Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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This lesson focuses on exploring and practicing using Effects, Animation Presets, Blend Modes & Layer Styles, Expressions and Audio Footage & Effects.

Exercise Files:
https://dub.sh/aeugfiles

1. Introduction
1. Recap of Effects and Presets from Unit 4
2. Opening exercise files for practice
3. Opening Composition and Files
2. Effects & Effect Controls Panel
1. Viewing and managing effects on layers
1. Shortcut: Tap "E" to show effects applied to a layer
2. Toggling effects on/off
3. The importance of exploring effects through experimentation
4. Manipulating Effects
2. Changing property values of effects
1. Undoing changes using Ctrl/Cmd+Z or the reset button
2. Removing effects using the delete key or from the Effects menu
3. Adding Effects
1. Searching for effects in the Effects and Presets Panel
2. Applying effects to layers by dragging or double-clicking
3. Customizing effects via the Effect Controls Panel
4. Animating Effects
1. Animating effects by using stopwatches
2. Working with keyframes
3. Viewing and adjusting keyframes (Shortcut: Tap "U" to reveal keyframes)
4. Resetting animations and keyframes
5. Saving Effects Presets
1. Stacking effects and saving them as custom animation presets
3. Animation presets
1. Navigating and applying presets using Adobe Bridge
2. Animating Text with Presets
3. Exploring text animation presets
4. Removing text animators and reapplying new presets
5. Animating Textures
1. Applying effects like Jitter Loop to animate background textures
6. Customizing background effects
7. Background Presets
1. Using background presets that automatically create solid layers
8. Learning from Presets
1. Exploring how different effects like CC Power Pin and CC Toner work
4. Blend Modes and Layer Styles
1. Using blend modes to create unique effects
2. Navigating blend modes and experimenting with combinations
3. Applying and customizing layer styles like drop shadows
5. Working with Expressions
1. Introduction to expressions as an alternative to keyframes for animation
2. Applying and editing expressions
3. Syntax matters
1. lower-case & uppercase letters
2. Add semicolon to end expression line for best practice
4. Wiggle expression for random movement
1. wiggle(frequency, amplitude)
1. wiggle(speed, amount)
2. wiggle(3,15);
5. Time expression for continuous animation
6. Best practices for experimenting with expressions
7. Essential Expressions
1. wiggle (adds a little jiggle, randomness)
2. time (movement over time)
3. posterizeTime (Frame Rate of property for stop-motion, hand-drawn look)
4. loopOut & loopIn (use with keyframes to extend duration of animation)
6. Loop Expressions
1. loopOut(“cycle”)
1. Default loop expression
2. Can be written loopOut()
2. loopOut(“pingpong”)
3. loopOut(“offset”)
4. loopOut(“continue”)
5. loopIn(“cycle”)
1. Default loop expression
2. Can be written loopIn()
6. loopIn(“pingpong”)
7. loopIn(“offset”)
8. loopJ (“continue”)
7. Audio Effects
1. Add audio footage/layers
2. Audio Effects
1. Audio Spectrum
2. Audio Waveform