FLMC 1331 · Video Graphics & Visual Effects I — Course Overview
A full-semester, project-driven path through the ten core After Effects skills — one skill per class, built into five portfolio projects. 16 weeks · 15 class meetings · 10 core skills · 5 projects.
How this course works
The same ten skills as the summer intensive, re-paced for a full semester so each skill gets a whole week of homework to build with.
- In class: one skill — concept plus a live demo — then a short hands-on exercise (from the exercise booklet) that rehearses the day's skill before you apply it to the project.
- Homework (the week between classes): push the project forward using that skill; the deliverable, not a throwaway exercise.
- Wrap-up classes: every project ends in a dedicated critique-and-finish class before it's submitted.
The 15-meeting structure
One intro (folded into the Week 1 Keyframes class) + ten skill classes + four project wrap-ups + one final showcase. Week 14 is Thanksgiving break — no class — which lands as dedicated capstone work time between Rotoscoping and Expressions. That leaves 15 class meetings across the 16 calendar weeks.
In-class exercises
Each of the ten skill classes includes one short (~45-minute) hands-on exercise — a drill that rehearses that skill so the project deliverable comes easily. Each has its own page; find the full step-by-step there.
| Exercise | Week | Skill | Project |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise 1 · Move It, Feel It | 1 | Keyframes | Project 1 |
| Exercise 2 · Reveal & Animate Type | 2 | Text Animation | Project 1 |
| Exercise 3 · Cut & Reveal | 4 | Masking | Project 2 |
| Exercise 4 · Correct, Then Grade | 5 | Color Correction | Project 2 |
| Exercise 5 · Composite the Key | 7 | Compositing / Keying | Project 3 |
| Exercise 6 · Through the Type | 8 | Track Mattes | Project 3 |
| Exercise 7 · Depth & Light | 10 | 3D Layers | Project 4 |
| Exercise 8 · Lock & Match-Move | 11 | Motion Tracking | Project 4 |
| Exercise 9 · Roto & Occlude | 13 | Rotoscoping | Project 5 |
| Exercise 10 · Wiggle, Loop & Rig | 15 | Expressions | Project 5 |
Semester calendar
| Week | Class | Project | Homework focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course Intro + Keyframes | Project 1 | Set up your project template and asset folders; start timing your quote to its audio. |
| 2 | Text Animation | Project 1 | Build the kinetic type for your quote with text animators. |
| 3 | Project 1 Wrap-Up | Project 1 | Finish, self-review against the rubric, and submit Project 1. |
| 4 | Masking | Project 2 | Build your animated mask reveal for the cinematic reveal. |
| 5 | Color Correction | Project 2 | Correct and grade the clip for one cohesive look. |
| 6 | Project 2 Wrap-Up | Project 2 | Finish, self-review, and submit Project 2. |
| 7 | Compositing / Keying | Project 3 | Pull a clean key and drop your subject into a new plate. |
| 8 | Track Mattes | Project 3 | Build the footage-inside-type title. |
| 9 | Project 3 Wrap-Up | Project 3 | Finish, self-review, and submit Project 3. |
| 10 | 3D Layers | Project 4 | Build the 3D scene — camera, depth and lights. |
| 11 | Motion Tracking | Project 4 | Track the shot and lock your title/graphic to it. |
| 12 | Project 4 Wrap-Up | Project 4 | Finish, self-review, and submit Project 4. |
| 13 | Rotoscoping | Project 5 | Roto a subject you'll use in the reel. |
| 14 | Thanksgiving Break — No Class | Break | Dedicated capstone work time — keep building the reel. |
| 15 | Expressions | Project 5 | Add expression-driven motion and rigs to the reel. |
| 16 | Final Class — Showcase | Project 5 | Showcase, critique, and submit the capstone reel. |
Before Week 1 — set up
- After Effects installed (student plan or trial).
- Free practice assets: Mixkit, Pexels, Pixabay; search “free green screen” clips for keying.
- One tidy project-folder structure:
/footage /comps /exports /assets. - Learn ~10 shortcuts early (Space, U, P/S/R/T/A, Ctrl/Cmd+D).
- Keep one versioned project + reel folder across all five projects.
Syllabus & grading
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| Exercises (10) | 10% |
| Project 1 — Kinetic Typography Quote | 10% |
| Project 2 — Cinematic Reveal | 10% |
| Project 3 — Composite Shot | 15% |
| Project 4 — Tracked 3D Title | 15% |
| Final — Motion Reel + Brand Spot | 15% |
| Participation, Homework & Critique | 15% |
| Extra Credit | +5% |
Grade scale: A 90–100 · B 80–89 · C 70–79 · D 60–69 · F below 60. A project that is portfolio-ready (80+) lands at the A/B boundary.
| Letter | Range |
|---|---|
| A | 90–100 |
| B | 80–89 |
| C | 70–79 |
| D | 60–69 |
| F | <60 |
| A project that is portfolio-ready (80+) lands at the A/B boundary. |
Policies (adapt to your program): each project may be revised once within a week of feedback (higher score stands); late work −10% per class unless arranged, with a firm capstone deadline; use only licensed/royalty-free footage, music and fonts, credit sources, and disclose AI-generated elements.
Final project rubric
Score the Week-16 reel against each criterion from 1 (Beginner) to 4 (Portfolio-Ready). Weighted score = Σ (level ÷ 4 × weight); maximum 100. Portfolio-ready at 80+.
| Criterion (weight) | 1 · Beginner | 2 · Developing | 3 · Proficient | 4 · Portfolio-Ready |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animation Principles & Timing (20%) | Linear, mechanical motion; constant speed; no weight. | Some easing, but timing is uneven or generic. | Confident easing and spacing; motion has weight and intent. | Polished, purposeful timing; anticipation & follow-through throughout. |
| Technical Execution (20%) | Visible jitter, chatter, broken keys or messy masks. | Mostly clean, with a few rough or unstable moments. | Clean keyframes, tidy masks/roto, stable tracks. | Flawless execution; no chatter, slip or stray keyframes anywhere. |
| Compositing & Integration (15%) | Elements look pasted on; wrong scale, no grounding. | Readable composite but edges or lighting give it away. | Believable integration; matched edges and contact. | Seamless — a viewer can't tell the elements were separate. |
| Color & Finishing (15%) | Flat or clashing color; no deliberate look. | A grade exists but is inconsistent across shots. | Cohesive, intentional grade; scopes are legal. | Distinctive, controlled look that elevates the whole piece. |
| Concept & Creativity (15%) | No clear idea; random effects strung together. | An idea is present but design choices are generic. | Clear concept with coherent type, layout and palette. | Original, memorable idea executed with strong design taste. |
| Technical Breadth (10%) | Fewer than 4 of the 10 skills used. | 4–5 skills used, some only superficially. | 6–7 skills used meaningfully in service of the idea. | 8+ skills woven in naturally, each earning its place. |
| Delivery & Craft (5%) | Wrong settings, render errors, audio out of sync. | Plays back, but codec/runtime/sync need work. | Correct export, resolution and frame rate; audio in sync. | Spec-perfect master file, ready to upload anywhere today. |
Breadth check: your final piece should put at least 6 of the 10 skills to meaningful use.
See the Tutorial Links page for free videos and official guides per skill, and the Vocabulary page for key terms.