Creative After Effects 7: Workflow Techniques for Animation, Visual Effects and Motion Graphics [With DVD]

For two years I use this book as a source of creative thinking. Cross-border thinking, intelligent workflow techniques, unusual modi operandi, visualisation of technique... At the beginning there was a problem with lacking structure. But that's the small price for the mentioned advantages I find rarely in other teaching books. The also great Meyer-AE-books give you the desire of structured lessons. If you combine Taylor and Meyer then you will have an unbeatable combination. Thank you Mrs. Taylor for writing this book.

It's true as other (unnecessarily nasty) reviewers have pointed out that this book is loaded with typos, and the grammar could use some improvement as well. However, these reviewers neglect to mention two things: that the tutorials in the book are absolutely clear and well thought-out; and that the typos are (or at least were for me) very easy to spot without slowing down your study too much. I've also been through Steve Holmes excellent Total Training course on After Effects, as well as the Adobe Classroom In A Book, and I found Creative After Effects to be the best of the three, typos and grammar notwithstanding, so I've rated it five stars because in my opinion it's star rating really deserves to be averaged upwards. Thank you very much to the author using my time well, and please don't be discouraged from updating this excellent material for After Effects CS3.

Angie Taylor's approach to teaching After Effects follows an overall generalized and simple step by step rhetoric, which serves both the newbie or advanced user seeking a good reference. Even though it's about as readable as an Algebra II textbook, Angie's method truly familiarizes even the lamest of lamens with all the knowhow to get you started in the world of motion graphics. Before you know it you'll have most hot key's memorized while whizzing through pre-comps and parentings. Yes it's true this book has numerous errors which are initially frustrating, but as you learn the program the typos and mistakes become trite. Oh and as I said, it's not the most exciting thing. Have a pot of coffee ready to go - learning AE is tiresome. And, if you seek a text for compositing and blue/green screening there are better texts out there. Angie's book is best described as a full program overview not specializing on any one section in particular. Cheers!

Iam a college student and my ambhition seems to be leaning towards film editing for the past couple of years I have worked with Final Cut Pro which was a farely simple , yet complex peice of editing software. This year Iam in an advanced class where our teacher has stressed to us to work with some Adobe After Effects 7 in additon with final cut pro I bought this book to help me further understand the software. The first time I opened up After Effects I will admit I was Iniminated I tried fooling around with some of the panels and stuff and couldnt figure anything out ,, So now I have started from chapter 1 with this book I inserted the dvd that it comes with into the computer which has sort of a classroom in a book feel to this book but much better.. Go through the chapters using the source clips provided on the dvd. This has helped me understand what After Effects is about now Iam not finished with this book yet but wanted to write a review on this because it has helped me with its easy reading and keyboard shortcuts for both pc and mac. It explains every small detail in easy to understand language there is no computer/video editor slang.. If you are looking for a good editing book and you have Adobe After Effects 7.0 This is its Bible not the manual , which tends to use more slang assming that the purchaser knows what they are talking about , the manual tends to make things more difficult. This book makes even someone has never worked with film editing able to accomplish what they would like and learn the software. I Love This Book Thanks Angie Taylor