60-Day Adobe After Effects Study Plan

A complete step-by-step breakdown on how each daily activity is accomplished in Adobe After Effects across all 60 days of your study plan:

Phase 1: Foundations (Days 1–15)

Day 1: Interface Basics

1. Open After Effects: Launch Adobe After Effects from your Applications/Start menu.

2. Explore Panels:

   • Project Panel (Top-Left): Where imported media (videos, audio, images) and compositions live.

   • Composition Window (Center): Your visual canvas previewing the current frame.

   • Timeline Panel (Bottom): Where layers stack vertically (top layers cover bottom layers) and time flows horizontally left-to-right.

3. Create a New Composition:

   • Go to Composition > New Composition (or press Ctrl+N / Cmd+N).

   • Set Composition Name to Day 1 Test.

   • Set Preset/Resolution to 1920x1080 (Full HD), Frame Rate to 30 fps, and Duration to 0:00:10:00 (10 seconds). Click OK.

Day 2: Importing Media

1. Import Assets: Go to File > Import > File... (or double-click an empty space in the Project Panel). Select your video, image, and audio files, then click Import.

2. Add to Timeline: Drag the imported files from the Project Panel down into the Timeline Panel.

3. Adjust Order: Click and drag layer names up or down in the Timeline. Layers at the top of the list will visually cover layers below them in the Composition Window.

Day 3: Timeline Navigation

1. Move Playhead: Click and drag the blue Playhead (Current Time Indicator / CTI) across the Timeline ruler to preview different moments in time.

2. Zoom Timeline: Use the = (zoom in) and - (zoom out) keys on your keyboard, or drag the zoom slider at the bottom of the Timeline panel.

3. Scrubbing: Hold Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) while dragging the playhead to hear audio scrubbing as you move frame by frame.

Day 4: Basic Transformations

1. Select Layer: Click on a layer in your Timeline.

2. Reveal Property Shortcuts:

   • Press P for Position.

   • Press S for Scale.

   • Press R for Rotation.

   • Press T for Opacity (Transparency).

3. Adjust Values: Click and drag the numerical values next to any property left or right to increase/decrease values and observe the real-time preview in the Composition window.

Day 5: Keyframes

1. Set Initial Keyframe: Move the playhead to 00:00. Select your layer, press P (Position), and click the Stopwatch icon next to Position. A blue diamond keyframe appears.

2. Animate Property: Move the playhead to 02:00 (2 seconds). Click and drag the X-position (first number) to move the layer from left to right. A second keyframe auto-generates.

3. Preview: Press Spacebar or Numpad 0 to play back the animation.

Day 6: Anchor Point

1. Select Pan Behind Tool: Press Y on your keyboard to select the Pan Behind (Anchor Point) tool.

2. Move Pivot: Click the target-like anchor point icon on your layer in the Composition window and move it (e.g., to the bottom-left corner).

3. Rotate: Press R for Rotation and drag the angle value. The layer now rotates around the newly placed anchor point instead of its center.

Day 7: Pre-compositions

1. Select Layers: Hold Shift and click multiple layers in the Timeline that you want to group together.

2. Pre-compose: Right-click the selected layers and choose Pre-compose... (or press Ctrl+Shift+C / Cmd+Shift+C).

3. Name & Move: Name it Nested Graphic, choose "Move all attributes into the new composition", and click OK. The layers are now packaged into a single nested composition layer.

Day 8: Layer Types

1. Create Solid Layer: Go to Layer > New > Solid... (or Ctrl+Y / Cmd+Y). Pick a color using the color picker and click OK to form a background.

2. Create Shape Layer: Click an empty space in the Timeline to deselect everything, then select the Rectangle tool (Q) and draw on the canvas.

3. Create Text Layer: Select the Horizontal Type tool (Ctrl+T / Cmd+T), click the composition canvas, and type text.

Day 9: Basic Text

1. Type Text: Select the Type Tool (Ctrl+T / Cmd+T), click the Composition canvas, and type Welcome.

2. Format Text: Open the Character Panel (Window > Character) to change font, size, leading, and color.

3. Animate Fade-In: Press T on the text layer. Move playhead to 00:00, turn on stopwatch, set Opacity to 0%. Move to 01:00, change Opacity to 100%.

