How do you guys 'get better'

Hi everyone, i’ve still in school and have been doing after effects for a year and a half.

i’ve taken classes at a motion graphics training site but i’m wondering.

how did you get as ‘good’ as you are today? is it industry experience? training? tutorials? or just fooling around?

im really into learning new things and i was wondering for ways to get better.

thanks.

After Effects is like a marriage, sometimes we like sometimes we hate each other. You must practice every day, explore new features, figure it how to create possible from impossible etc… Just learn every single day…

miseld said
You must practice every day, explore new features, figure it how to create possible from impossible etc… Just learn every single day…

Yup, this is true for pretty much any skill-based profession (I’m a composer)

If I’m not still learning something in 30 years time (I will be 56), then I will have retired!!!!

So keep practicing

Keep pushing buttons until you know what each of those buttons do, tutorials some how help, but destroy your creativity

Learn this in order:

1. Learn After Effects basics (1 week)

2. Learn 2 really basic tutorials. (2 days)

3. Learn as many shortcuts as you can. Check help file. (If you are clicking File > Save, you deserve to be shot) (1 hour)

4. Learn 2 more basic tutorials. (2 days)

5. Create an awesome concentrated 5 second video combining the top 4 tutorials. (1 day)

6. With that video, create another 5 seconds of awesomeness with the top 4 tutorials and the 5th project. (1 day)

7. Keep mixing and matching. The shorter the video and more awesome it is, the faster you’ll get good. (1 day + 1 day + 1 day)

You can get really good in less than 2 weeks.

People keep thinking a long drawn out video means they’re good, but it’s the opposite.

www.nickkhoo.com

This guy makes 5 seconds of awesomeness. It’s better than 20 seconds of ‘meh’.

felt_tips said
Forget learning After Effects and learn motion graphic design. Develop a great eye. With a great eye, you can achieve great things in all sorts of different programs and media with a minimum of technical knowledge.

Which buttons to press in which order, you will pick up along the way.

-f.

Just about wondering if anyone’s gonna say this.. just wanted to write this, but felt was faster.

Another tip is to have someone to review your work, find the possible improvements etc.

two heads are better than one

Write a letter to your idol motion graphics designer and ask him: “Man, who are you? How do you live? What do you do? Who is you girl? Describe her. How to be in the same way as you?” And he will help you as soon as you’re his fan

Man, design is a hard job, you have to work hard every day. And when you feel that it is not hard for you, that means that you do love this job. From this moment you will create beautiful stuff

- GB -

I don’t know if I’m a good designer, but this quote from Jim Jarmusch always remind me what I have to do to improve my skills:

“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery – celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from – it’s where you take them to.”

Just watch so much animation as you can, analyse it and take the best things that you find and then mix it with your work.

P.S: Sorry for my english.