So whether you are into motion graphics, action sequences, or artistic animations, these sites right here will teach you some pretty advanced stuff. Take a gander at them, and try out some of these tutorials for yourself!
Video Copilot
This definitive web-location for all things After Effects – Video Copilot – has been a longtime go-to source for VFX junkies. What I really like about this site is the fact that Video Copilot often takes on some pretty advanced techniques and then delivers it into bite-sized chunks for anyone to understand. The tutorials are all very thorough, and I’d recommend them to anyone with a creative mind and some time on their hands.
With that being said, you should recognize that Video Copilot is merely a starting point for most people, a place to learn techniques that you can build onto your own work. From my point of view, I would recommend just playing around with these tutorials. However, don’t apply the exact step-by-step results to your personal projects (for demo reel purposes), but if you are extremely new to After Effects, you should probably jump into the After Effects Basic Training, a nice set of free tutorials to get you started with the application. Furthermore, Video Copilot offers a great deal of production products for sale through their online store.
Motion Works
Motion Works is an Australian-based source for After Effects tips and tutorials that are presented in an easy-to-use format on an easy-to-read site. These tutorials are very detailed, and as mentioned with Video Copilot, you should use them as starting points for your own personal projects. The tutorials are all great exercises, and they even include instructions on how to create effects and motion graphics that you would see on television or in the movie theater.
One of the great things about Motion Works is that it actually provides downloadable presets that you can bring into your own project. Simply change the text, colors, and what-have-you, and you’ll have something presentable in no time. Personally, I would use these presets as a way to explore what exactly each setting and effect can do. Think of it as if you are reverse engineering these video effects, and that way, you can learn to make things from scratch.
AE Tuts Plus
AE Tuts Plus is a pretty solid source for After Effects, and I like a lot of what it has to offer. The tutorials range from full-length tutorials to quick tips, so if you’re easily distracted (like I am), you can learn something in a very short amount of time. With that being said, if you have time to kill, watch some of the longer videos and enjoy the power of self-serving education. The tutorials are high quality and interesting to try, but as always, try to use them only as a foundation for your work.
The unique feature I liked about AE Tuts Plus was the fact that it offers more than just tutorials, for there are plenty of VFX-related blog posts included on the site as well. From DIY gear to inspirational articles, you’ll leave AE Tuts Plus with a whole lot more than just a VFX education.
Conclusion
These sites are great, but there are probably hundreds of YouTubers out there who have dozens of tutorials for After Effects if you just go search for them. By no means should you only use these sites to build your After Effects repertoire. Heck, some of them are only kids, and I would watch them as closely as I would any professional – sometimes even more so.
With that being said, what other sites do you go to for After Effects tutorials? Any favorite tutorials from the ones mentioned here? Do you have any personal tutorials to share with us here at MUO?
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