Adobe After Effects CC Classroom in a Book (2018 release)

Is this a bad book? No. But is it good? Is it complete? Is it comprehensive? Can you easily find specific information? Well... that's where the problems come in.First of all, let me say this, so that anybody reading the review has some idea of where the reviewer is coming from. I used to use AE quite a bit several years ago, but I basically haven't touched it since at least 2014. So there's a LOT I don't remember too clearly about exactly how everything works, and it's a complex program, obviously. And just as obviously, there have been a lot of updates (even though the basics are the same.) I always used the Trish and Chris Meyer books in the past, but the last published edition was in 2010. So, as far as books... there aren't a lot of choices. There are a lot of random videos out there, and there's also lynda.com (more about that later), but there are just not many selections at all for the old school analog book.First, the good: This book is well-written, and the examples are clear. The tutorials are fun and well-paced, also well-explained. The basics are... well, KIND OF basically covered (shape, text, animation, layers, masks, puppet tools, rotobrush, color correction, 3D features included the camera tracker, advanced editing, rendering.) The problem came in when I started thinking about how well this would all work for someone who was a REAL beginner rather than a past user who just hadn't picked up the new edition for a few years. Because the truth is, the basics aren't really covered, and here's the proof.Look at an old copy of the last Trish and Chris Meyer 2010 book, *Creating Motion Graphics With After Effects.* I have a copy on the desk right now. It's 752 pages. The Classroom in a Book is 399 pages. Yep-- 752 pages to cover the OLDER version, and 388 pages to cover the NEWER version, with all the added features. Lots and lots and lots of the essentials have been cut out. Look for a list of keyboard shortcuts-- it's not there. Look for the older, much longer chapters going into detail about fundamental concepts like layers and keyframes and editing-- not there. Look for xyzabc etc etc etc... not there. In 388 pages, it CAN'T be there.So why not just go to a source like lynda . com, you ask? I've had that membership for a long time, and I think I might even renew it again. THAT is where Trish and Chris Meyer went, and their instructional videos are there. But here's the problem with a video lesson format: you're tied to the pace and teaching methods decided on by the people who *made* the videos. There is no reference manual. And that's what the Classroom in a Book desperately needed to be. I do not have a lot of patience for going through videos and spending literally ten or twenty times the amount of time I would spend to look up something in a true reference book. Sometimes, we need specific pieces of information easily and quickly accessible and put together in an understandable way rather than having to sit through several twenty minute videos to try to figure out something very specific that we want to do. (The Adobe help and user forums are absolutely not a solution either, which is too bad.) What really needed to happen is for Trish and Chris Meyer to keep coming out with books, whether in print or online format. That's really what they should do-- online editions of updated AE books-- instead of 100% sticking to videos That is the strongest aspect of the Classroom book, btw-- when you buy it, you can go online to peachpit press and use the online version. But I don't think it's enough. I haven't decided yet if I'll be returning this book, but that might happen, even though it isn't exactly bad... it's just not good enough.PROS:Does have some good infoTutorials are well writtenDoes cover some of what you need to knowOnline version included with the purchase is very nice.CONSDoes not cover the basics very wellDoes not contain comprehensive information about the nuts and bolts of AE in the way that the Trish and Chris Meyer books didNot a reference book, which it needed to beNot long enoughEmphasis on tutorials rather than constructing the "building blocks" of the basic knowledge you need to use AE as a tool.WAY too expensive for what it is.Overall, this isn't a bad book to have in your library... but I would seriously also buy Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects, 5th Edition. Even though it doesn't have info on the most recent updates, it comprehensively covers the basics, and the new CiaB does not. For $56.50, the new book needs to offer more than it does.

Learning the ropes with After Effects and Pro Premiere, I'm having to do a lot of Googling and YouTube video watching to find the different menu screens and effects drop down lists as sometimes the instructions aren't clear enough but I'm getting a handle on this program. I have the book for Pro Premiere coming as well; I've pretty much done what I can in MovieMaker and Power Point so it's time to take my video creation to the next level. Power Point is an office presentation tool I use for effects and animations; it wasn't intended for what I want to use it for. I get good enough with Pro Premiere, After Effects and Audition I'll be able to do all my video work in the Adobe Suite. Thank you Adobe for such a wonderful set of tools!Make sure you review how to completely and competently use the interface before moving onto more difficult material. Trying to Google what you are looking for in the heat of the battle is not an effective solution, and posting on the forums only invites aspersions.

There are 2 authors on this book and one of them is very good. The other, not so much. If you are using Ae 2019 or later, I'd look for a more current edition or be prepared to debug the lessons. It might be worth your while as additional learning, but it was frustrating thinking I was doing something wrong without considering the lesson was flawed. They aren't all bad but lesson 13 in particular is bad. I was using Windows and the instructions I assume are for Mac and they didn't verify the lesson for Windows 10. Additionally there are some variables in the other lessons that aren't always correct.All of that being said it is a nice introduction to basic and and advanced features of Ae. I wouldn't pay more than 5 bucks for a version since the release of Ae 2019.

This was a great 101 introduction to After Effects. It's full of basic tutorials and some resource full tips for new updates and shortcuts included in the 2018 version. However, there were a few misprints and missing information in some tutorials that I had to google search and ask a pro about. However, if you want to begin the steps of learning after effects...this is the way to go.

Modification of a set of videos that were good on their own, but became very lively when the camera depiction was made to appear to change aspect, while the object of interest was maintained. I am not sure that many other products could have achieved the same results, without a lot more technical actions. Thank you so much.

A little dirty but in fine order

You can't beat Classroom in a book for learning a new program and the Adobe After Effects CC installment is no exception. This book will have you up and running with the basics of After Effects in no time. The book is not just a great learning tool but a valuable reference because as we all know these programs are extremely deep and many functions if not used regularly are hard to commit to memory so having the book to fall back is priceless. I definitely recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn the basics of After Effects CC.

Very good quality book, most of the things you'll find here are for beginners. But there are also some more advanced techniques in it.And you will improve on the "easy" techniques from this book.

I'm finding this book difficult to get in to. Everything is layed out step by step but there isn't enough explanation about what the different elements are and why you import some as 'footage' and some as 'merged layers.' Etc. Perhaps it's not for the beginner and it should state that. Currently i'm creating great animations but would never be able to do it on my own!

The book is helpful. You need to register to use it, and down load a teaching aid. But not easy must have some knowledge of premier Pro and layers.

Manual for everyone

Great product for the first time user of Adobe After Effects.I am about half-way through the book. I can say this book has definitely been an essential tool in learning this at-first super intimidating program. With-out this book, I'd be lost, scared, and confused with all the intricacies of After Effects, but fortunately that is not the case. The lessons are great progressions from one lesson to the next. My understanding of the working flow is ever improving -- can't wait to finish the book and start developing my post-production skills.Definitely recommended for the beginner.