Day 10: Masks

1. Draw Mask: Select a layer in the Timeline. Choose the Pen Tool (G) or Rectangle Tool (Q), then draw a shape directly on top of the layer in the Composition panel.

2. Locate Mask Properties: Expand the layer in the Timeline > Masks > Mask 1.

3. Animate Expansion: Turn on the stopwatch for Mask Expansion. At 00:00, drag values into negative numbers until the layer is hidden. At 01:00, set expansion to 0 to reveal the layer.

Day 11: Blending Modes

1. Expose Modes Column: If the Modes column isn't visible, click Toggle Switches / Modes at the bottom of the Timeline panel.

2. Change Blending Mode: Locate the dropdown menu under the Mode column for a layer.

3. Test Effects: Select Multiply to darken/blend dark tones, Screen to remove black backgrounds/lighten, or Overlay to increase contrast with the layer underneath.

Day 12: Adjustment Layers

1. Create Layer: Go to Layer > New > Adjustment Layer (or Ctrl+Alt+Y / Cmd+Option+Y). Place it above all other layers in the Timeline.

2. Apply Global Effect: Open Window > Effects & Presets. Search for Lumetri Color or Gaussian Blur, and drag it onto the Adjustment Layer.

3. Result: The effect is instantly applied to all layers beneath the Adjustment Layer.

Day 13: Basic Effects

1. Apply Effect: Select a layer. Go to Window > Effects & Presets, type Gaussian Blur, and drag the effect onto your layer.

2. Access Effect Controls: Look at the Effect Controls Panel (usually on the top-left).

3. Animate Effect: Move playhead to 00:00, click stopwatch next to Blurriness, set value to 50. Move to 01:00, set value to 0.

Day 14: Export Basics

1. Add to Queue: Select your main composition. Go to Composition > Add to Render Queue.

2. Configure Settings: Click Output Module (Blue text) to choose format (e.g., QuickTime or AVI). Click Output To to choose save folder and file name.

3. Render: Click the Render button on the far right of the Render Queue panel.

Day 15: Project — 10-Second Animated Intro

1. Create a 1920x1080 composition, 10 seconds long.

2. Add a dark solid background (Layer > New > Solid).

3. Add a text layer (MY STUDIO). Animate its Opacity (0% to 100%) over 1 second.

4. Draw a rectangular mask over a shape layer line below the text, animating its Mask Expansion to create a revealing line divider effect.

Phase 2: Core Animation (Days 16–30)

Day 16: Graph Editor

1. Apply Easy Ease: Select two keyframes on a property, right-click > Keyframe Assistant > Easy Ease (or press F9).

2. Open Graph Editor: Click the Graph Editor icon (small line-graph icon at the top of the Timeline).

3. Adjust Curves: Select the keyframe handles and pull them left/right to adjust the velocity curve, creating custom acceleration and deceleration.

Day 17: Motion Blur

1. Enable Layer Motion Blur: Click the Motion Blur switch (three overlapping circles) on the specific animated layer in the Timeline.

2. Enable Composition Motion Blur: Click the main Enable Motion Blur toggle button at the top of the Timeline panel to render real-time motion blur for moving layers.

Day 18: Shape Layers

1. Draw Shapes: Select the Shape Tool (Q) with no layers selected, click and drag on the canvas to draw shapes.

2. Animate Transform: Twirl down Contents > Rectangle 1 > Transform or press S (Scale) / R (Rotation) on the shape layer to animate parameters over time using keyframes.

Day 19: Track Mattes

1. Layer Setup: Place a background video on Layer 2 and a Text layer on Layer 1 directly above it.

2. Apply Matte: Select Layer 2 (Video). In the Track Matte column dropdown, select Layer 1 (Text) as its Matte (Alpha Matte). The video will now only show inside the text letters.

