[Albert&Mildred]

Hello,


I am very interested in learning a software to allow me to get into motion graphics, I shoot my own footage and I have been designing for print for over 10 years.

I am not sure if I should learn Flash or After Effects? Any suggestions?


Thanks

Luca

[chips]

after effects for motion graphics.
flash for web stuff.

if you're looking for training books/dvds - the total training DVD for After Effects is top notch.

[Albert&Mildred]

Originally Posted by chips

after effects for motion graphics.
flash for web stuff.

if you're looking for training books/dvds - the total training DVD for After Effects is top notch.

thanks! can you do vector animations in after effects?

[chips]

well yes and no. depends what you're doing.

there are path & mask tools in AE which can be used to create vector images, but most of the time you'll be animating vector images which have been created elsewhere.

with AE you can import illustrator files, psds, video footage, jpgs, targa sequences etc into the same composition.

so, most of the time you'll be creating artwork outside of After effects in photoshop, illustrator or whatever and bring it into AE to animate (rather than create it inside AE from scratch) It's a really powerful compositing soft
ware aswell.

think of after effects as a kind of animatable photoshop. it shares many features with PS, but you have a timeline.

to me things done in flash look like...well exactly that. like flash.
I actually prefer flash for drawing vector stuff, but thats mainly due to me hating illustrator.

I've used both flash and after effects quite a bit and find flash quite limiting in many ways.

[Albert&Mildred]

thanks, i get the picture

[Airea]

after effects is the don for motion graphics. But flash is more better for BIG motion graphics online.

[Kernel]

What about Combustion?
I know I was told it's a bit more for post production but works good in motion graphics too.

[Jon Lane]

After Effects 8.0 now includes more vector shapes There is actually a new module called Shape Layers.
There are a few free Shape presets at Creative Mac
A Few Shape Presets for Adobe After Effects 8.0
To try them out, you'll have to download the beta demo of After Effects 8.0.

[SGr]

For me:
Flash - Interactive media creation with moving elements.
After Effects - Superb motion graphic composite app. (2D and 2.5D NOT 3D)
Combustion - also a composite app. But I find it limiting in some ways.
Apple Motion - Native motion graphic app. for mac with good intergration to pro apps from apple.
Apple Shake - High end VFX composite app. and my new baby ;-)

[forbes]

you can combine after effects and flash.. import a composition to flash and play around with it in flash and publish it on the web

[jckpalmer]

It really depends what you want to do with your career.

With the convergence now of heavy media and useful content on line AE is finding its way into more and more design studios. I myself used AE for a client recently.

Obviously this is due to the reduced cost and wider availabilty of ADSL / ADSL 2.

I would consider where it is you want your career to go then choose a relevent course at your local college or university carefully! (And don't let them convince you to take a general course like a HND or BTEC).

Once you've decided on a course check out the student material and if there work is similar to what your looking to do, bingo.

Failing that spend 2 - 3 years with misguided tinkering, hard to follow books and Forums and you MIGHT manage to learn how to use the software before its obsolete!

Good Luck

[amitavroy]

well if you are into motion graphic then i would say go for After effects. flash is for different things. and if possible also learn combustion. it is from discreet and it is dam good.
Regards
Web Design Mumbai, Graphic Design Mumbai, Navi Mumbai - Pixel Groups

[jenwhx]

Combine!