Is After Effects a Hard Class?

Whether After Effects is a hard class depends largely on the learner’s prior experience and the depth of study they intend to pursue. For beginners, the steep learning curve of mastering the interface, keyframing, and basic animation techniques can be challenging. However, with dedication and the right resources, learning After Effects is achievable for everyone. Advanced features like motion tracking, compositing, and 3D animation can present more difficulty, but they become manageable with the guidance of consistent practice and the guidance of an expert instructor. This article will discuss the most challenging aspects of learning After Effects and offer strategies to make the process easier.

What is Hard about Learning After Effects?

Learning After Effects can be daunting for beginners, especially as they first encounter After Effects’ robust interface packed with its vast array of tools and features. New students may find themselves overwhelmed when first encountering the software’s workspace, which includes multiple panels, timelines, and menus. Understanding how to navigate and utilize these components effectively is a significant hurdle for many beginners in this application with a reputation for an initial steep learning curve. After Effects learners with experience with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications will likely be able to orient themselves to After Effects’ interface faster than others.

Most find that a good deal of time and patience is necessary for mastering keyframing, working with layers, and other foundational skills they’ll usually tackle once they’ve gained some comfort with the interface. However, these are less technically challenging than more advanced skills, especially creating and manipulating 3D objects, understanding perspectives, and other steps involved in 3D animation. Achieving realistic lighting and shadows in a 3D environment is notoriously tricky, often requiring supplementary knowledge of other Adobe tools like Cinema 4D.

For those aiming to use After Effects at a professional level, the learning curve will be even steeper. Advanced users need to develop a comprehensive skill set that includes scripting for automation, optimizing performance for complex projects, and staying up-to-date with the latest industry best practices. To navigate these challenges more effectively, many learners find that enrolling in a live online or in-person class with a live instructor provides invaluable support. These classes offer a structured learning experience, real-time feedback, and hands-on practice, significantly easing the process of mastering After Effects.

How Can I Make Learning After Effects Easier?

Structured Learning with Live Courses

One of the most effective ways to simplify the process of learning After Effects is by enrolling in a live online or in-person class. These classes provide students with direct access to expert instructors who can offer real-time feedback and guidance. In addition to the benefits of professional mentorship, live courses also create a collaborative environment where students can engage with their peers, exchange ideas, and work on group projects. This community aspect fosters a supportive learning atmosphere, while a proven curriculum ensures that learners cover all necessary topics comprehensively and systematically, minimizing the risk of detrimental knowledge gaps. Hands-on exercises and practical projects in these classes help solidify both theoretical and practical understanding, making complex concepts remarkably more manageable than when learned independently.

Free Online Resources

For those looking to supplement their learning, numerous free online resources are available to help make mastering After Effects easier. While it’s challenging to gain a complete education solely through free materials, these resources can be incredibly valuable as supplementary tools. Some professional training schools, including Noble Desktop, offer free seminars on various After Effects topics. Adobe also provides detailed tutorials to help users master the basics and some specific tools and techniques of the application. YouTube videos, podcasts, blogs, and articles—like those in Noble Desktop’s After Effects Learn Hub—can offer insights, tips, and up-to-date industry knowledge. These resources can be beneficial for beginners wanting to prepare as they wait for the first day of their live class or for reinforcing that they learn throughout their classroom training.

On-Demand Training

Learners who need extensive flexibility may be drawn to on-demand After Effects classes from platforms like Coursera and Udemy. These self-paced courses allow students to learn at their own convenience, making them ideal for those with busy schedules or extensive professional or personal commitments to work around. While on-demand classes typically cost less than live courses, they lack the immediate feedback and personalized guidance that live instruction provides. Highly motivated and self-disciplined students may thrive in this environment, but many find their After Effects learning journey significantly more challenging without the set schedule and real-time interactions of a live class. 