Day 20: Parenting

1. Set Up Layers: Place two graphic layers in your Timeline (e.g., Wheel and Car Body).

2. Link Parent: Locate the Pick Whip icon (spiral shape) next to the Wheel layer under the Parent & Link column.

3. Connect: Click and drag the pick whip from the Wheel layer over to the Car Body layer. Moving or rotating the Car Body now automatically moves the Wheel.

Day 21: Null Objects

1. Create Null: Go to Layer > New > Null Object.

2. Parent Layers to Null: Select multiple layers in your timeline, drag their Parent Pick Whips onto the Null 1 layer.

3. Control: Animate the Scale, Position, or Rotation of the Null Object to seamlessly control all connected layers together.

Day 22: 3D Layers

1. Enable 3D: Click the 3D Layer switch (cube icon) on your layer in the Timeline.

2. Manipulate XYZ: Press P (Position). You will now see 3 values: X (Horizontal), Y (Vertical), and Z (Depth). Drag the Z-value to push the layer closer or further away in 3D space.

Day 23: Cameras

1. Add Camera: Go to Layer > New > Camera.... Choose 35mm Preset and click OK.

2. Animate Camera: Press P on the Camera layer. Move playhead and set keyframes on Position or use the Unified Camera Tool (C) to orbit, pan, and zoom through 3D space.

Day 24: Lights

1. Add Light: Go to Layer > New > Light.... Select Spotlight, adjust intensity and cone angle, click OK.

2. Enable Layer Shadows: Select a 3D layer in your timeline, expand Material Options, and toggle Casts Shadows to On.

Day 25: Text Animation Presets

1. Select Text: Click on your text layer in the Timeline.

2. Browse Presets: Open Window > Effects & Presets > expand Animate In.

3. Apply: Double-click or drag Typewriter onto your text layer. Press Spacebar to preview text typing out frame by frame.

Day 26: Expressions Basics

1. Open Expression Box: Hold Alt (Option on Mac) and click the Stopwatch icon next to a property (e.g., Position or Rotation).

2. Enter Code: Type wiggle(2, 20) in the text field that appears.

3. Result: The layer will automatically shake randomly 2 times per second by up to 20 pixels/degrees without manual keyframing.

Day 27: Audio Waveform

1. Import Audio: Import an audio file (.mp3 or .wav) and place it in the Timeline.

2. Create Waveform: Create a New Solid layer. Go to Effect > Generate > Audio Waveform.

3. Link Audio: In Effect Controls, set Audio Layer to your imported audio track to generate an automated dynamic audio spectrum line.

Day 28: Mask Feathering

1. Select Mask: Expand your layer's Masks > Mask 1 property in the Timeline (or select mask and press F).

2. Adjust Feather: Increase the Mask Feather value from 0 px to 50 px or more to create soft, blended edges along the mask boundary.

Day 29: Color Correction

1. Apply Effect: Select your footage layer or an Adjustment Layer. Go to Effect > Color Correction > Curves.

2. Adjust Tones: In the Effect Controls panel, click and pull the RGB curve up to brighten highlights, or pull the lower section down to deepen shadows (S-curve).

Day 30: Project — 20-Second Animated Explainer Video

1. Combine 3D text elements, shape layers, and null-parented animations.

2. Use Track Mattes for text reveals and link scene shifts to a camera moving in 3D space.

3. Smooth out all motion curves using the Graph Editor (F9).

Phase 3: Creative Projects (Days 31–45)

