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SEPTEMBER 09, 2003 Total Training: Adobe After Effects 6.0
Set Three: 3D, Expressions, Text and Design One of the other things I like about this entire series is how the material is presented. In the past, much of Total Training’s programs have used Mac screenshots exclusively. In the Total Training AE 6.0 series, Brian and Steve alternate between Windows XP and Mac interfaces to show the viewer that it doesn’t matter what platform you are on, AE functions the same way. As in previous Total Training products, all keyboard shortcuts still include both the Mac and PC key combinations.[an error occurred while processing this directive]I have previously reviewed the 3D, Expression, and Design aspects of this series, so I won’t repeat it here. However, I will say that the material is valuable and this is probably the most important set for the intermediate user. If you want a complete understanding of how the new Text Tool in After Effects 6.0 works, then this is the collection for you. A complete Disc is dedicated to this one tool alone. By the time you are finished, you should be able to create dramatic text effects on your own and be able to maximize the potential behind this tool. Set Four: Compositing and Advanced Effects with Adobe After Effects The final set in this collection covers the high-end Production Bundle concepts and effects. If you are (or want to be) a power user, then this is a must have set. Brian does a great job of explaining keying and how to get a good key from fair footage and then demonstrates how to blend everything together believably. Rototscoping is not a task that I would ever wish on anyone. It is a long, boring, tedious task and ranks slightly above “a bath with leeches” on my list of things I would not want to do. However, there are going to be instances where you are not dealing with chromakey footage, but instead have to pull a mask from existing material. Since you will have to do this at some point in your life, it is a good thing Steve covers the topic in great detail. Disc two covers Motion Tracking, color correction/adjustments, and other keyframe assistants. Because the Motion Tracker/Stabilizer has gone through a complete revamp, users will want to pay special attention to the material presented here. The series wraps up with a discussion of the Production Bundle Effects including Distortion, the Audio Filters, and one of the most versatile effects – Fractal Noise. If you are a Production Bundle owner, you need to have this set. If you are a newbie to After Effects, don’t jump into this set without first going through the other three. This is advanced material and you need to have the background to fully appreciate and comprehend the material covered. Once again, Total Training delivers a product that is helpful for users of any experience level. With the myriad of live training seminars being taught across the country, I feel you will get your best bang for the buck with this DVD series. Not only will you get more hours of training than any week long seminar, you can refer back to the material any time you wish. At first I had mixed feelings about the abundance of repeat material contained in this collection, and for the price, I would highly encourage owners of Total Training for After Effects 5.5 to contact Total Training and see if you can work out some kind of amazing upgrade deal for the new material covering 6.0. For those of you who haven’t seen a Total Training series, or who are finally ready to make the commitment to a training series, then Total Training for After Effects 6.0 will be a must have resource for your compositing and animation work.  When not working deep in the labs of the DMN Central Division testing the latest and greatest software/hardware products Stephen Schleicher can be found at the local university teaching a few courses on video and web production. He can be reached at schleicher@mindspring.com. You can also visit him on the web at www.mindspring.com/~schleicherRelated sites: • Animation Artist • Animation Supplement • AV Video • Broadcast Newsroom • Content Mastering • Creative Mac • Digital Animators • Digital Post Production • Digital Producer • Digital Video Editing • Film and Video Magazine • Mac Supplement • Production Supplement • Siggraph News • The WWUG Related forums: [an error occurred while processing this directive] 
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