Creating a Dynamic Intro

OK lets start. Create a new composition and change the frame rate to 25 if you are making the video for PAL or 30 for NTSC.

Import all the necessary images or footage into your project. Right click on the project window and then import the multiple files.

Now drag your background image in the timeline.

Drag one still picture of a character in the timeline above your background image, and adjust it any manner you like.

Go to the 0^th frame in the timeline and click on the clock icon before the scale and opacity parameter. We are going to animate the values of these two parameters to make the image appear and then disappear after a time. Scale a little and change the value of opacity to 0.

Now move few frames ahead and change the value of scale to 100 again and 100 for opacity also.

Move 1-2 sec forward in the timeline. Right click on the opacity and click on the add keyframe.

Again move few frames ahead and bring down the value of opacity to 0. Now we are done with our image. Go to 0^th frame again and drag the name of the character in the timeline and adjust it just below the still of your character. You can make the name of your own style in photoshop and add shadows to it. Save it in tiff format as it also saves transparency (you can use any format which supports transparency).

Now here is the focus of the tutorial. Click on the name file in the timeline open Window menu-->motion sketch.

Motion sketch analyses the motion of the mouse pointer and it animates the position according to the motion of the mouse pointer.

Click on the 'Start capture' button in the motion sketch window. Click inside the composition window, don't release the click and move your mouse a little fast (according to your need). You will notice that while you are moving your mouse, time increases in the timeline, records and applies the motion automatically.

Now match the opacity of the name file with the image, so that it also appears and disappears when image does.

Now continue adding and animating other stills and names, add music and render.

Discuss this technique or others in the After Effects forum at CreativeCOW.net.