Good place to learn After Effects CS4?

[Arsonal]

I have just come back to churchmedia.net after several years away from working with media at church. We have returned to the church we used to go, and I am now being put over the media (specifically the computer and media projection - we use Worship Him).

I recently got a copy of After Effects CS4, but have no idea how to use it. I know that you can create some great videos with it, but I've never used a program quite like it. A member here made me some videos several years ago with After Effects that I never forgot. He took two different still images, and made them into a moving, looping video. It was the craziest thing I had ever seen done with a photograph!

I've used GiMP in the passed with good success for photograph type files.

Can anyone suggest a good place for an After Effects newbie to learn about the program and what it can do? I would prefer to find somewhere free to learn this stuff. I am not a paid church staff member, and not too sure how much I can or will use After Effects yet. I know that I really enjoy this type of stuff, and love the idea of making videos specifically for our church.

Thanks in advance for any help. And sorry if this question has been answered many times in the passed. I tried searching, but my internet apparently hates me right now. It was getting almost painful to look through older posts due to my connection.

[bladeaudio]

Best place hands down to start is Andrew Kramer's "basic training" videos.

http://www.videocopilot.net/basic/

If you are interested more in motion graphics, then look in to Chris & Trish Meyers books . If you are interested in compositing (movie special effects, etc.) look at Mark Christiansen's book
You'll also want to watch a lot of Andrew Kramer's other tutorials on his website, but if you are just starting out in AE, do the basic training first.

[KeckCreative]

I second the Andrew Kramer's videocopilot.net website tutorials. Also CreativeCOW:
http://library.creativecow.net/tutor...reffectsbasics
http://library.creativecow.net/tutor...beaftereffects

And specifically Aharon Rabinowitz tutorials:
http://leaders.creativecow.net/leade...nowitz_aharon/

[Arsonal]

Thank you for the information. I'm not exactly sure what it's called, but my main interest with After Effects is making background type videos for our church, abstract, timers, etc.

[bladeaudio]

That would fall under motion graphics.

[Arsonal]

Originally Posted by bladeaudio

That would fall under motion graphics.

Thanks! At least I know what to call what I'm interested in now!

I was able to watch one of the videos earlier - very nice.