The Power of Precomps in After Effects

In this tutorial we'll take a look at the true power of precomps in After Effects.
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Partial, Auto-Generated Transcript Below 👇
Joey Korenman (00:17): What's up Joey here at School of Motion, bringing you day 15 of the 30 days of after effects. Today, I'm going to talk about pre comps. Now, if you've used after effects for more than a week, you probably know about pre composing, but in this lesson, I want to reinforce the power of pre comps. And a good way of doing that I found is to show just how quickly you can build very, very complex animations. That really don't take that much work. And don't have very many key frames, but actually look really cool and complicated. I'm hoping that along the way, you're going to pick up some tricks about working with pre comps. Now don't forget to sign up for a free student account, so you can grab the project files from this lesson, as well as assets from any other lesson on school emotion. Now let's hop in and make something cool.
Joey Korenman (01:03): So let's talk about pre comps. Um, and one thing I wanted to say about pre comps is that when I was starting out with after effects, they sort of freaked me out because you know, you do all this work and then you, you pre-com it. And all of a sudden you can't see your work anymore. And it feels like you're hiding key frames from yourself. And God forbid, you want to go in and tweak something. Now it's kind of hidden and it's, it's kind of, it makes it trickier. Um, and you have to manage it. Um, this is actually something after effects artists have been complaining about for years is the fact that you can't sort of see your key frames while they're in a pre-camp, um, very easily anyway. So, um, what I want to show you is some of the really, really, really cool things you can do with pre comps.
Joey Korenman (01:41): Um, this is a little bit more of a beginner tutorial, but, uh, I'm just going to keep pushing and pushing and pushing the pre comps until you get something that looks really, really complicated like this. Um, and hopefully what I'll show you guys is that this is actually really easy to make. Um, it it's, it's shockingly easy. So, uh, all right, so let's just hop in and get started and let's talk about pre-com. So I'm going to make a comp a 1920 by 10 80. All right. And I'm just going to call this square. Okay. Um, all right. So first thing I want to do is just animate something really simple. All right. I'm going to turn on my guides here by hitting the apostrophe so I can kind of make sure I have things in the center where they need to be, and I'm just going to make a square.
Joey Korenman (02:24): So a, an easy way to make a square and make sure it's in the middle of your comp is go to, uh, go to your shape layer tool here, grab a rectangle tool and just double click that button. And what that'll do is it'll make a shape layer that's right in the middle of your comp. Um, and then you can come into the shape layer settings here and Turrell open the rectangle and the rectangle path, and then you can unlock this size property. So the width and the height aren't linked anymore, and just make the width and the height the same. And then you can scale that down. And now you have a perfect square, right in the middle of your comp. You can do the same thing with a circle too. It's pretty useful. Make sure that, um, you know, if you rotate this thing, are you doing anything to it?
Joey Korenman (03:02): It's right in the middle. Um, and what I want to do, let me rename this square and I don't want to fill on it. Uh, I do want a stroke. So what I'm going to do is maybe it had like a, a two pixel stroke. And I think I had some nice kind of pink color in there. So, so let's get rid of the fill a quick way to do that. As you can click on the word fill, if you have this selected, uh, it brings up this little box and then you can just hit this guy and now it gets rid of the fill. It's kind of a neat little shortcut. Okay. So now we have our square and let's just do a simple little animation with it. Okay. So, um, you know, here's a simple thing. We'll have it start scaled at zero and then we'll go forward, you know, a second and we'll have it go up to 100.

[@silvesterstaloney8838]

This channel is so under rated.

[@FilmProductionWrkShp]

brilliant teacher - thanks for giving the shortcuts really helpful!

[@TheIanpow]

Thank you for this Joey. I have watched 100's of AE tutorials on KZbin and I have to say this is the best one so far. So informative and useful with so many shortcuts etc which can be used when working on other projects. Being able to take someone from a blank comp right through to the end with a fantastic and professional final animation is very skillful. I appreciate just how much thought you must have put into this and will be recommending this channel to everyone!

