Can I Learn After Effects On My Own?

Adobe After Effects is a powerful tool for creating motion graphics and visual effects, making it a staple in the film, television, and digital content industries. If you’re considering learning After Effects to launch a new career or enhance your creative projects, you might wonder if self-learning is a viable path for reaching your goals. The short answer is yes, it is possible to learn After Effects on your own. However, doing so will likely take much longer and be more challenging compared to learning with a live instructor who can provide immediate support and guidance through your learning journey. This article will explore the advantages and disadvantages of self-teaching After Effects, the resources available for independent learners, and alternative training options for mastering the industry-standard motion graphics application.

Advantages to Self-Teaching After Effects

While live online and in-person classes offer the advantage of a structured curriculum and guidance from expert instructors, most who consider the idea of self-teaching After Effects do so because of the significant expense tied to these live classes. With the abundance of free resources online, self-teaching After Effects is more accessible and budget-friendly than ever before. Another feature of self-led After Effects training is that learners can focus on topics that interest them the most, which may not benefit those seeking comprehensive training but could be helpful for an individual who needs to learn one single feature of After Effects quickly, such as how to animating text or adding simple motion to an image. This targeted approach can allow learners to reach their more limited goals without an unnecessary commitment to a course covering tools and techniques of After Effects that they will never need.

Another advantage of self-teaching After Effects is the flexibility it offers. Independent learners can set their own pace and schedule, making it easier to balance learning with other personal or professional commitments. This approach can be especially beneficial for individuals who prefer learning at their own speed and revisiting challenging topics as needed. However, while this method can be suitable for those with specific limited goals, those aiming for comprehensive mastery might find the structured, expert-led instruction of live classes more effective in helping them gain true expert-level proficiency in After Effects.

After Effects Self-Teaching Tools

Numerous resources are available for those who wish to learn After Effects independently, whether to grasp the basics, answer questions as an intermediate user, or gain a professional level of expertise in the software. While these tools aren’t able to take you from novice to expert on their own, they can be of great assistance in a self-led learning journey or supplement your studies if you prefer to attend a live, instructor-led course.

Free Tutorials and Seminars

Adobe and professional training schools like Noble Desktop offer a variety of free After Effects tutorials and adjacent seminars on their websites that can provide a helpful foundation in the application’s basics for beginners. Learners may also find free online tutorials covering one of After Effects’ specific tools or techniques. These can be helpful to explore before enrolling in a class or as supplementary materials while taking one, but piecing together a comprehensive training in the software is not an option for those who need to build real expertise in After Effects.

Articles and Blog Posts

Many working professionals and training schools maintain blogs and regularly post articles on their websites that offer insights, tips, and detailed guides on different aspects of After Effects. Noble Desktop’s After Effects Learn Hub articles provide helpful information for beginners to the software, including pointers in helping them chart the best path to achieving their learning goals. Similar resources can be excellent for After Effects learners and professionals in staying in-the-know regarding software updates and related industry news.

YouTube Series

Visual learners may appreciate the many After Effects discussions and tutorials available on YouTube. Channels like Noble Desktop, Video Copilot, and School of Motion offer a wide range of videos on After Effects, including many geared toward beginners and a few toward answering questions that may arise for intermediate or advanced users. Recent vlogs by working professionals in animation, video editing, and motion graphics may also be worth checking out, as they will often discuss the latest After Effects updates and other news related to the application.

Podcasts

While audio podcasts lack the visual component crucial for learning software like After Effects, they can still offer valuable insights. Podcasts such as School of Motion Podcast and Motion Hatch feature interviews with industry professionals who share tips, trends, and experiences. These podcasts are great for staying engaged with the community of professional After Effects users and learning about real-world applications of After Effects. 

Books

For those who prefer reading, several books are available for learning the principles, techniques, and best practices of motion graphics and visual effects. Books like Adobe After Effects Classroom in a Book by Lisa Fridsmaand Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects by Chris and Trish Meyer offer in-depth insights and are excellent resources to complement an individual’s hands-on learning experience. However, After Effects learners should always ensure any book they use in their studies is the latest available edition and check Adobe’s website and other online resources to stay abreast of the latest updates to the software.

On-demand Classes

Platforms such as Udemy, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning offer on-demand classes that provide structured learning paths for After Effects. These courses typically include prerecorded lectures and assignments that students can listen to and do on their own schedule and at their own pace. While on-demand classes offer more structure than free resources and books, they still require significant self-discipline to complete and lack the invaluable feedback and guidance provided by live instructors. These courses can be doable for the most self-motivated, but most will find their goals more accessible with the up-to-date curricula, community, and support of an instructor offered by live classes. 

By combining these various resources, learners can create a customized and flexible learning experience tailored to their specific needs and goals. However, investing in structured, expert-led training will be the most efficient path for those aiming to achieve professional-level proficiency.

