Tip 5: Time
For Tip 5 I would like to talk about Time. This may seem like a slightly odd tip. I can’t prescribe more time but time is extremely important in your journey to learning a new piece of software. We all have the same amount of time and usually more than we think.
“The key is in not spending time, but in investing it.”
Stephen R. Covey
Looking back with hindsight I can honestly say the biggest part of my success in learning After Effects and animation has come with time. Every day I’ve slowly built bit by bit from the last day and repetition has led me to where I am today.
When I first started to learn I was extremely impatient and just wanted to be making what the professionals were making. Ironically it took me a lot of time to realise that when you learn the fundamentals and practice them over time you will always be improving and getting closer to the goal.
Over the course of the last few years my design and animation has improved. My ability to use the correct principles for both design and animation have been refined and It’s the ability to reflect and implement changes that has also helped me improve.
Take your time and enjoy the process. Rome wasn’t built in a day. As Richard D Williams said in his Animators Survival kit: “Take the long shortcut’.
So spend time looking at great work, learning the principles and continuously improving day by day.
Summary:
So there you have it, My top 5 Tips for learning After Effects with a side serving of the fundamentals. I’d love to hear your thoughts on these tips. Please reach out via email or on social media.
- Tip 1 – Getting to know Adobe After Effects
- Tip 2 – Best place to learn Adobe After Effects?
- Tip 3 – Personal Projects
- Tip 4 – The Fundamentals
- Tip 5 – Time (this page)
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