fumblies

I'm very curious about what is the difference in After Effects and Flash. I'm already using Flash to do some simple animations and animated banners, but after watching videos like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syf8olcM0z4
I feel inspired to do some typographic animations myself.

I think the video above is made using After Effects, so I'm wondering if this program is easy to pick up if I already have some basic flash knowledge.

Are there any After Effects artists here to provide some insights?

kthomas

I know nothing about After Effect and little about flash but that video was awesome.

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Gino

Correct me if I'm wrong but i think after effects is more of a video editing program and Flash is more for animation and such, although you can do some animation with after effects, but I think each are for different projects in the end.

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Aarlev

Yeah, Gino is right. After effects is primarily for video editing/effects.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_After_Effects

If you want to do motion graphics, Flash is the way to go. Although for simple banners and text animations I'd just use Photoshops animation feature.

I don't know how easy it is to pick up as I've never really used it but Flash experience will probably be an advantage.

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Arik

@ Aarlev:
Before I ever went near any raster/vector design program, I did some flash. Perhaps it was because I was 11-12 years old at the time but after a few months I quit on it. For me, back then it was very difficult and I did not have the necessary motivation which I later found for Photoshop.

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But yeah, the main difference between the two is that After Effects is used for video effects and is often used in combination with Adobe Premiere (since that is the actual video editor, while After Effects is like the special effects software), while Flash is used for banners, web animations and cartoons.

Jeff

I disagree. For motion graphics, I'd choose After Effects over Flash any day. It's so much cleaner and easier in my opinion. There is also a 3D feature.

But on the other hand, if you are creating motion graphics for the web then I would use Flash.

zx360

i had to do something like that in flash for a class im in for my major...

Michae

Well, Im in my first year of school now, right? Our year is based like this:

Graphic design
-Photoshop
-Illustrator
-InDesign

Webdesign
-Dreamweaver
-Flash

Motion graphics
-After Effects

...Well, we're starting AE tomorrow, so I'll let you know how I feel about it. I hate flash, though.

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MediaMisfit

When I first looked in After Effects I almost shit my pants the same way when I opened up 3D Studio Max. After Effects is a bit easier to pick up though as long as you some idea about how to work on a timeline.

After Effects has greater animation capabilities in the realm of manipulating 3D space where flash you always seem to be animating on a 2D platform.

I believe there was a something comparative to doing vector animations in 3D but I don't remember what it was called.

alyCe

After just two-three days of After Effects, I'd use it over Flash any day for anything else than webdesign. If you want to do motion graphics for the web, then you can export from AE to Flash... it's so much easier and sleeker to use. Unlimited options, I'm in awe!

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