Home > What you need to know before starting the course

Luisa Winters

Instructor and consultant for Adobe products

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What you need to know before starting the course

Before you get started, Luisa introduces you to how to get the most out of this course including more information about the certification exam.

This summary is AI generated

Learning Outcomes:

  • Download exercise files for practice.
  • Understand exam structure and requirements.
  • Familiarize with After Effects interface.

Level: Intermediate

Skills you'll gain:

After Effects, Video Composition, Exam Preparation, Task Management

Key Insights

  • Download exercise files to follow along effectively.
  • Check CER DePort for the latest exam objectives.
  • 150 hours of After Effects experience is required.
  • Read tutorials carefully during the exam.
  • Tasks in the exam are performed in the actual app.
  • Use copy-paste to avoid naming errors in tasks.
  • Be cautious when resetting tasks during the exam.
  • Feedback can be provided after completing each section.
  • Expect immediate scoring after finishing the exam.

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Related Tutorials

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Working in the motion graphics industry part 1

Learn to consider the purpose, audience, and their needs when working on visual effects and motion graphics projects.
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Working in the motion graphics industry part 2

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Working in the motion graphics industry part 3

Identify the intellectual property rights, permissions, and licensing needed for using content.
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Working in the motion graphics industry part 4

Identify when and how to obtain permission to use images, audio, or footage such as a model release, location permitting, property release, rights, permissions, licensing.
Working in the motion graphics industry part 5
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Working in the motion graphics industry part 5

Understand essential terms and tools in digital audio and video including frame rate, aspect ratio, safe zones, and more.
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Working in the motion graphics industry part 6

Learn common animation terms and principles such as squashing, stretching, anticipation, staging, and more.
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Working in the motion graphics industry part 7

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Working in the motion graphics industry part 8

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Working in the Motion graphics industry part 9
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Working in the Motion graphics industry part 9

Identify general design principles and guidelines for motion graphics including space, line, shape, form, color, texture, and more.
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Find and use the exercise files used in this course

Learn how to access the exercise files in this course.
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After Effects Certification: How to optimize project settings

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How to create and modify compositions

Create and modify compositions to match the delivery requirements such as frame rate, resolution, duration, and more.
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Customize compositions to suit you

Learn how to adjust the work area, background color, naming compositions, composition from footage, etc.
Workspaces
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Workspaces

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Everything you need to know about the project and timeline panels

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Panels
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Panels

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Effects controls and layer panels

Identify, navigate, and manipulate elements such as the Effect Controls panel, Layer panel, etc.
Workspaces and shortcuts
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Workspaces and shortcuts

Customize and manage workspaces such as showing, hiding, grouping, and docking panels and utilizing the Workspace panel, shortcuts, and more.
Preferences
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Preferences

Navigate, organize, and customize the application workspace and configure application preferences.
Zoom, pan, play, pause
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Zoom, pan, play, pause

Learn to use non-visible design tools in the interface to aid in controlling and working with the timeline and media.
Markers
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Markers

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Grids and guides

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Importing
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Importing

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Layers
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Layers

Learn how to use the Timeline panel and recognize the different types of layers in the Timeline panel.
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Manage layers

Learn how to manage multiple layers in a composition.
Precomposing and parenting
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Precomposing and parenting

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Layer visibility
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Layer visibility

Learn how to modify layer visibility using opacity, blending modes, track mattes, and masks.
Masks & mattes (part 1)
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Masks & mattes (part 1)

Create, apply, and manipulate masks and track mattes.
Masks & mattes (part 2)
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Masks & mattes (part 2)

We continue to learn more about masks and track mattes.
Shape layers (part 1)
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Shape layers (part 1)

Learn core tools and functionality as well as tools that affect the visual appearance of composition elements.
Shape layers (part 2)
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Shape layers (part 2)

Create visual elements using a variety of tools such as the Pen and vector editing tools.
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Place assets

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Create text

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Character
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Character

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Paragraph
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Paragraph

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Text animation
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Text animation

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Adjust layers
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Adjust layers

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Transform layers
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Transform layers

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Speed changes
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Speed changes

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Stabilize and color correction

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Video effects
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Video effects

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3D space

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Keying & track mattes

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Adjustment layers

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Keyframes part 1

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Keyframes part 2

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Effects controls and wiggle

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Check for errors

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Export stills

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