[@lavtekk2086]

I love the fact that he did two separate examples, and the one from the tutorial is more simple, but he explains it so well, that now I understand and can appreciate the things that he did for the first one. That's how you teach! Great content

[@baroqueit]

WE ARE NOW 10 LAYERS DEEP---dude, this is just like Inception. so cooool~

[@danilo352]

Exactly what came to my mind when he said it.

[@drewspartz6727]

This is one of the most incredible hands on tutorials I've ever seen. I love how you showed all these little tricks to make something simple look beautiful. Every other tutorial on KZbin barely uses actionable and relevant examples at all.

[@craftycurate]

Awesome thanks! It's not just the main tutorial content itself, but all the tips and tricks e.g. keyboard shortcuts you throw in that double its usefulness. It's the same with your other tuts. Great stuff!

[@loveinmendoza]

is not only important to make good tutorials video , but also the empathy of the guy talking with the ppl who are watching the video , like telling he was afraid of pre-compose too at the begining! je tyvm

[@BinaryMethods]

One of the most thought through instructional videos I've found. Well done

[@susanpratt3290]

I really love how you created this.

[@rakpat]

Love your style - the way you speak, the way you explain, the way you teach! Excellent stuff - learnt a lot!

[@ribahnasir8811]

Thanks for great tutorial. I laways tried to avoid using pre-comp in AE but this tut really shows great power of using them. Thanks again. Subscribed.

[@dallasroberts3206]

Best channel I have found! Learning so many great tips with these tuts. Thanks so much.

[@shoraspacech.1721]

Usually, i won't spend my time on so long 40+ minutes video, but this video really drags me in, and it so perfect for me. It makes that cool animation is looking so easy. Thankss~

[@ennbee5100]

Watching this video got me excited about motion graphics again - great use of a simplistic function fer an incredible result!

[@darkarps]

This was especially amazing, thank you!

[@zecle]

this is awesome ! i need to watch that video from the actual beginning.

[@anthonycastro3604]

The tips in between are just 👌🏼🔥✨

[@maldivirdragonwitch]

Veeery nice! This might be one of the best AE tutorials I've ever seen! I will definitely check your other tutorials out!

[@gabrielhartley5213]

Wow-this is an incredible illustration and resource! I woke up this morning thinking that as a beginner in the After Effects world, I need a better understanding of precomps. And this was the perfect first shot at diving into that! Thanks so much for making this available.

[@mvf136]

Brilliant and simple. The first Tut in AE I felt engaged- start - finish!

[@Darriebp]

Many thanks for showing it has inspired to learn more about After Effects, Very cool.

[@chazthetic]

This tutorial was awesome and I picked up a whole bunch of other things unrelated to precomps that helped me in my pieces!

[@kwackkwack78]

School of Motion is the best thing to ever happen. I’ve decided to change career and am pursuing MoGraph. College student again and these videos are soooo helpful!

[@paakowgoode1273]

This was amazing I have learnt so much in a short of time.

[@miamiexplorer6451]

I learned a lot in this tutorial. I'll be watching more of your videos. Thanks!

[@imani828]

Thank you for everything you do, Joey

[@KUTVimaging]

Such a fantastic Tutorial!!!! So many helpful shortcut keys given out during the session! Awesome Job! thanks so much!

[@selcukozkan6243]

You are a great teacher. Thank you so much!!

[@mikesheehan5946]

Loved it. I'm quite new so have never precomped. Looking forward to following along doing my own. Superb video

[@GrisleMcThornbody]

Excellent tutorial! I really appreciated some of the beginner techniques as well.

[@maneisdmitry]

Useful techniques, easy to follow, nice to watch.Thank you

[@TinyMedicine]

Thanks School of motion! Glad I came across your channel. I was wondering why you don't have over 100K subs. I think I have come a long way in motion graphics and animations solely from learning on KZbin & till now learnt a lot from guys like Mt Mograph, Tutvids,, Video Copilot, etc. But this is the first time I learnt how to use precomps meaningfully. Thanks again! I wish you'll become big on youtube because you thoroughly deserve it.

[@schoolofmotion]

Thanks for the kind words. The subs will come, we just recently switched to KZbin over Vimeo, but we're growing steady. Can't wait to get more tutorials out there in the future.

