Adobe After Effects is for everyone that enjoys working with visual effects and loves creating awesome videos. Of course, you know that that’s why you are here. If you search for After Effects learning avenues, you can find a good number of visual tutorials, hands-on projects, and much more.
But when you are a beginner, checking out so many tutorials and projects can overwhelm you. So, your best bet will be to go through some helpful Adobe After Effects books. These magical things do wonders for learners who don’t like the idea of glaring through white screens for long.
The good news is that after some in-depth research, all things considered like reviews, value for money, and content, we’ve found some books for Adobe After Effects just for you.
Jump To
- 8 Best Books About After Effects
- Adobe After Effects Classroom in a Book
- Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects
- Adobe After Effects CC Classroom in a Book Pap/Psc Edition
- After Effects Apprentice, Second Edition
- Hands-On Motion Graphics with Adobe After Effects CC
- Adobe After Effects Classroom in a Book (2022 release) 1st Edition
- Learn Adobe After Effects CC for Visual Effects and Motion Graphics (Adobe Certified Associate (ACA)) 1st Edition
- After Effects for Designers: Graphic and Interactive Design in Motion 1st Edition
- Final Verdict
8 Best Books For After Effects This Year
1. Adobe After Effects Classroom in a Book (2020 release) 1st Edition
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Author | Lisa Fridsma, Brie Gyncild |
Rating | 4.5/5 (183 ratings) |
Level | Beginner |
eBook | Yes |
About the book:
It is a best-selling Adobe After Effects book that explains Adobe’s most impressive program which is motion graphics. If you want in-detail knowledge about the software then this is the best pick for you.
It includes 15 lessons based on various projects that stepwise explain the important techniques for successfully working in after effects. This amazing resource also explains the other range of elements used in the interface of after effects.
As the software updates every year you should buy only the latest edition of this book.
Book Ideal for:
- This book is perfect for anyone who wants to learn the art of producing, manipulating and utilizing motion graphics for video, film, DVD and more.
- It is ideal for learners looking for a book to gain firsthand expertise in images and text animation.
- Those who want to know how to optimize after effects and embedded software like Maxon Cinema 4D Lite to create 3D content.
- Those who want to learn about personalizing a variety of effects, sync and track content, color correction, rotoscoping and more.
What we didn’t like?
The only problem that we found with the book is that it is slightly overpriced. Also, it appears that at some steps the information given in the book are not up-to-date.
2. Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects: Essential and Advanced Techniques 5th Edition
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Author | Trish Meyer, Chris Meyer |
Rating | 4.4/5 (142 ratings) |
Level | Intermediate |
eBook | Yes |
About the Book:
Trish and Chris Meyer are well-known authors of this resourceful Adobe After Effects book. This is the 5th edition and best-selling book that explains the uses of and improved attributes in After Effects CS5.5.
You can also watch a series of visual demonstrations based on the content of this book. You can see it on AdobeTV for absolutely free.
The book discusses the prominent and revised updates made in both After Effects CS5 and CS4. This updated edition contains some new chapters that highlight the features of the revolutionary Roto Brush, mocha shape and more.
In this book, you can find useful resources such as source materials for the techniques covered in the book and project files. There are some bonus chapters (of approx. 200 pages) covering topics like effects, scripting and expressions.
Book Ideal for:
- Anyone who wants to learn about necessary and updated techniques like motion tracking, color management and animation by keying. So, look no further and choose the best after effects books without a doubt.
- Anyone who wants to learn about After Effects quickly and successfully achieve their vision.
What we didn’t like?
If you are a fresh learner and this is your first book on after effects, we would suggest you first read the book’s 4th edition. It is a pretty lengthy book with jargon that has references to the next chapters.
3. Adobe After Effects CC Classroom in a Book Pap/Psc Edition
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Author | Adobe Systems |
Rating | 4.3/5 (75 ratings) |
Level | Beginners or Intermediate |
eBook | Yes |
About the book:
Are you looking for the easiest and quickest way to understand Adobe After Effects CC? We recommend you buy this helpful Adobe After Effects book. It is a comprehensive and best-selling book with hands-on training exercises. It includes a series of official training offered by Adobe Systems. It is developed by support experts on the Adobe product.
The book includes a total of 14 chapters that include the basics of After Effects. It also covers innumerable tips and techniques to help learners efficiently use the program.
Book Ideal for:
Those learners who need stepwise, clear and precise chapters to learn After Effects. You can supplement your learning with an online After Effects course as well.
What we didn’t like?
This book could include more comprehensive illustrations and precise screenshots.
