧑‍💻
This course is written in plain English, no technical jargon, no ego. If you can read this page,
you can learn After Effects.

🧰
✅ 💻 (preferably not one that cries when Chrome is open 😅)
What You’ll Need
A PC or laptop
✅ Adobe After Effects installed 🛠️ (any recent version is fine — 2020 and up recommended)
✅ A basic understanding of how layers and timelines work (don’t worry, we’ll cover the rest) 📚
What You’ll Learn In This Course 📘
✅ How to make your videos look instantly more professional 💼
✅ The logic behind animations, not just step-by-step clicks ⚙️
✅ How to stay organized like a pro editor 📂
✅ Bonus: Tips to keep your renders clean and your workflow fast 🧼⚡
🎯
This course won’t make you a VFX god overnight. But it will make you dangerous with
keyframes.

💪
By the end, you’ll not only understand After Effects — you’ll feel confident using it to enhance
your own content, whether it’s for fun, freelance, or full-time work.

Let’s Keep It Real 🔥

🧠✨
You’re not here for fluff. You’re here to learn something that actually helps you grow. And that’s
what Logicrowned stands for — clarity, clean edits, and real knowledge you can use.

Let’s dive into Page 2: Getting Started with After Effects. 📄➡️
Make sure you’re sitting comfortably. It’s about to get interesting. 😎

Class 2: Getting Started with After Effects — "Opening AE Without the Panic Button" 🧯
So you've got After Effects installed and ready to roll? Good. Let's ease you into the workspace
before you start thinking, "Why does this look like a cockpit?"

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✅
This page will walk you through: Opening your first project

✅
Understanding the layout

✅
Creating your first composition
Importing files like a pro

No stress. No jargon. Just clarity. 🧠

Step 1: Launch After Effects 🚀
Open After Effects. Breathe.

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You’ll see a Home Screen. From here, either:

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Click New Project (to start from scratch), or
Click Open Project (if you're reworking something)
Let’s assume you’re starting fresh — so hit New Project.

Step 2: Understand the Interface 🖥️

Your screen is divided into sections (panels):

✅ Project Panel (Top Left) – Think of this like your “bag”. All your footage, audio, and
✅ Timeline Panel (Bottom) – This is where the magic happens. You stack, trim, and animate
compositions live here.

✅ Composition Panel (Top Center) – A live preview of your animation.

your layers here.

✅ Toolbar (Top) – Selection tool, text, shape tools, etc. Like your creative toolbox.
It might look messy, but we’ll clean it up soon.

🧼 Pro Tip: Go to Window > Workspace > Default if things look weird. Resetting your layout
solves 90% of UI problems.

Step 3: Create Your First Composition 🧩

Click Composition > New Composition or use the shortcut Ctrl + N / Cmd + N.

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Set these values:

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Name: “IntroComp” or anything simple

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Resolution: 1920x1080 (Full HD)

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Frame Rate: 30 fps is a safe start
Duration: 10 seconds is plenty to begin

Hit OK. You just created your canvas.

Step 4: Importing Files Like a Pro 📁

You can’t animate what you don’t have. Let’s import some files:

✅ Go to File > Import > File OR just double-click inside the Project Panel
✅ Choose your image, video, or audio file
✅ Drag it into your composition timeline to start playing with it
You’ll see the layer pop up in your timeline. You’re officially editing.

Step 5: Move Things Around (Literally) 🎯

Click on the layer in the Composition Panel. You’ll see a blue box.

✅ Use the Selection Tool (V) to move it around

✅ Hit S to scale, R to rotate, T to adjust opacity (aka transparency)
✅ Keyframe those properties to animate them (we’ll dive into this soon)
Play around. Nothing will break. Just hit Ctrl+Z if something gets funky.

Step 6: Save Your Project 💾

Don’t be a daredevil. Hit Ctrl+S (or Cmd+S) every few minutes. Trust us — After Effects will
crash at the worst possible moment.

🎉
That’s It! You’re In

✅
By now, you’ve:

✅
Opened AE

✅
Created a comp

✅
Imported media

✅
Moved it around
Saved your progress

You’re no longer scared of the interface. That’s a win.

Next up: Animation Basics — bringing your content to life

Class 3: Animation Basics — "Welcome to the World of Keyframes" 🎞️

Now that you’ve got a composition set up and a file imported, it’s time to breathe life into it. That
means animation — and animation in After Effects starts with a tiny, magical thing called a
keyframe.

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✅
In this lesson, you’ll learn: What keyframes are and how they work

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The core transform properties you’ll animate

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How to create a basic animation (position, scale, opacity)
How to preview and adjust timing

Let’s animate!