Day 31: Logo Animation

1. Import vector logo file (.ai or .eps). Right-click layer > Create > Create Shapes from Vector Layer.

2. Animate scale from 0% to 100% with Easy Ease (F9).

3. Add a secondary rotation keyframe sequence offset by 5 frames for organic pop.

Day 32: Lower Thirds

1. Create a Shape Layer rectangle for the name background.

2. Add a Text Layer over the rectangle with name and title.

3. Mask both elements and use position keyframes to slide them out from behind an invisible edge using Track Mattes.

Day 33: Infographics

1. Create a vertical Shape Layer line/rectangle representing a bar chart.

2. Set the anchor point to the bottom edge using the Pan Behind tool (Y).

3. Animate Scale (Y-axis only) from 0% to 100% to make the bar grow upward.

Day 34: Transitions

1. Create a full-screen Solid Layer over your scene.

2. Draw a diagonal rectangle mask covering half the screen.

3. Animate Position so the solid wipes across the screen, covering Scene A and revealing Scene B underneath.

Day 35: Particle Systems

1. Create a Solid Layer. Go to Effect > Simulation > CC Particle World.

2. Expand Producer and Physics settings in Effect Controls.

3. Increase Velocity and change Particle Type to Star or Faded Sphere to create floating background ambience.

Day 36: Motion Tracking

1. Import footage with a clear reference point. Go to Window > Tracker.

2. Click Track Motion. Position Track Point 1 over a high-contrast spot in the video preview.

3. Click Analyze Forward (Play button) in Tracker panel. Set Target to a Null Object, then click Apply. Parent text to the Null.

Day 37: Stabilization

1. Select shaky footage in the Timeline.

2. Open Window > Tracker panel and click Warp Stabilizer.

3. Allow After Effects to analyze footage in the background. Adjust Smoothness percentage (e.g., 20%) to eliminate unwanted camera shakes.

Day 38: Green Screen Keying

1. Select green screen video layer. Go to Effect > Keying > Keylight (1.2).

2. Select the Screen Colour eyedropper tool and click on a clear green section of the background.

3. Switch View mode to Screen Matte and tweak Screen Gain and Screen Balance until background is pure black and subject is pure white.

Day 39: Advanced Masking

1. Draw multiple masks on a single layer using the Pen tool (G).

2. Set Mask 1 mode to Add and Mask 2 mode to Subtract in the Timeline.

3. Animate individual mask path points over time by keyframing Mask Path.

Day 40: Compositing

1. Layer live video at the bottom and overlay graphics/elements on upper layers.

2. Apply Effect > Blur & Sharpen > Camera Lens Blur to background layers to add depth of field.

3. Match light tones using Lumetri Color on an Adjustment Layer over all layers.

Day 41: 3D Text

1. Create a Text layer. Enable 3D cube switch on the layer.

2. Change Composition Renderer to Cinema 4D (Composition > Composition Settings > 3D Renderer).

3. Expand Text layer > Geometry Options > increase Extrusion Depth to make text volumetric.

Day 42: Lighting Effects

1. Go to Layer > New > Light... -> Choose Ambient light (sets global exposure).

2. Create a second light set to Point light (acts like a lightbulb in 3D space).

3. Animate the Point light's X/Y/Z position across the scene to cast moving light highlights.

Day 43: Shadow Casting

1. Ensure scene lights and 3D layers are enabled.

2. Open 3D layer > Material Options > set Casts Shadows to On.

3. Select background 3D layer receiving shadows > Material Options > set Accepts Shadows to On. Adjust Light Shadow Darkness in Light Settings.

Day 44: Advanced Expressions

1. Apply keyframes to a property (e.g., Scale moving from 0% to 100%).

2. Alt+click the Stopwatch for that property.

3. Type loopOut("cycle") or loopOut("pingpong") to keep the keyframe animation looping indefinitely.

Day 45: Project — 30-Second Commercial

1. Combine animated vector logos, lower thirds, particle overlays, and color-graded footage.

2. Sync animations to background voiceover audio tracks using keyframed visual cuts.

Phase 4: Advanced Techniques (Days 46–60)

Day 46: Advanced Particle Effects

1. Apply CC Particle World to a Solid layer.

2. Animate Birth Rate from 10 down to 0 over 5 frames to simulate an explosion.

3. In Physics, set Gravity to negative for rising sparks, and adjust Particle Color to cycle from yellow to red to gray.

Day 47: 3D Camera Tracking

1. Select live-action video. Go to Animation > 3D Camera Tracker.

2. Once analysis completes, hover over tracking points on a wall or floor in the Composition window until a target circle aligns with the surface.

3. Right-click the target > select Create Text and Camera. Type text; it will now naturally adhere to perspective in the real footage.

