How to Learn Adobe Animate

Adobe Animate is an app you can use to create a number of different types of animation. Animators who know how to use apps like Animator work in many different industries, including television and film, gaming, education, and advertising. The number of options for learning Adobe Animate might be overwhelming at first glance. There are books, video tutorials, classes, and more to choose from; it all depends on your learning style and personal preferences. 

Here, we’ll discuss the various methods of learning Adobe Animate so you can decide how you’d like to get started.

What is Adobe Animate?

Adobe Animate is an Adobe application used to create 2D animation. With it, Animators can produce animation and interactive vector graphics for a variety of media, including television, games, apps, and online video. They can export their work to multiple platforms, including Flash/Adobe AIR, WebGL, and HTML5 Canvas. Animate has been used to create a number of popular cartoons, including My Little Pony and The Amazing World of Gumball. It was previously known as Adobe Flash Professional, a top-rated program in the late 1990s and 2000s.

Animate has numerous tools that allow Animators to create complex and detailed animations. For instance, its virtual camera feature can pan, zoom, and rotate animations. Audio synching lets Animators sync the audio in their animations. Vector brushes make it possible to resize, move, color, and animate brush strokes. Animation apps like Animate give Animators the tools to create things that would be difficult to draw by hand.

Read more about what Adobe Animate is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Adobe Animate?

People have been using animation for more than one hundred and fifty years to entertain and communicate a wide variety of content. Animation can grab an audience’s attention, tell stories, simplify complex content, and communicate ideas quickly. As a result of its versatility and universal appeal, animated content is used in many professions. Early animation featured hand-drawn content. However, today’s Animators use computers and animation applications such as Adobe Animate.

When people think about animation, many think of cartoons, which are indeed one thing many Animators create. Animation is in countless forms of media, and much of it develops from applications like Adobe Animate. Adobe Animate, in particular, is frequently used to generate cartoons and 2D animated television shows. The application can be used to create characters and add effects and audio, and it has developed many well-known shows and movies, including My Little Pony and The Amazing World of Gumball. However, cartoons are only one of the things that Animators create with animation apps. Apps also help to create video games for computers and mobile devices, educational content, and a wide variety of advertising and animated content for the internet.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics explains that Animators typically choose a specific medium to work in, such as television or video gaming. In addition, they often specialize within that medium. For example, some video game designers specialize in creating characters, while others focus on scenery. Animators who specialize in this way are typically part of a larger team, with each team member working on one part of a project.

In-Person Adobe Animate Training

Many find in-person training the best way to learn a new program like Adobe Animate. With in-person instruction, teachers often connect better with students because they are face-to-face and can offer personalized attention and guidance based on their interactions. In-person instruction also tends to be more collaborative. Students who are physically present in a classroom together can easily talk, solve problems, or engage in hands-on work with one another. This collaboration can enhance the overall learning experience and lead to valuable networking relationships.

For some students, in-person learning does present challenges, though. One of the biggest is that students have to commute to a classroom, which takes time and costs money. In-person classes also lack flexibility since students have to be there at a set time every day or week. Yet another downside of in-person courses is that they are often more expensive than other types of training, such as on-demand classes.

Despite these challenges, many students do opt for in-person training. Noble Desktop offers in-person classes in After Effects, Cinema 4D Lite, and other tools that Animators commonly use. For students looking for Adobe Animate classes specifically, Noble’s Classes Near Me tool is a good way to find other schools that offer training in this application.

Live Online Adobe Animate Training

Live online training has become an increasingly popular way to learn Adobe Animate and other animation applications. With this format, students receive live instruction but don’t have to spend time or money commuting to a classroom. Another thing many people like about live online classes is that they can be diverse, with people from different parts of the country or even the world. As a result, students often get varied perspectives on the course material and find different types of networking opportunities.

However, live online training can also have some drawbacks. A classroom is explicitly designed for learning and has a live teacher, so it can be easier for students to focus. In contrast, students learning online can be more likely to get distracted. Another thing that some people don’t like about live online classes is that while they don’t have to commute to a classroom, they still have to log on at a set time to attend the live class, so they don’t have much flexibility.

Students who pursue live online training will find many different course options. Noble Desktop teaches many animation skills, with shorter classes like After Effects in a Day and more comprehensive classes such as a Motion Graphics Certificate. Those who want to learn Adobe Animate specifically can use Noble’s Classes Near Me tool to find live online Adobe Animate classes.

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

Students who want to learn more about animation applications like Adobe Animate, but aren’t ready to commit to a paid class, can start by reviewing free introductory online courses and seminars instead. Most free resources don’t teach users everything they need to know about animation apps, but they can be an excellent way to learn some basics. YouTube is a great place to find free animation resources. The site has lots of free tutorials about using Adobe Animate to create various types of animation.

Noble Desktop is another excellent free resource. This website has numerous free seminars on a variety of topics related to animation. For instance, Get Started in Motion Graphics provides an overview of motion graphics and video editing and includes an introduction to animating with Adobe After Effects. Intro to Cinema 4D Lite is another free Noble seminar. It gives students an overview of Cinema 4D Lite, which creates animation through Adobe After Effects.

For students who need help with specific features of Animate, the Adobe website can be helpful. Adobe offers many short, free tutorials that answer common questions about Animate. These include Using Layer Effects in Animate, Design Social Media Content, and Create an Animated Infographic. Adobe’s Animate Support Community, also on the Adobe website, is another place to answer questions about the app. The Support Community is a place for users to share questions and answers about various topics related to Animate.

