StretchLearn Course

Make things move on purpose in After Effects

Keyframes, real easing, pre-comps, and shape layers, applied to social, slides, and short explainers

Beginner10 hr 35 minSelf PacedRegistered

Course Overview

What this course is designed to develop

This beginner course teaches the After Effects core workflow from a blank composition to a finished, exported piece. You will set up a project and timeline correctly, animate with keyframes, replace robotic linear motion with real easing using the graph editor, organise complex scenes with pre-comps, and build resolution-independent graphics on shape layers. You then apply the whole workflow to three formats that pay the bills: a square social loop, an animated presentation slide, and a short explainer with text, icons, and transitions, exporting each to the right file through Adobe Media Encoder.

Learning Outcomes

What the learner should be able to understand, build, or execute.

Set up an After Effects project and composition at the correct resolution, frame rate, and duration for a chosen deliverable

Animate any property with keyframes and control timing using the timeline, the value graph, and the speed graph

Replace linear motion with believable easing using Easy Ease, the graph editor, and a slow-in slow-out value of roughly 75 percent

Organise scenes with pre-composition, parenting, and null objects so complex animations stay editable

Build and animate resolution-independent graphics with shape layers, trim paths, and repeaters

Design and export a social loop, an animated slide, and a short explainer to the correct format through Media Encoder

Curriculum Preview

Inside the curriculum: a structured path from fundamentals to execution.

Preview the course structure, see how the modules build on one another, and understand the path this program is designed to take you through.

Module 1

Module 1: The After Effects Workspace and Your First Keyframes

Set up After Effects so it behaves, build a composition at a real spec, and make your first property move with keyframes you can read and trust.

3 lessons

What Motion Graphics Is and Why After EffectsContent · 45 min

Preview Enabled

Project, Composition, and the Panels That MatterContent · 50 min

LMS Access

Your First Keyframes: Position, Scale, Rotation, OpacityContent · 55 min

LMS Access

Module 2

Module 2: Easing and the Graph Editor

Turn robotic linear motion into believable movement using Easy Ease, the value graph, and the speed graph, and learn the timing rules that make motion feel intentional.

3 lessons

Why Linear Motion Looks WrongContent · 45 min

LMS Access

The Graph Editor: Value Graph vs Speed GraphContent · 60 min

LMS Access

Timing, Spacing, and OverlapContent · 50 min

LMS Access

Module 3

Module 3: Pre-Comps, Shape Layers, and Staying Organised

Keep complex scenes editable with pre-composition, parenting, and nulls, and build sharp, fully animatable graphics with shape layers, trim paths, and repeaters.

3 lessons

Pre-Composing, Parenting, and Null ObjectsContent · 55 min

LMS Access

Shape Layers: Vector Graphics That AnimateContent · 55 min

LMS Access

Repeaters, Color, and a Reusable StyleContent · 50 min

LMS Access

Module 4

Module 4: Designing for Social, Slides, and Explainers, and Exporting Right

Put the whole workflow together to build a social loop, an animated slide, and a short explainer, then export each to the correct file through Media Encoder.

3 lessons

Looping Social Graphics That Hold AttentionContent · 55 min

LMS Access

Animated Slides and Short ExplainersContent · 60 min

LMS Access

Exporting: Media Encoder, Codecs, and the Right FileContent · 55 min

LMS Access

Built for Application

A complete learning path, not a one-off inspiration hit.

This program is designed around progression: focused lessons, structured modules, applied resources, assessments, and a course rhythm that turns information into usable capability.

motion graphicsAfter Effectskeyframeseasinggraph editorpre-compsshape layersexplainer video