What is a Keyframe? 🔑
A keyframe is like a milestone. You tell After Effects, “Hey, at this exact moment, I want this
thing to look like this.”

Then, you add another keyframe later in time and say, “Now make it look like this.” AE does the
in-between motion for you. That’s animation.

✅
Example:
You place a keyframe at 0 seconds where your text is offscreen
✅ Then place another keyframe at 2 seconds where it’s in the center AE will move the text
smoothly from offscreen to center. Simple as that.

The Core Properties You’ll Animate ⚙️

Every layer in AE has basic transform properties. Press these shortcuts to access them:

✅ P — Position (move it around the canvas)

✅ S — Scale (make it bigger/smaller)
✅ R — Rotation (spin it)
✅ T — Opacity (make it fade in/out)
✅ A — Anchor Point (controls where it scales/rotates from)
To animate anything:

1. Move the timeline indicator to a point in time

2. Click the stopwatch icon next to the property to set a keyframe

3. Move the timeline forward, change the value — AE will create another keyframe
automatically

You now have motion.

Let’s Make Your First Animation ✨

Try this with a text or image layer:

▶ Select the layer and press P for Position

🔵
▶ Move to 0 seconds on the timeline
▶ Click the stopwatch ( appears — that’s your first keyframe)
▶ Move to 2 seconds on the timeline
▶ Drag the object to a new location

Hit Spacebar to preview. Your object moves!

Now try the same with S (scale) or T (opacity) to build a more layered animation.

Adjusting the Speed and Timing ⏱️

Your animation might feel stiff. Here’s how to smooth it out:

✅ Select your keyframes

✅ Right-click > Keyframe Assistant > Easy Ease
✅ Or just press F9 (faster)
Then open the Graph Editor (icon near the timeline) to manually tweak motion curves. This
gives you buttery-smooth motion, like pro edits.

Bonus: Copy-Paste Keyframes 🧠

You can copy keyframes from one layer and paste them onto another. Great for syncing motion
or repeating animations.

▶ Select the property name (like “Position”) to highlight all keyframes

▶ Hit Ctrl+C
▶ Select the same property on another layer and hit Ctrl+V

🔁
✅
Quick Recap

✅
Keyframes = animation checkpoints

✅
Use P, S, R, T to access core properties

✅
Use Easy Ease (F9) to smoothen things out
Graph Editor = clean, professional motion

🧑‍🎨
Next, we’ll dive into text and shape animations — this is where your videos start looking sharp
and modern.

Class 4: Text & Shape Animation — "Where Clean Design Meets Motion" 🧑‍🎨
Alright, you’ve nailed the basics of keyframes. Now it’s time to take your edits to the next level
with text and shape animations — the bread and butter of motion design.

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✅
In this lesson, you’ll learn: How to create and animate text layers

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How to work with shape layers (not just draw circles)

✅
How to make animations feel smooth, modern, and intentional
When to keep things simple — and why that’s powerful

Let’s dive in.

Working with Text Layers ✍️

Text in AE isn’t just “type and animate.” It’s a whole system.

▶ Go to the Toolbar and click the Text Tool (T)

▶ Click anywhere in the Composition panel and start typing
▶ Use the Character and Paragraph panels (Window > Character/Paragraph) to style your text

Want it to move? ▶ Press P for Position, then keyframe it like you learned earlier
▶ Try fading in with T (Opacity) or scaling from 0% to 100% using S
 💨
Pro Tip: Add motion blur by checking the Motion Blur icon on your layer + enabling it at the top
bar. Instant smoothness.

Animator Presets (Text Made Easy) ⚡

Too lazy to build from scratch? AE has built-in text animation presets.

▶ Go to Effects & Presets panel (Window > Effects & Presets)

▶ Type something like “Typewriter” or “Fade Up Characters”
▶ Drag it onto your text layer and boom — instant animation

You can edit these presets by opening the layer dropdown and exploring the Text > Animator
section.

Shape Layers 101 🧩

Shape layers are powerful. They’re not just for drawing circles.

▶ Go to the Toolbar and click the Rectangle Tool (or press Q)

▶ Click and drag in the Composition panel — a shape layer is created automatically

Now animate it: ▶ Press S to scale it in

▶ Press P to slide it from offscreen
▶ Add Stroke/Fill from the top bar to style it

Shapes are clean, responsive, and perfect for background blocks, highlights, or transitions.

Combine Text + Shapes for Modern Looks 🧠

Want that clean “editor look”? Animate both together.