Drawbacks to Learning After Effects on Your Own

While self-teaching After Effects may be the obvious choice for some, the approach features several challenges that make it a less effective option for many—especially those planning to develop an expert level of proficiency in the application. Learners may struggle with maintaining consistency and motivation without the structure and accountability a live class provides. Moreover, self-taught students might miss out on the latest industry practices and nuanced techniques that experienced instructors will include in their live classes. Attempting to learn After Effects without the guidance of a live instructor can lead to gaps in knowledge and skills that are essential for professional-level use of the application. While self-teaching is a cost-effective and flexible option for those with specific, limited goals, those aiming for comprehensive mastery will find greater value in investing in live, expert-led After Effects courses that offer a well-rounded education and direct support.

Another significant drawback of self-teaching After Effects is the lack of immediate feedback and personalized support. When working independently, learners may encounter complex problems while attempting tasks like intricate keyframing or nuanced motion tracking, which are difficult to resolve without guidance from an experienced instructor. The lack of assistance from a live instructor can result in frustration for the learner and potentially halt their progress altogether as navigating complex issues becomes overwhelming. In contrast, live classes provide the opportunity to ask questions and receive instant clarification, ensuring that After Effects students stay on track and fully understand the material. For those aiming to achieve a high level of proficiency in After Effects, the value of having support readily available cannot be overstated.

Alternatives to Learning After Effects on Your Own

Opting for a structured training program to learn After Effects offers numerous advantages over self-teaching. Noble Desktop’s After Effects Bootcamp, After Effects Certification Program, and other live online and in-person After Effects classes provide well-organized curricula, fixed schedules, and the benefit of direct interaction with expert instructors. These experienced and passionate teachers provide their students with tailored guidance and immediate feedback, answering questions in real-time and ensuring their instruction is current with motion graphics and video editing industry standards.

Enrolling in a live After Effects course also connects you with a network of peers and industry professionals, offering valuable opportunities for networking and career support, particularly beneficial for those aiming to establish careers in animation, video editing, and motion graphics. Seasoned instructors use their real-world expertise to help you master advanced techniques like keyframing, motion tracking, and greenscreen removal through lectures, discussions, and hands-on projects. Choosing an in-person or live online class can significantly speed up an After Effects learner’s path to expertise and achieving their professional goals.

Learn After Effects with Noble Desktop

NYC-based design and coding school Noble Desktop offers several After Effects classes to help learners meet various professional and personal goals. These classes are available in-person in Midtown Manhattan and live online, so students anywhere in the world can benefit from Noble’s high-quality instructor-led training. Here are a few After Effects course options currently available at Noble Desktop.

Noble Desktop offers an 18-hour After Effects Bootcamp suitable for beginners as well as long-time users of the application who would like to fill some gaps in their knowledge. Experienced instructors will lead you through a proven curriculum featuring lectures, discussions, and hands-on exercises that will ensure you master and retain the skills you learn in the program. Tuition covers several perks, including Noble’s proprietary workbook, a free retake option, one bonus one-on-one mentorship session, and a verified digital certificate of completion. The After Effects bootcamp covers all of the essentials of the application, from the basics to more advanced animation techniques like greenscreen removal and motion tracking. By the time you complete the bootcamp, you’ll be an adept After Effects user, able to transform images and text into animations, join clips with transitions, integrate video footage in your projects, and confidently create motion graphics and animation projects using the application’s many features.

Noble Desktop’s After Effects Certification Program provides comprehensive training and support to help you earn an Adobe Certified Professional in After Effects certification. Whether you’re aiming for a career in animation, motion graphics, video production, or design, this certification can significantly expand your professional prospects. The program includes Noble’s After Effects Bootcamp and After Effects Advanced course, ensuring you receive comprehensive, well-rounded training in the powerful application. The After Effects Certification Program features six hours of one-on-one tutoring, the certification exam fee, and free retake options for both the exam and the entire program if needed. Upon completing the program, you’ll receive a digital certificate verifying your dedication to your professional development by investing in this course.

Suppose you’re looking for an After Effects class to prepare for a career in motion graphics, video editing, or animation. In that case, you may wish to explore Noble Desktop’s career-focused certificate programs. These comprehensive courses are budget-friendly alternatives to college degrees, helping you achieve job readiness in a fraction of the time required to earn a bachelor's. Noble Desktop’s Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate is one of their certificate programs featuring After Effects training. It also includes live, instructor-led training in Premiere Pro, Adobe Audition, Cinema 4D in After Effects, and Photoshop, providing a well-rounded education in essential tools for aspiring video editing or motion graphics professionals. The program also features eight one-on-one mentorship sessions, portfolio-building guidance, the option to retake the course within a year, and a verified certificate of completion.