If you're in the business of motion graphics or desktop digital video production, you know that Adobe's After Effects and Photoshop are two of the most indispensable content creation tools. More integrated than ever before, the world's number-one compositing and image-editing programs can be used in tandem to create quality work at a relatively low cost. But it takes years of experience to figure out how to get the most out of this remarkable duo.

With After Effects and Photoshop: Animation and Production Effects for DV and Film, graphics guru Jeff Foster has created the first book devoted to showing how you can use these two programs together to produce animations and effects on the desktop. This practical guide focuses exclusively on techniques commonly used in the field as well as cutting-edge production tricks. These hands-on projects will demystify cool Hollywood effects and help you solve your daily challenges. And they'll inspire you to think more artistically when approaching your creations.

Inside, you'll discover pro techniques for motion graphics and video production, including how to:

• Add depth and realism to your animations by mimicking real motion
• Use exaggerated movements to enhance characterization
• Apply 3-D animation to 2-D images
• Remove background fodder with blue-screen garbage mattes
• Employ rotoscoping techniques for frame-by-frame retouching
• Construct realistic composites and scene locations using matte painting techniques
• Make movies from stills by simulating 3-D camera motion
• Utilize perspective, speed, and scale to create believable moving objects
• Produce realistic special effects such as noise, clouds, and smoke
• Practice imaginative motion titling effects that grab people's attention
• Develop professional scene transitions using 3-D layer animations
• And much more!

• Part I: Connecting Photoshop, ImageReady, and After Effects
  • Basic ImageReady Animation, Tweening, and Layer Styles
  • Photoshop Layers and After Effects
  • 3-D Layers from Photoshop Layers
• Part II: Applying Animation Concepts
  • Cause and Effect
  • Exaggeration Equals Characterization
• Part III: Clean-Up, Mattes, and Objects
  • Blue-Screen Garbage Mattes
  • Rotoscoping Techniques with Photoshop
  • Matte and Keying Plug-ins
  • Static Matte "Painting" in Photoshop
  • Motion Matte "Painting" in Photoshop
  • Making Movies from Stills
• Part IV: Advanced Movie Magic
  • Scale and Speed
  • Color, Light, and Focus
  • Atmosphere, Film, and Noise Effects
  • Motion Titling Effects
  • Custom Scene Transitions