After Effects is an Adobe application used to create animation and visual effects. Once you’ve decided to learn After Effects, the next important question is deciding how you plan to learn these skills. Most students find that they learn better when they receive guided training, and there is no shortage of available options for students to receive guidance in their After Effects training. To learn more about the different After Effects training options and what advantages and disadvantages they carry with them, read on.

What is After Effects?

Adobe After Effects is a motion graphics application used to design and create special effects. This Academy Award-winning program has been a favorite of film, television, and internet creators since its creation in the early 1990s. Whether you are a small business looking to make eye-catching advertisements and commercials or an employee of one of the top animation studios, After Effect offers a way to bring your imagination to life. When combined with the other programs of the Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe After Effects is a great way to make sure a video project stands out from the crowd.

Read more about what After Effects is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with After Effects Skills?

After Effects is a motion graphics and special effects software that allows you to animate texts and objects, use greenscreens to add or subtract objects and elements and develop unique transitions to your visual media creations. Users can create their original graphics using Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator or redesign one of the many available templates to create their vision. When users combine the editing power of After Effects with the capacities of Cinema 4D Lite included with every subscription, these artists can add new textures and dimensions to their visual media. Beyond the incredible toolkit offered within the After Effects program, this application is also compatible with many other tools.

Why Training Format Matters

There are a variety of different ways to learn how to use After Effects. The different available class formats vary in flexibility and the level of personal interaction they offer. Time commitments and tuition costs also differ substantially. Overall, each type of training has advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of which format to pick will vary by student.

Types of Training Formats

Students who want to learn to use After Effects find that they need to pick a training format. Free courses are the most flexible option and involve virtually no commitment. Paid classes are typically much more comprehensive and can be taken live or on demand.

Live In-Person Classes

Live in-person training is the traditional way to learn a new subject, and many people still prefer this format. Students who attend an in-person class receive immediate feedback from the instructor and can participate in informal discussions with other students. Many students report that this in-person interaction helps with the learning process and can lead to valuable networking opportunities.

Another advantage of in-person instruction is that students are more likely to feel engaged and connected to their instructor and other students, which can also make learning easier. In contrast, with remote learning, connecting with other people can be more difficult. In a recent study, researchers analyzed the effect that online learning had on students in the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. They report that “Students felt less connected to their instructors and peers and claimed that their instructors cared less about them.”

However, compared to other formats, in-person classes have less flexibility. They require a commute, which costs time and money. In addition, schools that offer in-person courses are often located in major cities, so they are not a viable option for some students who live in smaller towns or rural areas. Another disadvantage of in-person classes is that they are typically more expensive than other training types.

Live Online Classes

Live online classes can be a good option for students needing more flexibility than in-person classes. Live online classes allow students to attend from anywhere with an internet connection. This format includes live instruction and immediate instructor feedback, just like with an in-person class. Some students are more comfortable asking questions in an online class, where they are behind a screen rather than sitting in front of a room full of people.

However, while many students like that they don’t have to commute to a classroom for a live online course, some find that learning can be more challenging when not at school. A classroom is explicitly designed for learning and can make focusing easier. In contrast, learning from another place, such as home, can be much easier to get distracted. Another critique of live online classes is that students have to log on at a set time to attend the course, so they still don’t have a lot of flexibility.

On-Demand Classes

On-demand classes are another popular way to learn. Unlike live online classes, where students must log on at a specific time, on-demand classes are not live. This means that every student can work at their own pace. This format makes it much easier to fit learning into a busy schedule. Because there is no live instructor, on-demand classes are typically cheaper too.

On-demand classes are only a good fit for some, though. Students can’t interact with an instructor in real time, making it harder to learn complicated topics or find answers to questions. On-demand classes also require a high level of self-discipline and motivation. Students who aren’t good at staying on track can find themselves doing something else instead of studying and falling behind.

Free Courses

Some people who want to learn After Effects start with free courses. There is a wide range of free After Effects classes online. For example, Noble Desktop has a collection of free design and motion graphics seminars, such as Intro to After Effects. The Adobe website is another free resource. It offers several short, free After Effects tutorials that answer common questions about using this application. These free resources can be a great way to get a basic understanding of After Effects or find an answer to a specific question, such as how to build custom transitions or create animated text.

Unfortunately, free resources have some downsides too. The biggest challenge to using free online information is verifying its reliability. While the Adobe website is a legitimate source of free information, it can be more challenging to understand whether or not other free sources–such as one of the many After Effects tutorials on YouTube–can be trusted. Another problem with free online resources is that many are outdated. Technology changes quickly, and students need to learn the most current information possible.