[@TinyMedicine]

If time permits, please make a tutorial on creating an explainer video as complex as your kinetic typography animation. Actually, I saw you first on Vimeo, then searched your name on YT to see if you are on this platform as well. Best wishes School of Motion!

[@wDec149]

really awesome video! even learning some of the shortcuts you used was really helpful

[@krishnamaybhagwani5517]

Whhhhaatttt! This is some god level motion! ❤️❤️❤️ Highly appreciate this and recommend this! Love ittttt ❤️❤️

[@user-jf3jy5zc5i]

Oh my god... It's amazing!!!! Thank you very much!!!! so nice. best teacher that I have never seen

[@blueskyoverus]

Great tutorial. You can learn a lot of things not only about pre-composing. When you start to use After Effects there a lot of useful hints about other topics like effects, shortcuts, etc...

[@robinhartmann9506]

Thank you, best video I have seen so far!

[@discord-bih]

So, this video just flooded my creative brain after working with AE for about a month. As the title says....I'm empowered! Thank You!!

[@septiansasmita8989]

Love it.. Thank you so much.. Appreciate this tutorial

[@srgato8190]

You made it cristal clear, thank you sooooo much!

[@sooflight]

You're a Legend. Thank you

[@seraphamedia38]

Just discovered this channel- loving the high quality content, thanks for sharing!

[@schoolofmotion]

Thanks for commenting! Glad your here

[@MichaelRoyal]

great stuff man, I'm watching all your vids. Stepping my expression game up!

[@schoolofmotion]

You'll be an expression expert in no-time!

[@AMMotions]

I have learned something new. Thank You, Teacher!

[@brighttakyi8937]

you are a great teacher, keep the good works up

[@kalpitkatpara4562]

You are truly awesome. I never knew the power of precomp in after effects until now. You are genius. I learned a lot from this amazing tutorial. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and making this awesome video.

[@schoolofmotion]

Thanks Kalpit, best of luck on your projects.

[@tachii_xx]

God I feel like I learned so much; very clear and easy to follow, and really highlights all the good parts of pre comps for me

[@JosephLiwanag]

Really helpfull... precomp, shortcuts and other stuff... you explain the reason behind every key...

[@JeahnLaffitteAdventures]

Hey, Joey! Thanks for the tips. I'm pretty well versed in AE but still find myself steering away from precomps. But now I'm super ready to dive in so thank you! Also, learned a lot about the graph editor. Thanks!

[@schoolofmotion]

Sweet! Yeah precomps are great if used correctly.

[@mrcego1309]

Amazing tutorial!! Thanks :)

[@franschan]

Awesome thanks had fun planting seeds!!

[@acolburn23]

Wow, I'm somewhat new to After Effects and don't mess with comps too much (scary, like you said). But this was great! You also helped a lot with general shortcuts and techniques which is always awesome. Thank you so much!

[@javadahmadi]

Great video, thanks

[@MrMaskEdit]

Great tutorial. Thnx!

[@victordelgado4112]

Great explained mate, thanks

[@GraeHall]

INSANELY USEFUL TUTORIAL.

[@marianne9998]

Cool tutorial, thanks!

[@RokasSkeivys]

I don't comment a lot on KZbin, but this was probably the best used 40 minutes of my life. It's fast, to the point, informative, well thought out and in general just plain nice to watch video. Definitely subscribing and I am certain I will watch all of your videos. Huge thank you.

[@schoolofmotion]

Thanks for the kind words. We definitely try our best to help people in the industry. Best of luck to you on your MoGraph journey.

[@madnizarbairik3913]

great booster, thanks you bro

[@mohamadmoosavikia7035]

so practical thanks alot

[@PsyKayaTwist]

Thank YOU! 🔥🔥🔥

[@DBUSTIN11]

LOL "Two kinda little glitchies." This video just helped me a lot. Thanks so much!!!

[@mbrochh82]

Amazing tutorial!

[@tuliomaturi]

Awesome!!!

