Week 5: Feb 17, 2011

PRE-COMPING AND NESTING:

• how to pre-comp 
• why pre-comp 
• nesting comps

References:
http://library.creativecow.net/articles/preston_bryan/precomp.php 
* Ignore the sections about "Applying Effects" and "Rendering for Avid" as we didn't cover the first and won't go into the second. 

SOLIDS:

• creating a solid layer
• layer > new > solid or "Command + Y"
• editing solid layer settings
• layer > solid settings or "Shift + Command + Y"

MASKS:

• creating a mask
• select a layer
• use a pen tool or any of the geometry tools (rectangle, ellipse, etc) to apply a path
• mask states
• add, subtract, intersect, lighten, darken, difference
• mask transforms
• path, feather, opacity expansion
• animating mask paths

References:
http://www.adobepress.com/articles/article.asp?p=1661078

TYPE—PART 1:

• importing text: Convert to Editable Text
• Photoshop file: import into AE, place in comp, right-click > Convert to Editable Text
• Illustrator file: export as psd file, import into AE, place in comp, right-click > Convert to Editable Text
• creating text in AE: type tool ("Command + T")

References:
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/aftereffects/cs/using/WSB0C11C4A-7F82-4fdf-81DD-3E39B052541Aa.html