Read about more free Adobe Animate videos and online tutorials.

On-Demand Adobe Animate Classes

On-demand training is the most flexible option for students who want to learn Adobe Animate or another animation application. On-demand students can complete their classwork wherever and whenever they want to. This can make managing a busy schedule that includes school, work, and family and friends easier. Students who enroll in on-demand classes can often interact with peers and instructors as with an in-person course. They just use different tools to do so, such as discussion boards and video conferences. Finally, on-demand classes are often cheaper than live ones.

While the flexibility of on-demand classes is attractive to many, it can be problematic for some. Students who learn at home may find getting distracted from lectures or homework easier. Some also find that it takes a lot more self-discipline to learn when they are in charge of their own schedules. For instance, procrastinating and doing something else can be easier than studying.

Many providers offer on-demand classes that teach Adobe Animate and other animation programs. These include Udemy, Skillshare, and LinkedIn Learning. Noble Desktop is a good place to visit for more information about the various on-demand Adobe Animate classes available.

Which Learning Method is Right for Me?

With so many different resources available to help beginners learn Adobe Animate, students might be unsure about which one is best for them. Everyone has different learning styles and preferences, and you can experiment with multiple tools to see which one feels right for you. One of the great things about directing your own learning is that you get to pick which combination of tools you prefer; you don’t have to stick with what a teacher chooses.

It’s also essential to consider your current schedule before selecting a learning method. If you have a lot of responsibilities like a full-time job or family commitments, you may not be able to devote time to a structured course that requires you to attend at the same time every day. In this case, a self-paced class or video tutorials may be better since you can access them when your schedule allows. On the other hand, those with a more flexible schedule may prefer a structured course offered in-person or live online. 

Yet another thing to consider when picking a learning method is your level of experience with animation. Students who have no knowledge of design or computer animation are likely to find it more difficult to learn a program like Animate. These students may find a live class to be a better fit since they can get immediate instructor feedback.

Why Learn Adobe Animate?

Adobe Animate and other animation applications are valuable tools for people who want to work in animation or motion graphics. Animation is created by generating a series of images, each slightly different from the one before. Viewers see the illusion of movement when the images move in quick succession. In traditional animation, all images are hand-drawn, which takes a lot of time. Applications like Animate eliminate the need for hand drawing, saving countless work hours.

The majority of Animators now use computer applications like Animate. This means that anyone planning to work in animation will need to learn at least one animation app. Not only do apps like Animate eliminate hours of hand drawing, but they give Animators a number of new tools that they can use to manipulate their animations in ways that would be difficult or impossible when drawing by hand. For instance, with Animate’s puppet animation, users can manage a character rig without redrawing it.

Read more about why you should learn Adobe Animate.

Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost 

How quickly a student learns Adobe Animate or another animation application depends on many factors. According to most experts, learning the basics in a few days or weeks is possible, but mastering an app could take months, and creating professional animations might take years. Apps like Animate have lots of advanced features, and learning how to use all of those features takes time and practice. Students who already have some knowledge of animation or design will likely have an easier time, and so will users who have some experience with computer animation. 

Users who want to learn an animation application may need experience using specific design programs. For example, Noble Desktop offers a number of classes for the popular animation app After Effects. Still, some of them require that students know how to use design programs like Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. Students who don’t meet these prerequisites can get them relatively quickly. For instance, it only takes a few days to complete an Illustrator bootcamp.

Adobe Animate is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud. The subscription price is $20.99 for Adobe Animate only or $54.99 per month for access to all Creative Cloud apps. Adobe offers a free seven-day trial for all of its apps. After that, users need to pay a monthly subscription fee. For businesses, Adobe Animate is only $35.99 per month per license or $84.99 per month for all Creative Cloud apps.

Read about how difficult it is to learn Adobe Animate.

Learn Animation & Motion Graphics with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

At Noble Desktop, students can learn animation and motion graphics with hands-on classes that fit many schedules and learning styles. Every class is small and interactive and led by expert instructors. In addition, Noble always provides a free retake option. The free retake allows students to retake the same class once within a year without paying for it again. Students can gain additional animation or motion graphics skills using the free retake without investing in another class.

The After Effects Bootcamp is a popular option among students who decide to study animation at Noble Desktop. Students in this bootcamp learn After Effects, a program that professional Animators commonly use, in just 18 hours. Bootcamps like this are popular because they provide quick, intensive training that gives students a good understanding of the subject matter over only a few days. Many pick a bootcamp when they want to add one skill like After Effects to their resume.

However, bootcamps are not the best option for everyone. Some students prefer more in-depth training and opt for a certificate program instead. Certificate programs take longer to complete, but they cover more subject matter. For instance, Nobel’s Motion Graphics Certificate takes two months full-time or four months part-time to finish. During that time, the curriculum covers animation programs, including After Effects, Cinema 4D Lite, and Premiere Pro, and how to use these programs to work on multiple animation projects.

Key Insights

• There are many different ways to learn an animation app like Adobe Animate. 
• With some research, you can understand each option's benefits and downsides and decide which works best for you.
• Animators create many different animations and work in many industries.
• With in-person animation classes, students get live instruction, an environment dedicated to learning, and the opportunity to network with classmates.
• Live online training is an effective way to learn but has more flexibility than the in-person format.
• The most flexible training option is an on-demand class. However, on-demand learning requires a high level of motivation.
• No matter how you learn, you can find options at Noble Desktop. 
• The New York City-based school offers animation training in person or live online. Its website has many resources for students wanting to start a career in animation.