Main Differences between 6.5 and 7

Over 95% of the features in After Effects 7.0 were also present in After Effects 6.5, so the concepts discussed in the 3rd edition of Creating Motion Graphics are still highly relevant. The main differences are:

• A new user interface. The function of the windows is still essentially the same; they just now exist as panels in a unified window, rather than as separate floating windows.
• Effects have been regrouped into a streamlined set of categories. We suggest you use the Search box in the top of the Effects and Presets panel to quickly locate effects. Otherwise, most of the effects are the same, with only a few additions.
• 32-bit floating point color and Linear Blending modes. These are aimed at very high-end visual effects compositing work, and are not necessary for the vast majority of motion graphics work.
• The Value and Velocity graphs discussed in CMG Volume 1 Chapter 3 have been replaced with a new Graph Editor. Until we update CMG, we suggest you refer to the online help to before familiar with the Graph Editor. Note that keyframing and keyframe interpolation types, numeric editing, and the Keyframe Assistants (including Easy Ease) remain essentially the same; you do not need to use the Graph Editor to keyframe in After Effects.

We feel confident you can translate the information in CMG into AE 7 using some common sense and the occasional trip into the online help. As they say in the Hitchhiker's Guide, Don't Panic.