Big Rock Digital
Video Production

Adobe After Effects Training Course

Instructor-led After Effects training, from your first keyframe to professional motion graphics and compositing.

Training

Instructor-led

Duration

1–2 days

Times

10am – 4pm

Class size

6 learners max

View Course Outline

About this course

Learn Adobe After Effects with a live instructor

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 live online to learners 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.

What you'll need

  • Adobe After Effects
  • A reliable internet connection

Course levels

Pick the right starting point

Intro / Intermediate

£395 + VAT

Build a strong foundation: the After Effects interface, animation principles, keyframes, timing, composition, and working with text, shapes, images and video.

Duration
2 days
Times
10am – 4pm
Delivery
Virtual

Advanced

£475 + VAT

For confident users: performance setup, expressions, advanced rotoscoping and tracking, professional compositing, motion systems and production-ready delivery.

Duration
1 day
Times
10am – 4pm
Delivery
Virtual

Bundle · Intro / Intermediate + Advanced

Save £75

£795 + VAT

Book both courses together — three days taking you from animation fundamentals to professional motion design workflows.

Course outline

What you'll learn

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

Success stories

What our learners say

"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!"

C

Claire Youd

Adobe After Effects

"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."

J

Joanne Doherty

Adobe After Effects

"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."

L

Lorna McGivern

Adobe After Effects

"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."

R

Rachael Weir

Adobe After Effects

FAQs

Adobe After Effects course questions

Choose Intro / Intermediate if you're new to After Effects and want solid foundations in animation and motion graphics. Choose Advanced if you already understand the basics and want to refine professional workflows. Not sure? Send us an enquiry and we'll advise.

All our courses are live, providing interactive sessions with certified instructors for real-time guidance and support. You also get a full recording of your course.

You'll need Adobe After Effects installed, plus a reliable internet connection, as all sessions are live online.

Yes, participants receive a certificate of completion to showcase their newly acquired skills.

Yes, we offer tailored training for individuals, teams, and businesses to ensure the content meets your specific needs.

Enrol

Book your Adobe After Effects course

Tell us which level suits you and we'll come back to you with the next available dates.

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