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Quick-start In-Class Photoshop tutorial

  • We’ll be using Photoshop and After Effects for this project. You will learn know how to compose a digital image using Photoshop by working in “layers”. We will then save the file as a PSD and bring the document into After Effects to animate it. Finally – (if time allows) we will add sound effects to our animation using Garage Band software. For this tutorial I have provided all source material. Note that the images we'll be using are not optimal - as they vary greatly in resolution. When creating your own projects you should work with images that are as hight resolution as possible.

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Open Photoshop

  • Create a Composition - File/new – select File/New/Size/NTSC DV (720 x 480 at 72 Pix/inch). Note:  The links to Jpeg images below are provided for the tutorial only.

  • Scroll down and select a background, open the link and "copy" image.

  • Go to photoshop edit/"paste" image. Place the image in your composition. Simply click the select tool and then click  "place" in the dialogue box.

  • Move all photo elements into the composition in this manner.

  • Note that as you add each element Photoshop makes a new, separate "layer" that can be arranged.

  • Move background image to the background by dragging that layer to the bottom.

  • Separate dog or pig from his background – using polygonal lasso tool cut away background. 

  • Note that using a white or black background behind the image can help.

  • To make a white or black background select layer/new - then , edit/fill/black or white

  • Clean up cape using quick selection tool and eraser and add to either dog or pig.

  • Merge cape layer with dog or pig layer – so the 2 images are one.

  • Add Text – NOTE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VECTOR AND BITMAP

  • We want 2 separate layers of text.

  • Layer/new - then select font tool and click on the composition area select color and font and type

  • “Wonder Pup” – (or your choice) “Landing at a theater near you” (or your choice)

  • Compose the image by selecting layers and resizing. You should have 4 layers; 2 text and 2 image.

  • Now be sure to name all layers and discard any unused layers.

  • Save as PSD file to preserve all layers – “Yourname”project1 in a folder on your desktop

 

Jpeg images for tutorial:

 

Open After Effects CS 6 – look at Project area, timeline, and composition area

  • Composition/new – select NTSC DV (720 X 480) set duration to 7 seconds and name the file.

  • File/import/ (select your PSD file and be sure to IMPORT AS FOOTAGE

  • Dialogue box opens  IMPORT KIND – select “composition” and “merge layer styles into footage” – click ok 

  • This should import a folder – drag this folder into the left side of the timeline.

  • You’re in! (You might need to rearrange and rename your layers again).

  • Click off the text layers and select the dog or pig layer, now click the arrow – a pull down menu opens,

  • Select position, place the dog/pig just out of frame – click the diamond (note a diamond appears on the timeline)

  • Drag the timeline marker downstream 2 seconds or so – now click the diamond again (note another diamond marker in the timeline.

  • Note when you hit space bar it plays.

  • Use opacity, scale and position to manipulate text in a similar way.

  • When finished go to file/export/add to render queue

  • Look for where it says Output to, then click on the colored text that has the name of your animation.

  • Name it – and be sure it’s going to save to the desktop!

  • Click save – this should bring you back to the render queue. Click “render” on the right side of the screen.

  • It may take a minute to render your movie. Open it form the desktop file and make sure it plays smoothly all the way through.


​Adding music, sound EFX and in Garage band

  • You can have more control with sound effects and sound design in Garage band.

  • Open Garage band – File/new/empty project

  • Choose software instrument/create

  • You can create a score that will lock and play in-time with your movie

  • Choose file/movie/select your movie

  • Start adding music loops or sound effects by choosing the Loop editor on the right hand side of the screen. Simply drag the loops into the space below your movie track – a new track will be created!

  • When finished choose file/movie/export file to movie

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Adding music, sound EFX and transitions In Final Cut (optional)

  • Open Final Cut

  • File/new project – name your project – make sure video properties are set to “set based on first video clip”

  • Drag render into library (Or Import the After effects render from desktop)

  • Drag this file unto the timeline.

  • Select “transitions” to add fade ins and outs

  • To Add jingles and sound efx:

  • Select the music not icon, choose ilife sound effects

  • Sample the sounds by click 2x – drag the ones you want into the timeline

  • When finished “Share” – apple devices default or master default

  • Optimal  – h264 – 720 x 480

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Building a 7 Second Animation with Sound EFX.

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