Thanks Mike,
I know what you mean...AE is complicated but addictive.

Seems like there has to be a lot of scanning, planning, creativity and PS skills involved before you even get to AE. Forty hours sounds like you're extremely accomplished and your work is the evidence.

I tried importing music into a test file and then used the asterisk key to mark the timeline. With that, I was able to at least line up some simple effects on other layers with the tempo. At least it's a start but I can see AE helping to add value to our wedding movies next year.
Bob

Hey Bob, I just saw you are in Somerville! I grew up in Concord, left there is '90. Groovy.

Mike

Hi Mike,
Always nice to meet a fellow New Englander. Concord's a very nice town but well out of my tax bracket.

We're planning a move to AZ hopefully by this time next year. Can't take these winters much longer.
Bob

the 'quirky montage'
 

Bravo, Mike. Your 'quirky montage' was just the inspiration I needed to get back into AE. Thanks-and keep up the fine work.
Vin

Great job Mike.Very creative work..u really broke out of the box!

I love after effects. I suggest anyone who wants to learn buy a how to DVD set. I bought one from Total Training and it's great! I would highly recommend it.

Here is a project that took me about 10 minutes. Not as cool as the one from Mike but its a start. I have been using after affects for about a month, so be kind, 20 sec clip. It's a background picture and three pictures, kind of the fly through effect type.

http://www.trulux.com/dvinfo/effect.wmv

Jon

I was thinking of buying that set of DVD's myself but they seem a lot of money, but I suppose if you payed for a ono on one training of the same length they are for nothing.

Your project looks to be on the right tracks like Mikes and in only 10 minutes you got a lot done. What program do you use for the edges on your photographs?

Paul

Real nice job, Jon! Thanks for posting that. I figured anything like that was beyond me. Now I'm feeling inspired!

Keep up the good work!

I use AutoFX Photographic Edges 6.0 for my edges. I really like that program, it's a great plug in for Photoshop. Makes edges in seconds.

Jon

It begins......

Now prepare yourself for endless edit sessions and throwing tremendous amounts of time out the window. Things you can expect:

You will spend 2 hours tweaking a four second segment
You will kill a whole day reviewing and playing with effects
You will destroy a whole week trying to rebuild something you saw somewhere
You will create some amazing and very satisfying bits.

Have fun

Mike

Mike,

Yes, I know the feeling. But once you create them, change pictures and render and you're done!

Thanks

Jon

Updated link.. Took me about 15 minutes, used animation in the background

http://www.trulux.com/dvinfo/frames.wmv

Jon

Great job Jon.I'm gonna have a shot at this!Thanks for the inspiration!

It look great with the animated background.
Do AutoFX have a website?

Paul

http://www.autofx.com

Jon