4. After Effects Apprentice, Second Edition 2nd Edition
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Author | Adobe Systems |
Rating | 4.3/5 (67 ratings) |
Level | Beginners |
eBook | Yes |
About the book:
Do you need to learn After Effects quickly and effectively? The After Effects Apprentice is one of the best books about after effects. It consists of 11 important chapters plus a final project. With the help of this book, you will know how to utilize this program to its best potential.
It is fully revised and updated to help you learn about corporate communications, television, making motion graphics for networks and much more.
With this book, you’ll also get a DVD that includes, project and source materials, workbooks, videos of the completed projects and guided video tours.
Book Ideal for:
This could be the right book for artists who want to learn about the dynamic features of motion graphics.
What we didn’t like?
Overall, the book is helpful, but you might notice a lot of typesetting errors throughout the entire book.
5. Hands-On Motion Graphics with Adobe After Effects CC: Develop your skills as a visual effects and motion graphics artist
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Author | David Dodds |
Rating | 4.1/5 (44 ratings) |
Level | Beginners |
eBook | Yes |
About the Book:
If you still haven’t found the best after effects book for yourself, go for this amazing book by David Dodds. It will allow you to make amazing videos, professional animation and editing. It is the most liked video editor tool among YouTubers and video editors since it helps them in applying motion graphics and visual effects.
In this book, you can find out a variety of tools for character animation. For example, you can use text animation to make an eye-catching opening title for your film.
Book Ideal for:
- Whether you are a YouTuber, professional, student, or just someone who wants to learn motion graphics, this is the right book for you.
- It is a perfect pick for people who want to learn video editing & animation and are looking for good books about after effects to supplement their knowledge.
What we didn’t like?
We found that this version is a bit hard to follow if you are a beginner. Also, the links given for the project files are highly complex and long.
6. Adobe After Effects Classroom in a Book (2022 release) 1st Edition
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Author | Lisa Fridsma, Brie Gyncild |
Rating | 4.2/5 (25 ratings) |
Level | Beginners |
eBook | Yes |
About the Book:
Want to gain hands-on experience in Adobe After Effects? Are you looking for the best after effects books? Check out this resourceful book by Lisa and Brie. It will provide you with the easiest way to understand many features of this adobe program.
Released in 2022, the book consists of 15 chapters that include innumerable tips and strategies to make optimum use of the program.
Book Ideal for:
- It is ideal for people who want firsthand knowledge about optimization and manipulation of graphics for movie, video, mobile devices and the web.
- It’s a great option if you want to learn image and text animation, design motion graphics and so on.
What we didn’t like?
The book is highly informative but could have been more descriptive and accurate.
7. Learn Adobe After Effects CC for Visual Effects and Motion Graphics (Adobe Certified Associate (ACA)) 1st Edition
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Author | Joe Dockery, Conrad Chavez |
Rating | 4.6/5 (21 ratings) |
Level | Beginners |
eBook | Yes |
About the Book:
This is an awesome pick for adobe after effects books by Joe Dockery and Conrad Chavez. It will make you understand how to create mono graphics using the Adobe After Effects. It will improve your professional value and help you take on many cool creative projects.
You will be able to implement the features of animation and animated texts. It involves changing the letter spacing, color over time, rotation, type size, and more.
Book Ideal for:
If there is anyone interested to learn Adobe After Effects and become a certified artist, shop for this book today.
What we didn’t like?
The book is greatly helpful, but when you try to access bonus content you will need to answer some specific questions.
8. After Effects for Designers: Graphic and Interactive Design in Motion 1st Edition
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Author | Chris Jackson |
Rating | 4.3/5 (31 ratings) |
Level | Beginners |
eBook | Yes |
About the Book:
By reading this book you can learn about various After Effects aspects. This means you can learn how to develop, design and use Adobe After Effects. The author has clearly explained the layout and composition, principles of animation, visual hierarchy, cinematic storytelling and more.
There is a simple and easy-to-get project-based worksheet to help learners. Why did we add this to the list of best books for after effects. Because it will improve your knowledge about the concepts of visuals to work on your motion design.
Book Ideal for:
Anyone interested to understand animation from the basics and motion graphics can choose this book for step-by-step tutorials.
What we didn’t like?
It is a costly book and some people find it difficult to access the online resources mentioned in the book.
To Sum Up…
Overall, all of the above-mentioned best after effects books are highly helpful and comprehensively written. These can be a great tool of knowledge for anyone who doesn’t prefer to scroll through computer or laptop screens.
Hence, we suggest you buy the Adobe After Effects Classroom in a Book (2020 release) 1st Edition. It shall allow you to implement motion graphics, animation and many impressive features.