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Building a 7 Second Animation with Sound EFX

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Quick-start, In-Class Photoshop tutorial

  • We’ll be using Photoshop and After Effects for this project. You will compose a digital image using Photoshop by working in “layers” - just like we did for Project 2. Once our composition is completed we'll save the file as a PSD and bring this document into After Effects to animate it. Finally, 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 high resolution as possible.

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Open Photoshop

  • Create a Composition: File/new – In the Preset box select "Film Video/NTSC DV (720 x 480 at 72 Pix/inch). Name your file something like "After effects template" and save it to the desktop. Note: Like the Gif template we made in project 2, you can rename this file and use it to compose your own work.  

  • Scroll down to Jpeg images for tutorial below 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 or "move" 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 to cut away background. 

  • Note that using a white or black background behind the image can help you see your work better. To make a white or black background select layer/new - then , edit/fill/black or white

  • Separate the cape from its white background (you can use the quick selection tool or magic wand and eraser.

  • Position the cape layer over the dog or pig so it looks good to you. You can use the transform tool to adjust the scale and distort it a bit (Edit/transform/scale or edit/transform distort) You can also use the erase tool to cut away a bit of the bottom of the cape and make it fit around his neck.

  • Add Text – As an alternative you can also add text in After Effects,  - NOTE SAFE CROPPING AREA. We want 2 separate layers of text.

  • Layer/new - then select font tool (the letter T in the tools panel) and click on the composition area and type.  Select color and font.

  • Text layer 1“Wonder Pup” – (or your choice). Text layer 2 “Landing at a theater near you” (or your choice)

  • Adjust the composition by selecting layers and resizing. Note: Resize text by changing the font size, not by using the transform function. Also keep in mind that you will reduce the resolution of the image if you shrink an image and enlarge it again - so keep everything as big (the highest resolution) for as you can. 

  • Now be sure to name all your layers (double click the text in the layers panel) and discard any unused layers.

  • Select the layers to be discarded and then click the trash can at the bottom of the panel). You should have 5 layers; 2 text and 3 image (dog, cape and background).

  • Save the file as a PSD file to preserve all layers (this is the default setting so you just need to "save".

 

Jpeg images for tutorial:

 

Open After Effects (Note the machines now have After Effects CC and there may be small changes to this procedure) 

  • Composition/new – select NTSC DV (720 X 480) set the duration to 07:00 seconds (bottom box above background color) and name the file.

  • Composition area -  "The "Stage" largest window in the center.

  • Project area - "The Library"  - Where your files are kept, window on the far left.

  • Timeline - "Where it all happens" - The lower portion of the screen. Note how the Time Indicator moves or "plays" when you tap the space bar.

  • Lets import your photoshop file:

  • Import Method A - simply drag your Photoshop file into the Project area. When the dialogue box appears make sure " IMPORT KIND" is set to "composition" and "Layer options" is set to "MERGE LAYERS INTO FOOTAGE".

  • Import Method B - File/import/  and select your PSD file. A When the dialogue box appears make sure " IMPORT KIND" is set to "composition" and "Layer options" is set to "MERGE LAYERS INTO FOOTAGE".

  • This should import a folder – drag this folder down to the left side of the timeline. Each layer should transform into 7 seconds of footage.

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

  • Now, let's attach the cape so that it stays in place with the Dog as he moves across the screen, this is called PARENTING. Select the cape layer. Look off to the right of the layer name and you will see a box with the word "none" selected inside - this is the parenting menu. Click the triangle in this box and select the dog (or pig) layer. Now the cape is "Parented" and will follow the dog.

  • Lets make our dog (or pig!) FLY!

  • Click off the text layers (click the eye) and select the dog or pig layer. Position the dog so he's just out of frame and facing the direction he will be flying in. Now click the triangle between the layer name and the eye  – the TRANSFORM menu will open.

  • Make sure the Time Indicator is set at the beginning of your timeline. Select position, click the little clock. Note a yellow diamond appears on the timeline)

  • Next, drag the timeline indicator downstream 2 seconds or so (you can also just hit the space bar and wait till it reaches 2 seconds) – now drag the dog ALL THE WAY THRU THE FRAME. Note how another yellow diamond appears in your timeline.

  • Reset your Time Indicator to zero again - and click the space bar. You dog should fly thru the air!

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

  • Tinker with the timing - design the movement of the character - the movement and opacity and scale of the text.

  • Check out this tutorial on the puppet pin tool - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXxh6OsamhY - make the cape move as if wind is blowing thru it.

  • Save your work!

  • When you think you're finished render the animation as a video MOV file. To do this go to file/export/add to render queue.

  • Look for where it says "Output to", then click on the orange colored text that has the name of your animation. A dialogue box should open.

  • 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. Allow the machine to save the converted version. Now you're ready to add sound - but given you also saved it as an after effects document you can always come back, make changes and render another version if you wish.


​Adding music, sound EFX and in Garage band​

  • Open Garage band – File/new/empty project.

  • Drag the MP4 movie into an empty track - OR choose file/movie/select your movie, you should see the movie open in a separate player screen. Now you can now create a score that will lock and play in-time with your movie.

  • Start adding music loops or sound effects by choosing samples in 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!

  • Add music, sound effects, sound environments - anything you like.

  • When finished choose file/movie/export file to movie - this ads the sound to your existing file.

  • The movie is now ready to be uploaded to Youtube and embedded to a page on your WIX site.

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