Course Content

The syllabus below comprise activities typically covered in a class at this skill level. The trainer may adjust the lesson plan to meet the needs of the class.

Lesson 1: 3D Space

• 3D and Z Space Basics
• Choosing the 3D render engine
• Creating 3D Layers
• Mixing 2D and 3D layers
• Using the 3D Gizmo
• Rotation and Orientation in 3D
• Offsetting the Anchor Point in 3D
• Using Multiple Views
• Camera and Orthogonal views
• Using Local, World, and View Axis Modes
• Previewing in 3D
• Using Auto Orient
• Using Parenting with 3D layers
• Using the CINEMA 4D Render Engine
• Layer Geometry options
• Extruding Text and Shapes in After Effects

Lesson 2: Lighting in 3D

• Lighting basics
• Creating Lights
• Working with Spot, Parallel, Point, and Ambient Lights
• Layer Material Properties
• Light Options
• Creating and managing shadows
• Using Light Falloff
• Layer Material Light Options
• Using Light Transmission
• Creating Gels and Gobos
• Using Parenting with Lights
• Using Adjustment Lights

Lesson 3: Cameras

• Camera basics
• Camera Creation
• Creating One-node cameras
• Creating Two-node cameras
• Editing between multiple cameras
• Using the Universal, Position, and Rotation Camera Tools
• Using multiple Composition Window Views in 3D
• Using the Orbit, Pan, and Dolly tools to control views
• Orbit, Pan, and Dolly tool options
• Using the Create Camera from 3D view command
• Animating Cameras
• Using the Camera Tools to animate the Camera
• Auto-Orienting Camera Paths
• Auto-Orienting Layers to the Look at the Camera
• Using the Look at Selected Layers command
• Using and animating Zoom and Depth of Field
• Using Parenting with Cameras

Lesson 4: Working with AE Cinema 4D Lite

• Introduction to Cinema 4D Lite
• Cinema 4D Lite User Interface
• Cinema 4D Project Setup
• Creating Shapes and Text Objects
• Extruding Objects
• Adding Lighting and Textures
• Previewing Options
• Animating and Keyframing Basics
• Creating Cameras and Lights
• Using the Cineware Plugin in After Effects
• Importing Cinema 4D models

Lesson 5: 3D Camera Tracker

• Using the 3D Camera Tracker
• Tracking the footage
• Working with Tracking Points
• Creating a Ground Plane and Camera
• Creating Text with Tracking Points
• Precomposing an Image to a Plane with a Solid
• Parenting an Image to a Null
• Creating shadows
• Adding an Ambient Light
• Adding Effects

Lesson 6: Content Aware Fill

• Setting up Content Aware Fill
• Creating and Tracking a Mask
• Setting options in the Content Aware Panel
• Object Removal
• Surface Removal
• Edge Blend Options
• Creating the fill layer
• Using Adobe Photoshop with Content Aware Fill

Lesson 7: Particles and Simulation Effects

• Introduction to Particles and Simulation Effects
• Working with Particle Playground
• Options for the Cannon, Grid, and Layer Exploder
• Using Layer Maps
• Gravity, Wall and Repel Options
• Particle
• Working with Property Mappers
• Using Cycore Particle World and Particle Systems 2
• Integrating Particles with Video
• Using Particle and Simulation Effects for Track Mattes

Lesson 8: Useful Simulation Effects

• Shatter
• Pixel Polly
• Rain
• Snowfall
• Drizzle
• Mr. Mercury
• Waveworld
• Caustics