About this book and companion DVD

This book uses Adobe After Effects 6.5, and features that are specific only to that version are incorporated into many of the projects. Some projects also use features that are available only in the Professional version of After Effects 6.5, such as motion tracking and particular effects. (These features are noted in the book's text wherever relevant, so you aren't sent on a wild goose chase searching for a feature or reporting a bug that doesn't exist in the software or book.)

For your convenience, the book's companion DVD offers a 30-day tryout version of After Effects 6.5 Professional. Some projects use third-party effects (which were developed by other companies for After Effects and which must be installed into After Effects). Demo versions of those effects are also provided on the book's DVD; you'll find a 30-day demo version of Zaxwerks' 3D Invigorator Classic effect and a 14-day demo version of Boris FX's Continuum Complete collection of effects. Finally, the companion disc includes QuickTime movies of all the finished chapter projects and source materials you can use to complete each project yourself.

Let the fun begin!