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Andrew Yoole
Andrew Yoole
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After Effects Books

Nov 18, 2006 5:32 AM

If you come across a book that you feel is a valuable resource to After Effects users, for whatever reason, tell us about it here!

I'll start off with my personal favourites:

Creating Motion Graphics For After Effects Volume 1 and 2, by Chris and Trish Meyer.

These books are the absolute bible for After Effects, covering so much essential real-world information for beginners and professionals alike that I don't know where to start. The accompanying CD includes free stuff, tutorials and example project files. If you are serious about using AE, you should own these books.

After Effects Production Techniques, by Chris & Trish Meyer.

From the same authors, this book gives real world case studies and tutorials from some of the biggest studios in the business.
8059 Views   12 Replies   Latest reply: bogiesan-gyyClL, Dec 28, 2008 11:16 AM
 
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  • Jonas Hummelstrand
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    1. Jonas Hummelstrand,
    Nov 20, 2006 12:28 AM   in reply to Andrew Yoole
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    Apart from the Meyer's books, I'd get these right away:

    "Adobe After Effects 7.0 Studio Techniques" by Mark Christiansen.
    This is really a must-read for anyone serious about professional AE work.
    http://tinyurl.com/jmgee

    "The DV Rebel's Guide: An All-Digital Approach to Making Killer Action Movies on the Cheap" by Stu Maschwitz. Seems to be packed with useful AE presets and tricks.
    http://tinyurl.com/yc4lt5

    "The Art and Science of Digital Compositing" by Ron Brinkmann, the Product Designer for Apple's Shake.
    http://tinyurl.com/yllaro

    "Digital Compositing for Film and Video" by Steve Wright.
    http://tinyurl.com/ygm6l6

    - Jonas Hummelstrand
    http://generalspecialist.com/
     
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  • Todd_Kopriva
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    2. Todd_Kopriva,
    Sep 15, 2007 10:25 AM   in reply to Andrew Yoole
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    I recommend _After Effects Apprentice_ from Trish and Chris Meyer. (See the CyberMotion website.) As mentioned by Andrew, the Meyers have a few more advanced books, too. These books are considered by many to be indispensable tools for learning After Effects. I have all of them on my desk.

    Also useful is the _After Effects CS3 Professional Classroom in a Book_, which walks you step by step through many features and workflows.
     
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    3. (Enzo_Smart),
    Jan 15, 2008 9:52 AM   in reply to Andrew Yoole
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    Hello. Sure I'll look out for these books by Trish and Chris on Effects 6. However the help files look very promisinfg if I could study them at leisure. Does anyone know how I can print them off efficiently? I have Acrobat 6 also. So far can't "convert to" as computer just goes on and on trying to download one file offline.
    Thanks for any ideas forthcoming.
     
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    4. (TikiTim),
    Jan 15, 2008 12:10 PM   in reply to Andrew Yoole
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    Enzo, you can download the PDF of the Help files from this link:
    http://livedocs.adobe.com/en_US/AfterEffects/8.0/aftereffects_cs3_help .pdf

    Also, I saw that After Effects CS3 Studio Techniques, by Mark Christiansen, is out. The previous versions were my handbook for some of the more complex aspects like 32-bpc color and color management. I'm looking forward to reading his updates on these features in CS3.
    http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Effects-Professional-Studio-Techniques/dp/ 0321499786
     
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    5. (Enzo_Smart),
    Feb 5, 2008 6:02 AM   in reply to Andrew Yoole
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    Many thanks I downloaded After Effects CS livedoc help successfully. Not too different from AE 6 I have the Pro version.
    Do you know where I can download more Help PDFs? I have Live Motion 2 and Photoshop 7 also to get to grips with.
    Thanks again
     
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  • Jonas Hummelstrand
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    6. Jonas Hummelstrand,
    Feb 6, 2008 2:46 AM   in reply to Andrew Yoole
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    Enzo,

    CS3 not different from 6.0? Wow, you have to dig deeper into the manual! :)
    All Adobe manuals are here:
    i http://www.adobe.com/support/documentation/

    Motion is here:
    i http://www.apple.com/support/motion/

    But even better, use LiveDocs online, so you always get the latest updates.
     
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    7. (Enzo_Smart),
    May 1, 2008 3:51 AM   in reply to Andrew Yoole
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    Hi. Just want to say I got hold of a DVD tutorial recently by Dean Velez title Broadcast secrets. it's supposed to be advanced but its easily understood and a real confidence booster for any newbie. It's especially good as it practically avoids all Illustrator, Photoshop etc dependencies and complicating issues. People can just get going creating the stuff.
     
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    8. (David_Bowers),
    Jul 11, 2008 1:44 AM   in reply to Andrew Yoole
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    Focal Press have a free tutorial from Chris and Trish Meyer's "After Effects Apprentice book" on our website - http://www.focalpress.com/Content.aspx?id=4024
     
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    9. (David_Anthony_Wagner),
    Aug 27, 2008 8:50 AM   in reply to Andrew Yoole
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    How do I find a PDF file for After Effects 3.1 User Manual. The software is registered to me. I bought it with a digital video card back in 1995 and have since lost the user manual. The card was called Video Vision Studio Pro. Of course the card is useless now considreing PCI slots are no longer needed, however the software still works. Strangely the card still works also. Anyway, does anyone have any ideas where I might find a PDF of the manual?

    Thanks

    David Wagner
     
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    10. (plumeragent),
    Aug 27, 2008 9:30 AM   in reply to Andrew Yoole
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    They didn't do PDFs of the user manuals in those days, but you might find one online. Google is your friend. Or try searching for a used hard copy.
     
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  • Todd_Kopriva
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    11. Todd_Kopriva,
    Aug 27, 2008 12:17 PM   in reply to Andrew Yoole
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    > They didn't do PDFs of the user manuals in those days...

    We've been producing PDF documents for electronic distribution for a looooong time.

    I sent David a copy.

    And I told him that he really needs to consider upgrading at least once per decade. ;-)
     
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  • bogiesan-gyyClL
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    12. bogiesan-gyyClL,
    Dec 28, 2008 11:16 AM   in reply to Andrew Yoole
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    Anybody seen this book on AE's expressions in meatspace?

    After Effects Expressions (Paperback)
    by Marcus Geduld (Author)

    http://www.amazon.com/After-Effects-Expressions-Marcus-Geduld/dp/02408 0936X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230489868&sr=8-6

    bogiesan
     
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