In this recorded version of a recent Adobe E-seminar we walk through After Effects techniques and workflow for creating a grungy and moody boxing promo. Techniques include color grading for a poster-style look, creating an old, weathered look using stock images and blend modes and tips and tricks for creating organic looks.
Watch tutorial (52mins, 77MB) Watch Promo
Check out the new super-short, punchy business series by my brother Robin over on businessofpassion.com
MILG 6 and 7 host Tim Clapham recently completed a beautiful animation for 3D World magazine, created using Cinema4D and Adobe After Effects. The even cooler news is Tim recorded a tutorial.
Prologue has posted a teaser for The Pacific, the sequel to the stunning Band of Brothers miniseries. My friend and ex-Foxtel colleague Clarissa Donlevy headed up Concept, Design and Direction. A beautiful piece of work indeed.
35 Responses to this post
July 5, 2009 at 5:59 am |
Always been a fan of these promos. Thanks for the tips! Great stuff!
July 5, 2009 at 8:04 am |
Hey JD, This is MILG by itself! It’s awesome they way you use all the effects in this promo. Thanks for explaining it in detail. One thing I have learned is to have separate layer Comps for the footage. Cheers!
July 6, 2009 at 2:58 pm |
Great looking promo JD! Thanks for the walk-thru, it’s always great to see all the tiny details that are put in and layered to create a much bigger cohesive effect.
July 6, 2009 at 3:20 pm |
Yes Hussin, putting footage into it’s own comp is a good work practice which can save a lot of time later. Thanks Scott, I particularly like these kinds of projects where I can add plenty of detail. The key as I mentioned it knowing when to stop!
July 6, 2009 at 6:46 pm |
Hey Jon,
Thanks for this! I love tutorials that focus more on project planning and workflow rather than just slamming effects around.
This is the kind of tutorial you need to watch a few times to get it all.
Thanks!
July 6, 2009 at 7:41 pm |
Hi Jon,
Great walk through.
You mentioned the bricks are from http://www.sxc.hu.
You don’t remember the image name?
Thanks
July 6, 2009 at 10:56 pm |
Hi David, I renamed the image so don’t have an exact link. But any rough brick texture would do.
July 10, 2009 at 3:47 pm |
Hi John
Another great tutorial thanks.
I was wondering when you’re doing your grading are you using a broadcast monitor or is further color work done down the workflow line?
Gene Hoffman
July 16, 2009 at 6:03 pm |
Hi Gene, yes I have a broadcast monitor right next to me so can check the color closely throughout the job
July 12, 2009 at 8:24 am |
Hi John,
I’ve discovered many great tips in this tutorial ! I love especially the Cmd/Opt/Shift/N shortcut, the way you changed the video at the beginning, and the way you used Fast Blur in Color Mode in order to blend colors.
There’s one point I still can’t do, it’s applying the Brush Strokes effect. Because of my french version, I don’t have found the right name in french yet. I have tried a bunch of effects, it was neither of them. Could you tell me in which submenu I should find it ? It would be a great help.
Thank you for all the pleasure I find in learning so much !
July 12, 2009 at 3:09 pm |
@Boreale: Thats very strange! In the english AE version you will find it under: stylize/Brushstroke
But in the french version its under:
Esthetiqués/Animer peinture
Hope that helps!
July 13, 2009 at 7:07 am |
Excellent tutorial. Really benefited from the work flow breakdown. Did you try a few concepts out before you went with this one, or did you end up just running with this idea right from the start?
Great stuff nonetheless.
July 13, 2009 at 12:00 pm |
It helps ! Thanks !
July 13, 2009 at 1:29 pm |
BTW, great photo, John !
July 16, 2009 at 5:08 pm |
The spelling is a bit wrong. It should be “Pacquiao”, not “Pacquaio.” It’s read “pak-yaw.”
July 19, 2009 at 10:29 pm |
tops stuff JD, great detail – my question, what was the budgeted time for a spot like this?
really appreciate all your tips
cheers
July 19, 2009 at 10:47 pm |
Hi Jimmy, I had 3 days for this one.
September 10, 2009 at 5:39 am |
Would like to get the downloadeble walkthough for the boxing promo
September 10, 2009 at 4:10 pm |
Hi Willem, if you right-click on the tutorial link you can choose to download it to your desktop! All the best, John.
September 18, 2009 at 8:39 pm |
this promo has the real soul of the boxe in it
john, obviously you are a boxe fan.
by the way, talking about this match, here you have the Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton Full Fight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY_77yAUkxw
just a question: This battle took place in may the 2nd, why is it that you advertise it on april 12?
September 19, 2009 at 3:00 pm |
Hi Benny, I’ve been a boxing fan for years so I’m sure that helps when I’m designing these spots. The date on the graphics was changed in a later version. Best, John.
October 7, 2009 at 10:44 am |
You spelled it wrong, its PACQUIAO not PAQUAIO…
October 7, 2009 at 12:54 pm |
Thanks Eric, I realised that a while ago after this went to air. Best wishes, John
November 9, 2009 at 2:48 pm |
Great look! It really shows how much detail and effort it takes to create a truly “simple” design. Very nice!
November 9, 2009 at 3:03 pm |
Thanks Logan, a lot of workflow I don’t think about much any more, after a while many of the techniques become automatic! Best, John.
November 9, 2009 at 3:17 pm |
Right now, I’m at the point where I can see what I want to make (in my head), but don’t know how to make the tools actually follow through!
I’m really soaking up online tutorials to try and hardwire my brain to problem solve on the fly for my own projects. Really enjoying myself! There are amazing possibilities with Motion Design… it’s just knowing how the tools work, and then knowing how to make them do the right combinations of things to create something cool!
November 10, 2009 at 2:29 pm |
It takes time to really get comfortable from a creative and production perspective Logan. Keep at it and I’m sure it will “click”. Best, John.
December 2, 2009 at 6:54 am |
This is not a tutorial (say Watch tutorial) I prefer something step by step, but is a interesting guide. Thanks John.
December 2, 2009 at 3:30 pm |
Cava, the title of this post includes the word “Walkthrough” and that’s exactly what this is. Some people may classify it as a tutorial some may not. Lucky you didn’t have to pay for it heh?
December 3, 2009 at 9:32 pm |
Hey John,
Great stuff! I really like discovering new techniques and seeing other people’s workflow in AE. Amazing how many different ways things can be accomplished in the same program. It’s also amazing how organized you are even when on a tight deadline. I’m ashamed at how unorganized my projects can wind up when I get in a hurry.
All the best!
December 4, 2009 at 1:57 am |
Hi Brian, that just comes from habit. I always start projects from a template and keep it organised all the way through. It’s even more important on bigger jobs where a lapse in concentration can mean a mistakenly deleted layer or file. Best, John.
December 10, 2009 at 11:07 pm |
I’m just starting to get into motion graphics and find your site very helpful. I came across this tutorial mainly because I love Pacquaio and I noticed your picture in the top banner of the site and his picture in the tutorial thumb, you both have your arms in the air. Was that done on purpose? Ha! Anyways, I’m glad you have these tutorials. You and some others have been an inspiration to me and I look forward to transitioning more into the motion graphics world.
December 11, 2009 at 6:17 pm |
Hi Dan, welcome to the world of motion graphics. I guess Manny and I both feel good about life
Best, John.
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