In the earlier animations courses, you learned to control animation timing by playing effects together or one after the other. You also used speed settings such as Fast and Slow.

This course discusses additional ways to start animations, mainly by using time delays. A time delay allows you to start an effect a certain number of seconds after another effect has started, and before it finishes. The result is an overlap of effects—they don't have to be completely simultaneous or sequential.

Also, you will learn to use the Advanced Timeline to synchronize animation timings and set animation speed. For more about this course, read this page fully, and then click the Next button to start the first lesson.

Take the two animations courses preceding this one:

• Animations I: Preset and custom animation
• Animations II: Motion paths

Or: You should be very familiar with applying custom effects and comfortable working in the Custom Animation task pane.