Day 48: Advanced Compositing

1. Place CGI/Graphic assets over video footage.

2. Add an Adjustment Layer between CGI and footage; add Gaussian blur and subtle Noise (Effect > Noise & Grain > Noise).

3. Use Curves matching to balance black levels of the graphic to match the camera plate's darkest shadows.

Day 49: Advanced Color Grading

1. Select footage or Adjustment Layer. Open Lumetri Color Panel (Window > Lumetri Color).

2. Go to Creative tab > click Look dropdown to select cinematic Look-Up Tables (LUTs).

3. Adjust Temperature, Tint, and Vibrance sliders under Basic Correction to refine color temperature.

Day 50: Advanced Audio Syncing

1. Import track, drag to timeline, press L twice on the layer to show the Audio Waveform.

2. Press * (Numpad Asterisk) while listening to mark beat points in real time on the timeline.

3. Align keyframe triggers (like shape scale pops) directly to timeline layer markers.

Day 51: Advanced Typography

1. Select Text layer. Expand properties > click Animate button next to Text. Select Scale & Opacity.

2. Set Scale to 0% and Opacity to 0%.

3. Expand Range Selector 1 and animate Start from 0% to 100% to make characters sequentially fly in.

Day 52: Advanced Transitions

1. Create Adjustment Layer spanning across the cut point between two clips.

2. Apply Effect > Distort > Turbulent Displace.

3. Animate Amount from 0 up to 150 at the cut, then back to 0 on the next frame to create a dynamic liquid morph cut.

Day 53: Advanced Motion Graphics

1. Combine shape layer bar charts, rotating circle callouts, and icon layers.

2. Link element anchor points to a master Null Object using parent pick whips.

3. Apply wiggle() and loopOut() expressions across background design elements to maintain dynamic visual movement.

Day 54: Advanced Rendering

1. Go to File > Export > Add to Adobe Media Encoder Queue.

2. Adobe Media Encoder opens: Set Format to H.264 (mp4) and Preset to Match Source - High Bitrate (for web) or ProRes 422 (for master archive).

3. Set destination path and click the green Play button to render in the background.

Day 55: Portfolio Reel

1. Create a 1920x1080, 60-second Composition.

2. Edit together 2 to 4 second cut highlights of your best work from Days 1–54.

3. Add energetic background music, sync edits to music markers, and add title text at the end with contact info.

Day 56: Cinematic Trailer

1. Create dark atmospheric solids with particle systems (CC Particle World).

2. Add bold 3D extruded text (Day 41 method) with light sweeps.

3. Edit cuts tightly against dramatic soundtrack trailer hits and riser sound effects.

Day 57: Social Media Ad

1. Create a 1080x1920 vertical resolution composition (9:16 aspect ratio).

2. Add high-contrast text animated with fast-acting Range Selector animators (Day 51).

3. Add high-visibility background color blocks and animated captions optimized for silent mobile playback.

Day 58: Professional Commercial

1. Assemble product footage/imagery, logo animations, and voiceover audio track.

2. Sync lower third callouts (Day 32) to appear when key features are spoken in the voiceover.

3. Apply Lumetri color grading and export via Media Encoder using web presets.

Day 59: Final Polish

1. Open your Showreel/Commercial compositions.

2. Press F9 on all un-eased keyframes and fine-tune velocity handles inside the Graph Editor.

3. Open Window > Audio Track Mixer to ensure audio levels peak safely around -6dB to -3dB without clipping distortion.

Day 60: Final Project — Portfolio Showcase

1. Create compositions tailored for your target platforms:

   • YouTube/Vimeo: 1920x1080 (16:9)

   • Instagram/TikTok: 1080x1920 (9:16)

2. Assemble your reel featuring:

   • Particle effects & 3D camera tracks (Days 46-47)

   • Kinetic text animations & sound-synced cuts (Days 50-51)

   • Color-graded cinematic composites (Days 48-49)

3. Export using Adobe Media Encoder (Day 54), selecting H.264 MP4 for online delivery and portfolio presentation.