Sometimes After Effects does some crazy things that only deleting the AE preference file will sort out. Finding that file can take time but there is a much faster way. Restart AE while holding down the Command + Option + Shift keys (Mac) or Control + Alt + Shift (Windows), and you are presented with an option to delete the preferences. Read more…

Since entering this industry around 15 years ago I can honestly say I can’t imagine doing anything else. But motion graphics wasn’t my first career choice. I left high school early and worked at McDonalds. I followed that with a 4 year apprenticeship as a ladies hairdresser, and then a number of years as a bar attendant. What about you? Read more…

In this recorded e-seminar I’ll show you how to build a simple yet dynamic type-based animation. Topics include working with Illustrator files, setting up simple relationships using expressions, per-character 3D type, setting up 3D layers, creative use of shape layers, Brainstorm, modifying and saving a preset. Watch e-seminar

The ECG (Electrocardiogram) is one of those graphics that is handy to have on file. There are a number of different ways to create them in After Effects, here’s one created using masks and the Vegas effect.

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In this tutorial you’ll learn the basic workflow for using Magic Bullet Frames. Formerly part of the Magic Bullet Suite, this plug-in for Adobe After Effects that allows you to create high quality progressive frames from interlaced footage. Other effects include Opticals for beautiful film-like cross dissolves and fades to black or white and De-artifactor.  Watch tutorial

In this free introductory video tutorial from the Creative Background Design in After Effects series, your host John Dickinson demonstrates how to make a simple, seamlessly looping Fractal Noise background and variations. John uses innovative techniques and explains several shortcuts that will help your workflow.  Download tutorial

In this 2 minute video tip, check out how to use After Effects’ Leave Color effect to create the look where you footage is made black and white, leaving only a single color, made popular by the film Pleasantville.

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