▶ Create a rectangle shape behind your text

▶ Animate the shape sliding in first, then fade in the text
▶ Add a subtle drop shadow or glow (Effects > Stylize > Drop Shadow)

This is the Logicrowned way: Simple. Clean. Confident.

Keep It Snappy ⏱️
Animations don’t need to last 5 seconds. In fact, the best ones are quick.

✅ Keep animations between 0.3 to 1.2 seconds for modern pacing

✅ Use Easy Ease (F9) and Graph Editor for that buttery finish
✅ Preview often using Spacebar — feel your timing
Bonus Tip: Trim Paths on Shapes ✂️
Want to animate lines being drawn?
▶ Select your shape layer
▶ Click Add > Trim Paths from the shape layer menu
▶ Animate Start or End percentage values

Perfect for underlines, outlines, or handwriting-like effects.

🎯
✅
Recap

✅
Text layers = fully customizable and animatable

✅
Presets save time, but custom = clean

✅
Shape layers are visual tools, not just decorations
Combine both for dynamic layouts

Next: Transitions & Effects — polishing your edits like a pro. 🪞

Class 5: Transitions & Effects — "Smooth Moves and Magic Touches" ✨

Text and shapes are cool, but what gives your edits that “wait, that was clean” vibe? Transitions
and effects.

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✅
In this lesson, you’ll learn: How to use transitions without overdoing them

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The top effects every editor should master

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When and how to stack effects for a unique style
Simple tricks that make your content feel premium

Let’s get into the sauce.

Clean Transitions, Not Cringe ✂️

Most editors either overuse transitions or avoid them completely. Here’s how to do it right:

▶ Use Scale, Position, and Opacity keyframes to build your own custom transitions
▶ Combine that with motion blur and Easy Ease (F9)
▶ Keep transitions short — 8 to 20 frames is the sweet spot

Example:
▶ One clip slides out to the left, next clip slides in from the right — add some blur and boom, it
feels intentional

Must-Know Effects 🎛️
You don’t need 100 plugins. Just master a few key ones:

✅ Gaussian Blur – Smoothens motion and transitions

✅ Glow – Adds pop to shapes, text, and UI elements
✅ Drop Shadow – Gives layers depth without looking fake
✅ Turbulent Displace – Great for glitchy or warpy effects
✅ CC Light Sweep – For sleek logo shine reveals
Apply them by: ▶ Going to Effects & Presets panel
▶ Typing the effect name
▶ Dragging it onto your layer

Stacking Effects Like a Pro 🧠

It’s not about adding more — it’s about adding smart.

▶ Add Gaussian Blur + Glow to a logo = cinematic feel

▶ Combine Turbulent Displace + Opacity flicker = glitch effect
▶ Add Fill + Drop Shadow on a shape = UI pop

Tip: Use Adjustment Layers to apply effects to multiple clips at once. Saves time and keeps your
timeline clean.

▶ Go to Layer > New > Adjustment Layer

▶ Place it above your clips and apply effects there

Blend Modes = Instant Style 🎨

Blend modes change how layers interact visually.

▶ Select a layer
▶ In the Timeline, click the Toggle Switches/Modes button
▶ Change Normal to Screen, Multiply, or Overlay and see the magic

Perfect for adding light leaks, textures, or color washes.

Sound Matters Too 🔊

A slick transition without sound = meh.

▶ Add subtle wooshes or hits from free sound packs

▶ Sync them with keyframe moments for pro-level energy

🧼
✅
Quick Recap

✅
Build custom transitions using basic properties

✅
Blur, Glow, and Drop Shadow are your best friends

✅
Adjustment layers = cleaner, smarter workflows
Blend modes = easy stylization

Next: Exporting & Rendering — how to deliver clean, sharp videos without the headache. 💻
Class 6: Exporting & Rendering — "Clean Output, No Pixel Tears" 🧼
You’ve built the motion. Now it’s time to deliver it without sacrificing quality or crying over
settings.

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✅
In this lesson, you’ll learn: The difference between Render Queue and Media Encoder

✅
Best export settings for YouTube, reels, and clients

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How to avoid huge file sizes or blurry results
Quick ways to fix render errors and crashes

Let’s wrap it right.

Option 1: Render Queue (Fastest) ⚡

Best for quick exports or when you don’t need compression.

▶ Go to Composition > Add to Render Queue

▶ In the bottom panel, click Output Module and select Lossless
▶ Click Format Options to adjust codec if needed
▶ Click the Output To field to choose file location
▶ Hit Render

Pros: High quality, fast.

Cons: File sizes can be huge. Doesn’t compress well.

Option 2: Adobe Media Encoder (Smartest) 📦

Best for online use — compresses while keeping quality.

