After all the knowledge we have acquired so far, it is imperative that we put it to use. Let's make a simple animated slideshow using the tips and tricks we have learned so far in this chapter. Follow the instructions below:

1. Create a 1920 x 1080 comp and name it name slideshow. Make the comp 20 seconds long.
2. Move into the main comp folder.
3. Import 4 photos. (1920 x 1080 dimension)
4. Put the photos in the image folder.
5. Make a new solid. Layer | New solid. Name this back. Make the color black.
6. Bring in your first image into the timeline.
7. Hit S to get your scale. Adjust this so your image fits in the frame.
8. Spend some time adjusting your image in the comp. You may not need to adjust the scale. However if you need to adjust the size of your image press S to get the scale parameter.
9. Scrub the scale parameter to get the desired size.

Lets add additional images to our slide show project. Follow the steps below for adding images to your composition:

1. Bring a second image
2. Adjust the scale
3. Repeat these steps for the remaining images
4. Select these layers and trim them so they are 3 seconds long

We are going trim our layers in the timeline. This will ensure each image will be seen in the slide show for a certain amount of time:

Lets follow these steps to trim the layers:

1. Select all layers go to 3 second in the time line
2. Select Alt + R bracket/option + R bracket (macOS) to trim layers or you can drag the layers to trim them

Its important to understand how to trim you layers for this project and other projects we will work on. Make sure your layers are lined up and trimmed:

After Effects has different assistance to help you with animation functions. We are going to use sequence layers. This will sort our layers across time. You find this animation assistance at the top animation tab of you project window.

Select all layers | choose Animation | Keyframe Assistance | Sequence Layers....

Notice After Effects takes your layers and sequence them across your timeline evenly! The next step for our slideshow is to the end:

The next step is to go 20 frames from the end of your layers (count backwards from the end of the layer).

Next we are going to create a fade out animation for our images:

1. Press T for the opacity parameter.
2. Click on the stop watch for opacity. This creates a key frame, the first step in any animation.
3. Go forward 20 key frames. Turn opacity down to 0.

Your timeline should have two key frames. The first key frame is 100% opacity the last one will be zero % opacity.

You can test the animation by dragging the time indicator over the key frames. The image should be fading out:

In order to make the layer beneath this image fade on as the top image is fading off we need to adjust this second image:

1. Select the layer beneath the top layer
2. Drag your bottom layer or choose Alt + L bracket to trim your layer to that point

The top layer will begin to fade out as the layer below will appear or fade on:

The goal is to have each photo fade into the next layer. This will happen over the course of 20 frames. It will be a slow fade. Repeat these above steps for each layer:

1. Add a black solid layer for the background.
2. Move this layer to the bottom of the layers.

One of the most common thing new After Effects users forget to do is trim the work area at the end of a project. To trim your work area:

3. Drag the blue bar over from the right.
4. Drag this to the end of your layers. Or move your time indicator at the end of your last layer and press the keyboard shortcut N to trim the work area.

The final step is to preview your slideshow. Look for anything you like adjust. You can always tweak any of the settings after creating a project. Congratulations you've created your first animated project in this book!

Press the space-bar to preview your animated slideshow!