Discover the Best After Effects Classes in San Francisco
After Effects is accepted globally as the industry standard for video editing, motion graphics design, 3D animation, and a whole host of post-production techniques in film. The software is robust and powerful, which means that professionals across a staggering range of industries use its interface and workflow to accomplish their goals. This also means, however, that the learning curve can be quite steep for those just starting out with Ae, as it is colloquially known.
At the most basic level, After Effects is motion graphics manipulation software. Users can edit video, create composites, animate text and objects, manipulate 3D objects, or create their own objects and animation in a 3D workspace. You can see, then, why After Effects is used in industries ranging from film to advertising to social media, and tech communications of all varieties.
The speed of global commerce accelerates at the pace of its visual language, and After Effects is instrumental in creating and manipulating these communications. Hardly a piece of literature, copy, or communications exists now that does not have its visual accompaniment—or the words themselves may dance on a kinetic field, drawing in the viewer. What is behind all of this dynamism is After Effects, the first and last word in video editing and motion graphics creation.
Best After Effects Classes & Schools in San Francisco
The San Francisco Bay Area is a dynamo of global tech, which means that it's rich with professional opportunities for anyone interested in video, film, or motion graphics. You can find a number of on-site classrooms for learning After Effects, or if you'd rather not commute, your options for virtual courses are even greater. See what options are available for After Effects classes and school in San Francisco at CourseHorse.
A number of video production companies call San Francisco home, including Cowan Agency, Sprinkle Lab, and Start Motion Media. Advertising and creative firms of all kinds thrive in the fast-paced and cutting-edge environment of the Bay Area.
Additionally, the Walt Disney Family Museum Animation Festival is held each year in San Francisco, which is a great place to meet industry professionals and connect with like minded creatives. Industrial Light and Magic, George Lucas's effects and production company, is headquartered in San Francisco, providing a number of opportunities and events to filmmakers and motion graphics designers.
After Effects Training: Bootcamp presented by Lumenbrite Training is a five-session, beginner-level course that teaches you the fundamentals of After Effects. Learn to create motion graphics, text effects, video blending, key techniques, and track mattes. This course begins at the beginner level and progresses to the intermediate level. All you need to begin is basic computer proficiency on a PC or Mac.
Ben Bardens and Studio Arts presents After Effects 101, a course designed for those who want to learn the basics of After Effects. You will learn motion graphics, compositing, and visual effects in an interactive and hands-on virtual classroom. Topics covered include layers, keyframes, the timeline function, importing footage, animating footage, rotating, and much more.
If you're looking for an in-depth intensive on the fundamentals of After Effects, then After Effects Beginner Class is for you. Presented by American Media Training, this three-day course will teach you the fundamentals of After Effects, including how to use the Ae workflow, creating a basic animation using effects and presets, animating text, shape layers, animating a multimedia presentation, layers, masks, and many more. This course is perfect for anyone with an interest in digital video or film.
Adobe After Effects Masterclass Course presented by The Knowledge Academy teaches you basic navigation in After Effects, how to use layers, keyframes, masks, rendering, and much more across nine complete modules. This is a beginner level course taught by an experienced Adobe instructor. The Knowledge Academy classroom is a wifi-enabled workspace that includes air conditioning, full IT support, and access to video equipment.
After Effects Bootcamp gives you the necessary tools to start creating in Ae from day one. Presented by Noble Desktop, this beginner level course progresses over three sessions and will teach you how to use the Ae workspace, foundational animation techniques, motion tracking, and animating 3D layers. This course is open to learners aged 18 and up, and class sizes average about 15 people.
Presented by NYC Career Centers, After Effect in a Day is a one-day intensive to get you started in After Effects. This small, hands-on class is designed to teach you the fundamentals of the Ae interface, the timeline, layer animation, easing in and out, fade-ins, and much more. Some experience in Photoshop is recommended for this class, but it is not required. Prerequisites include a computer or smart device and a reliable internet connection.
San Francisco Industries That Use After Effects
It's no secret that the Bay Area is the birthplace of the modern tech movement. Apple, Twitter, Google, and a host of other companies are headquartered there, which means that the area is a hub for digital video and motion graphics professionals. Every day new start-ups emerge in San Francisco and its environs, and many of them create content for the web and mobile devices. Experienced artists in After Effects are crucial to the success of these burgeoning ventures.
According to the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, the six key industries of the Bay Area are IT and software, social and digital media, life sciences and biotech, environmental and cleantech, and international business. How exciting that each of these growing sectors welcome professionals with experience in After Effects and digital motional graphics manipulation.
Social & Digital Media
San Francisco is now known the world over for its social and digital media industries. Companies like Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Google, and Youtube are all headquartered in the area. Motion graphics designers create motion graphics and interfaces for these sorts of social media applications, as well as animated text, logos, and other 3D design elements.
IT & Software
Software is one of the most lucrative industries for a Special Effects Artist or Motion Graphics Designer. Any title, animation, or 3D object a user encounters in a given program must be designed by someone, and After Effects is often how it's done. Software and IT companies headquartered in San Francisco and the Bay Area include Apple, Alphabet, Intuit, Electronic Arts, Salesforce, and many others.
