10 amazing books for after effects artists to learn.
Are you new to after effects? Are you looking forward to expanding your knowledge of this powerful software? well then i have some really cool suggestions for you but it will require you to use these magical things called books.
I know! HE! okay do not worry. Let’s get through this together.
You are reading: Adobe after effects books
It’s no secret that there’s a big part of us that hates to read. The good thing is that there are always tutorials and courses if you don’t have the patience for books. but for those of you who don’t frown on the paper site, we’ve put together a list of our favorite books for side effect artists.
after effects books
The first group of recommended books is very focused on after effects. These focus on the skills, techniques, and tools that every new motion designer and AE artist must learn to take their skill to another level.
1. after effects classroom in a book
The Official After Effects Book is an excellent resource and should be the first book you pick up when you want to learn more about the software. it will give you the best perspective to learn where everything is and how everything works. And just like I’ve told countless people before, the book gives you clear pictures to help you know what to look for. software updates. however, the basic functionality of after effects has been pretty much the same with each release, so you don’t necessarily have to buy a new book every year. The best way to think of this book is as a building block for building your knowledge base and your craft. I reference it all the time.
2. after effects visual effects and composition
This book by Mark Christiansen is an excellent resource for those who want to explore the potential of generating world-class visual effects in After Effects. Although the book was published in 2013, it was written with After Effects CC in mind, so the vast majority of the principles and explanations in the book are as valid and useful today as they were then. christiansen is a visual effects supervisor who has worked on movies like avatar, pirates of the caribbean: at world’s end and the day after tomorrow. Leveraging his years of experience and knowledge, he walks the reader through Cinema 4D’s AE CC workflow integration, as well as diving deeper into tools like the 3D Camera Tracker and Refine Edge tool.
3. after effects trainee
This book from After Effects legends Chris and Trish Meyer breaks down the ins and outs of After Effects from entry-level to intermediate-level tools and techniques. While this covers a lot of what the classroom does in a book, the pleasant voice heard through the text is something you won’t get in the Adobe book. beyond the book, chris and tish have partnered with lynda.com to create a series of video courses that take you through the book’s chapters. In both the book and video series, users will cover topics like compositing, mattes, camera tracking, 3D elements, and more. It’s a book with a video inside. great!
motion design concepts
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There’s a very good reason why they call it motion design. In essence, movement design is about the fusion of different artistic disciplines. Concepts like composition, color theory, and contrast are essential parts of the process. so if you want to develop your skills as a designer, here are some great books.
4. design for movement: fundamentals and techniques of movement design
motion designer and educator austin shaw has years of experience as a motion designer and animator having worked for companies including ferrari, ralph lauren, espn, fedex and vh1. In his book, Design for Motion, Austin breaks down the essential techniques and design principles new motion designers should use to create not only compelling stories, but compelling art as well. The lessons inside use high-quality images and cover a range of topics such as composition, concept development, 3D, typography, and more.
5. universal design principles
This book, Universal Design Principles, is not strictly a book for motion designers, but rather a book for all designers across multiple disciplines. The real focus of this book is to expand readers’ knowledge of design concepts like Ockham’s razor, the baby-face bias, the 80/20 rule, and more. With this information, you as a designer can increase your design palette, which can then help you produce amazing work. What’s even better is that two of the authors of this book have joined forces with lynda.com to create a 5-hour video series that breaks those principles.
6. how to be an illustrator
If you want to get into the motion design business, you need to understand that you will certainly need to understand illustration along with design. a lot of the work me and my colleagues started in illustrator or photoshop. these programs beg you to have a real idea of how to execute your design as a graphic illustration. however, beyond these basic principles with this book, you will also gain knowledge on how to build a portfolio, interact with clients, avoid pitfalls, and more. these are pieces of information that can be applied to many disciplines.
7. the illusion of life
Written by Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas, two original Disney animators, this book explores the uniqueness of Disney’s animation style and how it all works. you get a “non-technical” inside look at the processes and principles animation teams followed to create groundbreaking animation in early filmmaking.
For motion graphics artists who work with a lot of character animation or liquid motion, this book will give you a clear perspective on the true principles of animation, which are as true today as they were in the early 20th century. .
This book is where the 12 principles of animation were defined. If you’re not already familiar with the 12 principles, here’s a great video outlining what they are.
8. think with type
See Also: Readers’ 10 best books of 2014 | Books | The Guardian
As a motion graphic artist, you need to understand that typography is a big deal. Along with the moving images it creates, typography is a crucial piece of the visual communication process. As a designer, you must take this into account and develop your project according to the wishes of your client and the demands of the consumer.
While this book can be a bit dense, its references and principles are spot on. If you’re a typography-heavy motion designer, you should do yourself a favor and grab a print copy of this book.
I will note that there have been several users mentioning that the kindle version of this book is not the best quality, so you’re better off getting the paperback.
9. the animator’s survival kit
This shortened survival kit is an absolute classic. Originally published in 2001, The Animators’ Survival Kit is considered by many to be the definitive guide to not only traditional animation, but more modern forms of animation as well.
The expanded edition, linked above, dives into video games and motion design while expanding on traditional animation and stop motion. again, this is another book that should be a must have for anyone looking to take the next step as a motion designer.
10. the freelance manifesto: a field guide for the modern motion designer
Our founder, Joey Korenman, published this book last June. In his pages you’ll get first-hand information on how to leave the 9-to-5 job behind, become his own boss, and make a living doing it. he uses two parts to impart this knowledge to you. Part One takes a look at the “Achievable Goals, Benefits, Myths, and Realities of Independent Living.” then, in part two of the book, he breaks down “a five-step guide to launching and maintaining a solo business.”
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