Best Ways to Learn After Effects Without Difficulty

Packed with features to make the learning process as easy as possible, live online or in-person After Effects classes are inarguably the best way to learn the application without difficulty. Below are a few benefits live classes provide for After Effects learners.

Personalized Instruction and Immediate Feedback

Live After Effects classes offer students the valuable opportunity to learn directly from experienced professionals in the field. These expert instructors can provide personalized guidance, addressing individuals’ specific challenges, such as mastering complex animation techniques or troubleshooting rendering issues. This immediate feedback is crucial when tackling After Effects’ steep learning curve, allowing students to quickly overcome obstacles that might otherwise hinder their progress. The interactive nature of live classes also encourages peer-to-peer learning, where students can share creative solutions and gain inspiration from each other’s work. This collaborative environment is particularly beneficial when exploring advanced features like expressions or 3D camera tracking, where diverse approaches can lead to innovative results.

Structure and Accountability

Live After Effects classes provide a well-structured learning path that guides students logically through mastering the software. Their carefully designed curriculum ensures learners master foundational skills before progressing to more advanced techniques, preventing overwhelm and frustration. The set schedule of classes and project deadlines create a framework that keeps students consistently engaged and motivated by clear benchmarks and a sense of accountability. Regular hands-on assignments allow learners to immediately apply topics covered in class, transforming theoretical concepts into practical skills. This approach is particularly beneficial when tackling challenging aspects of After Effects, such as mastering complex compositing techniques or creating intricate motion graphics, as it allows students to build confidence through guided practice and experimentation.

Resources & Support for Various Learning Goals

Live After Effects courses cater to a wide range of learners, from hobbyists to those planning to launch a new career. While some programs offer comprehensive career training, many focus on skill development for those looking to enhance their professional toolkit. Short-term bootcamps and short courses provide targeted learning experiences for professionals seeking to add motion graphics skills to their repertoire. For those aiming to learn After Effects to get started in a new career, however, a comprehensive certificate program, such as Noble Desktop’s Motion Graphics Certificate or Video Editing Certificate, can provide After Effects training along with an education in all the concepts, tools, and techniques needed to land an entry-level job. Noble Desktop’s career-focused certificate programs include several features that ease the process of turning students’ new After Effects skills into a new job, including one-on-one mentorship, portfolio-building support, and networking possibilities with peers and industry professionals.

Learn After Effects with Noble Desktop

Professional training school Noble Desktop offers a wide menu of design and coding classes, including several options for learning After Effects. These courses are available in-person in Midtown Manhattan and live online, so students worldwide can benefit from Noble’s high-quality, expert-led instruction. Below is a list of some of Noble Desktop’s most popular After Effects classes, each tailored to meet specific learning needs and professional goals.

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.

If pursuing an Adobe Certified Professional in After Effects will help you achieve your professional goals, Noble Desktop’s After Effects Certification Program features all the training and tools you need to gain proficiency in the application and be ready to pass the exam. Whether you’re an aspiring or current professional in animation, motion graphics, video production, or exam, earning this certification can help you land your dream job or grow in your current one. In addition to Noble’s After Effects Bootcamp and After Effects Advanced course, you will receive six hours of one-on-one training to ensure you learn and retain all the class material. The program includes a free retake option for the program, a verified certificate of completion, your exam fee, and a free retake of the exam if needed.

For those learning After Effects to launch a career in motion graphics, video editing, or animation, Noble Desktop’s comprehensive Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate program is an all-in-one career-prep program that will walk you from beginner to job-ready in 126 hours of hands-on classroom training. Available as a part-time or full-time certificate program, this course features training in the principles and best practices of video editing and motion graphics, along with all the must-have tools of the trade. By the time you finish this certificate program, you’ll be an expert in After Effects, Premiere Pro, Adobe Audition, Cinema 4D in After Effects, and Photoshop and have a professional portfolio to showcase this expertise to potential employers. Tuition covers eight one-on-one mentorship sessions you can use as career support, the option to retake the program or any part of it for one year, and a verified digital certificate of completion.