Which Adobe Animate Training Format Is Right for Me?

With Adobe Animate, you can create animation and interactive vector graphics that can be exported to multiple platforms. The majority of Animators use computer applications like Animate. When comparing types of Adobe Animate training, there are many factors to consider. Everyone learns differently, and choosing the right kind of training is critical to your experience.

Keep reading to find out more about the different formats of Adobe Animate training, how they compare to each other, and how to determine which is best for you.

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.

Training Formats for Adobe Animate

Students who want to learn Animate or another animation application can enroll in a class or utilize free online resources. Paid classes come in different formats, in-person, live online, or on-demand, and each option has advantages and disadvantages. Free online resources are usually the least comprehensive training option, but they can be an excellent way to learn basic animation information or to find answers to specific questions.

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 Classes

While live online classes are more flexible than in-person ones, some people need an even greater level of flexibility, and for them, on-demand classes can be a good fit. The on-demand format lets students take the course material at their own pace, working whenever and from wherever they choose. Many on-demand classes still include opportunities to interact with instructors and other students. An advantage of some of these classes is that classmates may live all over the country or the world, adding a diversity of perspectives. Finally, on-demand classes often cost less than live ones.

Comparison of Adobe Animate Training Formats

You can learn a program like Adobe Animate by taking in-person, live, or on-demand classes. Several research studies show that in-person training is the most effective. For instance, in one research study published in 2021, researchers looked at online learning at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. They found that online learning had some negatives compared to in-person classes. Students who took online courses reported that they felt less connected to both their instructors and their peers. Some said they felt like their instructors cared less about them. In addition, grades were lower by half a grade for online students.

Engagement and a feeling of personal connection are common reasons students choose in-person classes. Many like that live classes allow them to receive immediate instructor feedback and informal discussions with fellow students. Talking to other students is integral to the learning process and can lead to valuable networking opportunities. Another benefit of live classes is that students usually learn in computer labs with new equipment and up-to-date software, which can be particularly important when learning a computer application like Adobe Animate. 

Live online training is the next best thing to in-person classes because while learning happens through a screen, it is still live with an instructor and a group of students. This class format can be the best option for some people because it doesn’t require a commute. Live online training can also be beneficial because it removes geographical barriers, allowing students to connect with people worldwide. This can increase networking options and also expose students to more diverse perspectives.

While most people prefer learning live, some end up taking on-demand classes instead. On-demand classes are much more flexible than live classes, allowing students to study whenever they want rather than attending class at a set time every week. On-demand classes are also typically cheaper to enroll in, and students save even more money because they don’t need to commute to a school. However, with pre-recorded content, on-demand classes have the potential to be outdated.

Is it Possible to Teach Yourself Adobe Animate?

It is definitely possible to learn something about an animation application like Animate without enrolling in a paid class. Those wishing to do so will find a variety of free animation resources online. For instance, YouTube contains free information on many different topics, including animation and motion graphics. Noble Desktop also posts free animation resources on both its website and its YouTube channel. Using resources like these can be a good way to find answers to specific questions or to get a basic understanding of an animation program like Animate or After Effects.

However, students who are learning about animation for professional reasons usually end up enrolling in paid classes. With a paid class, they can be sure they are receiving the right information rather than spending hours sifting through all of the free information that exists online. Paid classes also have the advantage of an expert instructor who can answer questions and explain difficult concepts. Further, many paid classes include mentorship and help to build a portfolio.

How to Decide the Best Way to Learn Adobe Animate

There are a number of ways to learn animation programs like Adobe Animate. However, students can narrow their options by considering factors related to their educational goals and learning style. Students should think about how much time and money they can invest in a class, how much personal attention they need from an instructor, how much they already know about the subject, and why they want to learn this particular skill. The answers to these questions can help them pick from the many animation and motion graphics classes available.

Free classes are a good option for those people who want to learn more about animation or motion graphics. Noble Desktop provides a long list of free animation and motion graphics seminars. These include Get Started in Motion Graphics and Intro to After Effects. Adobe also offers numerous free short tutorials for its programs, including Animate and After Effects. These tutorials can be a good resource for users who need help with using specific features of these programs.

Students will need to enroll in a paid class for a more in-depth understanding of a particular facet of animation or motion graphics. Shorter courses focused on specific skills can be a good option for those who want to develop a working knowledge of a program like After Effects to fill a skill gap or grow within their current role. For instance, a bootcamp like Cinema 4D in After Effects only takes a few days to complete and leaves students understanding how to use Cinema 4D Lite.

For some students, a bootcamp is not comprehensive enough, and a certificate program is a better fit. Certificates like the Motion Graphics Certificate take months rather than days to complete. However, they cover a more comprehensive array of content and include mentoring. A certificate program can be an excellent choice for somebody looking to switch careers into animation or motion graphics.

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.