Depth of Training Formats

In addition to live and on-demand formats, all After Effects classes provide a different depth of training. Options range from short, free classes that cover the basics to comprehensive paid bootcamps or certificate courses that take weeks or months to complete. To decide which format works best for them, students should consider why they want to learn After Effects and how much time and money they will need to invest in a class.

Certificate Programs

Certificate programs are extended training programs designed to prepare students to work in their chosen fields. Some students take certificate programs to upskill in their current occupation, and others take them to reskill for a new career. Most certificate programs take longer than bootcamps or introductory classes, and they often cost more, but they also offer a more comprehensive education than these other types of classes. 

Many certificate programs cover After Effects. For example, in Noble Desktop’s Motion Graphics Certificate, students learn After Effects in addition to Premiere Pro and Cinema 4D Lite. They also learn about the entire process of motion graphics creation, from design to fully animated graphics. Further, they create a demo reel of their projects and get expert advice about finding a job in motion graphics. Overall, the program is intended to prepare students for a new career in motion graphics.

Training Bootcamps

Compared to certificate programs, bootcamps usually have a narrow focus and offer shorter, more intense training. They typically cost less than certificate programs too. The intensity of the bootcamp format is what makes these courses so popular. Students who don’t have a lot of time to spend in school can master new skills in a relatively short amount of time by taking a bootcamp.

Many people enroll in a bootcamp to gain the skills they need to advance within a career or transition to a new one. Bootcamps are also focused on getting students ready to use their new skills in the workplace immediately. They provide an immersive learning style, allowing students to solidify their knowledge through hands-on exercises. For instance, Noble Desktop runs a course called After Effects Bootcamp, where students learn how to use this popular app.

Introductory Courses

An introductory class is a shorter, slower-paced class than a bootcamp and covers less information than a bootcamp or a certificate program. It can be an excellent way to start learning something new. Noble Desktop offers an introductory After Effects class called After Effects in a Day that covers the basics of this app, such as animating photos, text, or video and adding sounds. Introductory courses like this usually only take a day or two to complete and cost significantly less than longer courses like certificate programs.

However, an introductory course doesn’t cover everything and is usually not enough education for students who want to master a program like After Effects. Students typically need to enroll in a longer course like a bootcamp or a certificate course.

Learn After Effects Skills with Noble Desktop

Are you looking for a training program to jump-start your After-Effects adventures? Noble Desktop, the creator of this tool, is known for its high-rated full and part-time bootcamps and certificate programs. Expert instructors set students up for long-term success through project-based learning and many opportunities for hands-on learning. Students living in or near New York City can easily commute to regularly offered in-person After Effects classes offered at Noble Desktop’s Manhattan campus. Want to avoid a long commute? Consider enrolling in one of Noble Desktop’s live online After Effects classes, where you can receive dynamic and interactive After Effects training from the comfort of your home or office!

Wondering which class format will help you cultivate your After Effects knowledge and skills? Consider your timetable and ultimate objectives. Students looking to use After Effects more casually or as an additional skill for an existing career may want to enroll in Noble Desktop’s After Effects in a Day or three-day After Effects Bootcamp. These classes save you time and money by balancing lectures with hands-on experience, maximizing retention, and setting you up for success. “Definitely recommend Noble Desktop overtaking a semester-long continuing education class at an expensive art school,” raved one reviewer, “This class practically covers techniques, and you can get started on your own after three days of intensive learning.” Worried that you couldn’t possibly retain everything you learn? Noble Desktop offers a free retake for all of its classes.

Students interested in a more dramatic career change or developing their portfolio and CV may want to enroll in the Motion Graphics Certificate or Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate programs. These training programs use hands-on experience and project-based training to teach students how to create original content using After Effects, Premiere Pro, and other Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Students also have several opportunities for one-on-one mentorship and receive a comprehensive step-by-step manual that ensures they have all the tools needed for long-term success.

Key Insights

• Students who want to learn After Effects will find a variety of training options.
• Many people find in-person classes the most effective way to learn a new subject.
• Live online classes can be a good choice when in-person classes are impossible.
• On-demand classes offer the most flexibility but also require a high level of motivation.
• Certificate programs are the most comprehensive class type and usually take several months to complete.
• Bootcamps are popular because they prepare students to use their new skills in the workplace immediately.
• Introductory courses are a great way to learn how to use After Effects.
• Noble Desktop offers several options if you are interested in enrolling in an After Effects class.