Video Editing

Adobe After Effects Training Course

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About this course

Our Adobe After Effects courses are designed for both beginners looking to build a strong foundation in motion graphics and animation, and experienced users wanting to develop more advanced visual effects and workflow techniques.

Delivered in Belfast, Dublin, and across the UK, these instructor-led courses provide practical, hands-on training in creating professional motion graphics, animated content, titles, social media visuals, and video effects using Adobe After Effects.

The Beginner course focuses on core concepts and essential skills, helping learners understand the After Effects interface, animation principles, keyframes, timing, composition, and how to work with text, shapes, images, and video within a professional workflow.

The Advanced course is designed for users who already understand the basics and want to refine their skills through more advanced animation techniques, effects, compositing, masking, motion tracking, workflow optimisation, and professional project structuring.

Suitable for content creators, designers, marketers, videographers, and communications professionals, the courses emphasise practical workflows, creative confidence, and industry-standard techniques rather than overly technical or unnecessary complexity.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to confidently create and export polished motion graphics and animations for digital, social, and video projects using efficient Adobe After Effects workflows.

Beginner Course Outline

Day 1

Learn how to:
  • Understand what After Effects is used for

  • Know the difference between After Effects and Premiere Pro

  • Identify common real-world use cases:

  • Motion graphics

  • Titles & lower thirds

  • Visual effects

  • Understand raster vs vector assets in motion design

Learn how to:

  • Navigate the Welcome Screen

  • Create a new project and composition

  • Understand key panels:

  • Timeline

  • Composition

  • Project

  • Effects & Presets

Customise workspaces for animation

Learn how to:
  • Animate Position, Scale, Rotation, and Opacity

  • Understand anchor points

  • Create simple animations using keyframes

Learn how to:
  • Add, edit, and remove keyframes

  • Control timing and spacing

  • Create smooth motion

Learn how to:
  • Use Easy Ease for natural motion

  • Adjust speed with the Graph Editor

  • Avoid robotic-looking animations

Learn how to:
  • Create and edit vector shapes

  • Animate shape properties

  • Use strokes, fills, and paths

Learn how to:
  • Use trim paths

  • Animate icons and UI elements

  • Build clean, modern motion graphics

Learn how to:
  • Create text layers

  • Adjust character and paragraph settings

  • Animate text safely

Learn how to:
  • Use text animation presets

  • Create custom text animations

  • Control timing and sequencing

DAY 2

Learn how to:
  • Isolate subjects using AI-powered Roto Brush

  • Refine edges quickly

  • Handle hair and complex motion

  • Understand when manual cleanup is required

Learn how to:
  • Remove unwanted objects from video

  • Fill backgrounds intelligently

  • Use reference frames for better results

  • Avoid common AI artefacts

Learn how to:
  • Track masks to moving objects

  • Attach graphics to footage

  • Stabilise motion using trackers

Learn how to:
  • Track screens and surfaces automatically

  • Replace screen content convincingly

  • Speed up complex tracking tasks with AI

Learn how to:
  • Apply and control effects safely

  • Stack effects non-destructively

  • Use adjustment layers effectively

Learn how to:
  • Use animation presets responsibly

  • Speed up repetitive tasks

  • Maintain consistency across projects

Learn how to:
  • Use blend modes correctly

  • Create track mattes

  • Combine multiple visual elements cleanly

Learn how to:
  • Match lighting between layers

  • Add shadows and depth

  • Avoid flat-looking composites

Learn how to:
  • Send sequences from Premiere to After Effects

  • Update motion graphics without re-rendering

  • Know when Dynamic Link is appropriate

Learn how to:
  • Build reusable graphics

  • Create lower thirds and openers

  • Deliver editable assets for editors

Learn how to:
  • Render efficiently

  • Choose correct codecs

  • Export with transparency

  • Avoid unnecessary file sizes

Learn how to:
  • Create motion graphics templates

  • Prepare files for teams or clients

  • Maintain professional handoff standards

Learn how to:
  • Use AI to speed up—not replace—motion design skills

  • Avoid overusing effects

  • Keep projects organised and performant

  • Know when to move into advanced motion or 3D workflows

Advanced Course Outline

Learn how to:
  • Configure preferences for performance and stability

  • Optimise RAM, disk cache, and GPU acceleration

  • Structure projects for speed and scalability

Learn how to:
  • Build clean folder and comp structures

  • Manage precomps effectively

  • Avoid performance and revision bottlenecks in large projects

Learn how to:
  • Use advanced keyframe interpolation

  • Control motion using value graphs and speed graphs

  • Build smooth, natural animation with intent

Learn how to:
  • Use expressions to automate repetitive animation

  • Link properties intelligently

  • Maintain editable, client-friendly setups (no over-engineering)

Learn how to:
  • Speed up text animation using AI-assisted presets and tools

  • Generate variations quickly

  • Maintain consistency across motion systems

Learn how to:
  • Use Content-Aware Fill for video effectively

  • Remove unwanted elements cleanly

  • Blend AI-generated results into existing footage

Learn how to:
  • Use Roto Brush efficiently on complex footage

  • Refine edges and reduce artefacts

  • Know when AI roto works—and when manual masks are better

Learn how to:
  • Track objects and surfaces accurately

  • Attach graphics to moving footage

  • Combine tracking data with expressions and effects

Learn how to:
  • Combine footage, graphics, and effects cleanly

  • Match lighting, scale, and motion

  • Maintain realism in complex scenes

Learn how to:
  • Use blur, grain, and light effects for depth

  • Integrate elements naturally

  • Avoid common compositing mistakes

Learn how to:
  • Build clean, flexible Motion Graphics Templates

  • Create reusable animation systems

  • Design templates that editors can use safely

Learn how to:
  • Combine AI tools with expressions and templates

  • Reduce setup time across projects

  • Scale motion design production efficiently

Learn how to:
  • Stack effects efficiently

  • Avoid unnecessary render overhead

  • Use adjustment layers and precomps strategically

Learn how to:
  • Build consistent animation styles

  • Maintain visual standards across projects

  • Create motion systems for brand content

Learn how to:
  • Optimise renders for speed and quality

  • Use Adobe Media Encoder effectively

  • Manage alpha channels and codecs

Learn how to:
  • Deliver clean project files

  • Prepare templates and source files for teams

  • Archive projects for future reuse

Included With Course

  • Free Course Retake on our public schedule
  • Full course recording

Success Stories

Claire Youd

Both course content and instructor knowledge is exceptional – fresh, engaging and relevant. The ongoing support that Big Rock Designs provides is a real plus. I plan to attend future courses and would recommend other do too!

Joanne Doherty

Although my Photoshop knowledge was very limited, I found the organised sessions very easy to follow and I was over the moon at the amount I had learned. I’m looking forward to putting it all into practice in the coming months ahead.

Lorna McGivern

As someone who has attended numerous digital workshops and training I can honestly say Big Rock Academy’s introduction to Photoshop was the best I’ve ever experienced. They excelled in teaching us the logic behind the main tools in a very easy to understand way.

Rachael Weir

I just completed the Advanced Photoshop course at Big Rock Academy and I’m extremely pleased with what I’ve learnt. I now feel equipped to put it into practice in my job. I had a great teacher and I was able to really get to grasps with the software very quickly.

Course Requirements
£295 +vat