[@nathanbgerman]

I have come across this video so many times, but for whatever reason, have always just decided I didn't care to watch it. Well, now, I finally am watching it and I'm only 7 minutes in currently and feel like I've already learned so much!

[@schoolofmotion]

Ha! That's amazing :) Glad you found it helpful.

[@nathanbgerman]

When I use the CC Repetile effect, there's a small black line in between repeats, so it's not perfectly seamless. Any suggestions?

[@axlknaepen9868]

Thanks a lot !

[@ItsJustMeStevie]

Loved this video. I learned a lot especially the thingy and the yankee. hahaha. Please keep sharing these free videos. They are gold. With COVID, wish I could afford your animation courses among the others. The only thing that I'm still unsure about is when it's appropriate to use "Leave all attributes in ....." when comping. I haven't been able to get a clear understanding of that quiet yet.

[@cesarromagnolo9780]

Greatfull tutorial, thanks a lot man.

[@electron2601]

Great video!

[@Jmusec]

Great tutorial!

[@saartnomsky4523]

This is beautiful

[@1982enis]

Very very good. Thank you.

[@rahulkarkale8981]

you guys r amazing.....

[@Awakenbeing]

nice tutorial. I learnt a lot.

[@fillphat]

very helpful tut... especially the shortcuts..helps the flow huh?

[@PRFCTMANDEM]

So insightful!

[@schoolofmotion]

Thank you!

[@Martincyborg]

Awesome content!

[@MostafaElAssar]

This is impressive!

[@a_ceilingless_sky]

Great tutorial as always-- Joey you sound EXACTLY like Bryan Konietzko.

[@trueblack6760]

I do enjoyed this even I don't have AE. Thank you!

[@realizedrenderings]

A good trick I use for speeding up or slowing down a SET of keyframes. For instance, let's say you have 10 keyframes for a random flicker, if you highlight them all, hold ALT, and then drag the LAST keyframe backwards or forward, it will change the space between all your keyframes relative to eachother. This is great for cleaning up the timing without having to play with each one.

[@johnfisher3602]

Very interesting lesson! Thank you.

[@schoolofmotion]

Very glad it helped you out.

[@doco6186]

Very informative.

[@davidAll5]

excellent, i used to do something similar in Flash Thanx

[@edoprasetyo3697]

I love the bumper School of Motion, very funny and interesting to see, one time to make the tutorial bumper School of Motion.

[@sivapandianreffreference]

Thanks

[@MrFlamerFuel]

You Sir, got a sub!

[@cooolmotiongraphics5243]

Amazing

[@ItsJustMeStevie]

I love love love SoM... You make it much easier to understand

[@schoolofmotion]

You're absolutely welcome! Thanks for commenting!

[@ItsJustMeStevie]

School of Motion School of Motion made me realize how much I love design and motion. I’m back at school and using SoM alongside with my education to get into this field. Much ❤️

[@schoolofmotion]

@@ItsJustMeStevie That warms our hearts! Keep at it!

[@ryanm.4892]

New Sub. Thanks

[@labasrytaskurva]

They should add wow-button in addition to like for videos like this. Awesome and very helpful. Thank u

[@SEB-EDIT]

Thanks a super bunch ! Hyper helpfull and it opens bran new idea of strategic ways to accompish incredible results ! Peace y'all ;^) ♪♫

[@mikeyroberts126]

FYI - at 3:54 he's editing in the Value Graph and not the Speed Graph (see drop down menu icon right next to the eyeball, lower middle part of the screen).

[@ramosdaniel6267]

really work

[@timcameron9023]

brilliant

[@elonmuskarabic]

ReEeEeEeEeally nice ReEeEeEeEeally nice tuts I have ReEeEeEeEeally smashed that sub button just saying!!!!

[@jorgenmalmo]

The naming was i nice tip :)

[@ashleybramwell9680]

Definitely an awesome video and I learned a lot. One request: maybe a tiny bit slower on the next couple? I know it's a bit difficult because there's a lot to cover but I felt as though it was impossible to follow along in After Effects while watching.

[@nibirahmed2337]

what is the difference between (leave all attributes and move all attributes, when should we use leave all attributes option and when we should use move all attributes option