GRD 475 - After Effects for Advanced Compositing

1. Utilize the layers panel.
   1. Modify an image Layer Panel using Photoshop
   2. Examine the Create, View, Hide, and Select Layers Options in the Layer Panel
   3. Rearrange layers to change the staking order of artworks
   4. Contrast the Duplicate and Delete Layers Options
   5. Apply different layer styles and layer filters
   6. Demonstrate how to copy and paste layer styles from one layer to another
   7. Employ different blending modes to layers
   8. Compare various Layer Transformations (Scale, Rotate, Distort, Skew, Perspective, Wrap)
   9. Apply the adjustment layers
   10. Combine groups into folders from selected layers
   11. Examine a layer mask on layers
   12. Demonstrate how to apply a layer mask to the group
2. Compare working with different tools From tool panel.
   1. Differentiate between Tools in the Tool Panel (Move Tool, Selection Tools, Crop Tool, Paintbrush Tools, Clone Stamp Tool, Eraser Tool, Smudge Tool, Patch Tool, Gradient Tool, etc.)
   2. Modify options for selected Tool using the Option Bar
   3. Contrast the difference between Foreground & Background Colors Swatches
   4. Experiment with different area fills: Solid, Color Gradient, Surrounding pixels and pattern
3. Differentiate between different tool use
   1. Demonstrate how to use the Clone Stamp Tool to duplicate image pixels
   2. Apply the Clone Stamp Tool to eliminate an unwanted part of the image
   3. Employ The Patterns Stamp Tool to paint on an image using pre-defined patterns
   4. Modify selected area with surrounding texture by using the Content-Aware Fill Tool
   5. Employ The Patch Tool to fill selected area with sampled pixels or pattern
   6. Manipulate colors in the image with Color Replacement Tool
4. Evaluate the use of filters & special effects
   1. Convert layers into Smart Objects
   2. Apply Photoshop Filters to the Smart Objects
   3. Edit Smart Filters (They can be adjusted, turned off and on, or deleted).
   4. Add Layer Styles to create editable Special Effects
   5. Paint with the Special Effect Brush Tool
5. Use masks and channels
   1. Produce a Layer mask to remove object from the background
   2. Apply a selection from layer content and then turn it into Layer Mask
   3. Modify Layer Mask with Refine Edge
   4. Create a Quick Mask to make changes to selected area
   5. Save Selection as an Alpha Channel
   6. Edit Alpha Channel with Paint Brush Tool
   7. Modify Alpha Channel with different Color Adjustments (Levels. Curves, Brightness & Contrast, etc.)
   8. Manipulate a Selection from the Alpha Channel and turn it into a Layer Mask
6. Compare different layer blending modes
   1. Demonstrate how to Duplicate a Layer in the Layer panel
   2. Change Blending modes of duplicated layer (Multiply, Overlay, Color Burn, Difference, etc.)
   3. Experiment with layer Blending modes and Opacity to get the effect you want
   4. Discover how to enhance visual effect by partially erasing area of duplicated layer
   5. Use Smudge Tool over erased areas to blend layer pixels
   6. Apply Layer Styles to duplicated layer (Bevel & Emboss, Satin, Pattern Overlay, etc.)
   7. Modify Layer Styles settings to achieve impressive visual effects
7. Create displacement maps for material editor panel.
   1. Analyze how a displacement map actually changes the geometry of the surface
   2. Apply gray scale to a displacement map to generate the displacement.
   3. Discover how lighter colors in the 2D image push outward more strongly than darker colors
   4. Examine 3D displacement of the geometry
8. Evaluate the process of creating procedural maps for material editor panel
   1. Analyze how a procedural map is generated by a mathematical algorithm which is unlike a bitmap (which is an image produced by a fixed matrix of colored pixels like a mosaic)
   2. Experiment with the types of controls you might find for a procedural map that vary depending on the capabilities of the procedure