▶ Go to Composition > Add to Adobe Media Encoder Queue

▶ Adobe Media Encoder will open separately
▶ Set Format to H.264 (best for web)
▶ Click on Preset (choose Match Source - High Bitrate or custom)
▶ Click the green play button to render

Pros: Clean, compressed, ready for upload.

Cons: Slightly slower; requires Media Encoder installed.

📹
✅
Recommended Settings for YouTube

✅
Format: H.264
Preset: Match Source – High Bitrate
✅ Resolution: 1920x1080 (or 4K if you used it)
✅ Frame rate: Same as your comp (usually 30fps)
✅ Bitrate: 10-15 Mbps for 1080p, 35-45 Mbps for 4K
Optional: Enable Maximum Render Quality if your system can handle it.

Reduce File Size Without Losing Quality 🪶

▶ Use VBR 2 Pass (in Bitrate Settings) — balances quality and size
▶ Lower bitrate slightly (8-10 Mbps for 1080p still looks great)
▶ Trim extra unused frames from comp

Pro Tip: Always test-watch the final video. Sometimes small tweaks make a huge difference.

🚑
❌
Fixing Common Render Issues
Media Encoder not opening? Restart both AE and AME.

❌ Blank output? Check if your comp has content in the work area.
❌ Glitches or artifacts? Enable Render at Maximum Depth and Use Maximum Quality.
❌ Crashing? Try purging cache: Edit > Purge > All Memory & Disk Cache
Final Steps 📂
✅ Double-check the video plays smoothly
✅ Rewatch for missing assets, typos, glitches
✅ Rename files clearly: final_video_v1.mp4 (not render123.mov)
✅ Upload or deliver — with confidence
Recap 🎯
✅ Render Queue = quick, big files
✅ Media Encoder = compressed, upload-ready
✅ Use H.264 + Match Source for safe export
✅ Fix issues with cache purge or quality toggles
Next: Final Page — Bonus Tools, Assets & Career Tips. 🚀

You made it to the final page — which already puts you ahead of most people who start After
Effects and rage-quit halfway through. This is your bonus round. The one where things go from
learning... to leveling up.

In this final lesson, you’ll discover: ✅ Free tools and plugins to boost your workflow
✅ Career tips for freelancing and content creation
✅ How to stay updated without losing your mind
✅ What to do next after finishing this course
Let’s send you off strong.

Free Tools & Plugins You’ll Actually Use 🧰

No fluff. Here are tools that make real-world editing faster:

▶ Motion 4 / Motion Tools – Clean UI for easing, anchor point control, and in-out animation
▶ Flow – Graph Editor on steroids (with presets!)
▶ FX Console (by Video Copilot) – Fastest way to apply effects with shortcuts
▶ Duik Bassel – Advanced rigging (if you dive into character animation)

Find these via AEScripts, Video Copilot, or Motion Design communities.

Sites for Free Assets 🔍

Don’t waste time Googling. These sites offer legit resources:

✅ Mixkit / Pexels / Pixabay – Free stock videos

✅ MotionArray (free trial) – Templates, transitions, and LUTs
✅ AEJuice (Starter Pack) – Free pack of transitions and text effects
✅ Fontsquirrel / Google Fonts – Clean, safe-to-use fonts
Pro Tip: Download responsibly. Don’t hoard stuff you’ll never use.

Career & Content Tips 💼

▶ Start building your portfolio — even if it’s just personal projects
▶ Recreate trending motion edits from YouTube or Instagram Reels
▶ Offer your editing on freelancing sites (Fiverr, Upwork, or direct outreach)
▶ Keep your identity — your edit style is your signature

Clients come and go. Skills stay. Build your skill bank like a motion investor.

How to Stay Updated 🧠

AE updates can feel overwhelming. Here’s how to keep up:

▶ Follow creators like Ben Marriott, Mt. Mograph, Dope Motions

▶ Bookmark AE forums and subreddits
▶ Take 15 minutes a week to explore a new feature or effect

Growth isn’t about doing more. It’s about staying consistent.

What’s Next? 📈
✅ Apply what you’ve learned to a personal project
✅ Try recreating an animation you love (pause it, break it down)
✅ Join communities — Discord, Reddit, Telegram groups
✅ Maybe... start teaching others? You now know more than most
You Made It 🎓
This isn’t just an After Effects course. It’s a foundation.

✅ You’ve gone from “I don’t get it” to “I got this.”

✅ You’ve learned the tools. The logic. The polish.
✅ You now have a cleaner eye, faster hands, and smarter edits.
Keep going. Stay curious. And never stop refining your timeline. ✂️