This written tutorial from AEtuts.com shows how to prepare a scene in Cinema 4D (with Advanced Rendering module) for import to After Effects.

While researching for this teaser spot for Women’s Murder Club, I noticed that police tape was a common theme throughout existing graphics. My suggestion to the client was to construct a simple crime scene in 3D where the camera pulls back, revealing evidence and resolving in the title on police tape, with the channel identity and times below. Read more…

With the release of Snow Leopard, Apple has addressed recent Quicktime gamma issues.

A dynamic example of Trapcode Form with Adobe After Effects by Graphik

17 jam–packed hours of real-world Adobe After Effects training with top motion graphics designers from around the world. Throughout these in-depth video workshops, professional motion graphics designers including John Dickinson, Harry J Frank, Alan Shisko and Maltaannon, demonstrate techniques essential to their daily work and give the design decisions and rationale that support them. Grab the bundle and save 100 dollars.

DMC Digital in Sydney is looking for skilled After Effects motion designers to work on various broadcast projects. Email your CV and showreel to info@dmcdigital.com.au

One of the most tempting marketing tactics in business is to offer a discount. It’s so easy to do, it generates excitement, lots of traffic and quick sales.  So what’s wrong with that? Everything! Join us for a gloves-off debate about this touchy subject and learn why discounting is such a dangerous word.

Watch Discussion (18min, 25MB)

Parks Bonifay titles created using Syntheyes, Cinema 4D and Adobe After Effects. Simple yet effective. (via @ArtoftheTitle)

In this Adobe After Effects: Effects A-Z tip, special guest presenter Maltaannon demonstrates the  Audio Waveform effect.

Watch tip (8mins, 10MB)

Did you know that the first 3rd-party effect to be bundled with Adobe After Effects was “Lightning”? Or that the Psunami water simulation plug-in was originally designed for the military? In Part 2 of the conversation with Brian Maffitt, Brian reveals these little-known facts and plenty more; including an in-depth, frank discussion about Total Training and how Read more…

Beautiful, organic look created in Adobe After Effects using Trapcode Particular 2 and Trapcode Soundkeys. (via @ArtoftheTitle)

This Cinema 4D tutorial by Satya Meka on aetuts+ includes loads of Red Giant Software goodness including Particular, Horizon and Shine. To purchase these Red Giant plug-ins use Motionworks10 for a 10% discount.

In this Adobe After Effects: Effects A-Z tip, special guest presenter Harry Frank of Graymachine demystifies Arithmetic and offers ups some creative uses for this little known effect.

Watch tip (5mins, 11MB) Download project

Adobe has released a new AIR application containing a database of all of the keyboard shortcuts for all of the applications in Creative Suite 4.

Brian Maffitt is co-founder of Total Training and a legend in the Adobe After Effects community. I regard Brian not only as an industry leader but as a mentor, with his Total AE training series the corner stone of my After Effects knowledge. In part one of this two-part, candid interview we discuss Brian’s early years as an actor with a love for technology, leading to Read more…

So often we hear the question asked: how much should I charge clients? In this hard-hitting discussion, we tackle the issue of pricing head-on. An essential commercial skill is to be able to price your work in a way that maximizes your profit. We give you three key questions to help you do just that. Watch Discussion (12min, 32MB)

This week I received an email from Max Bretherton titled “The Never-ending Tutorial Chase”. Max finds himself overwhelmed by the abundance of tutorials available on the web and asked the following questions:

“How do you see these attractive and well devised ‘tutorial’ sites fitting into an artists work flow? Do they at all or are they just a detour – like watching a movie – that eats into valuable time? Or could we be wise and use them for the advancement of our own creative lives, work and knowledge? I struggle to find the best balance of watching great tutorials and getting work done.” Read more…

In this Adobe After Effects: Effects A-Z tip, special guest presenter Maltaannon explains some techniques for using the Angle Control effect with basic expressions

Watch tip (9mins, 11MB)

Gutsblow.com has released a free (Mac only) Bad TV plug-in for After Effect.

Convert your footage from 8bpc to 32bpc with this free plug-in for After Effect from Maltaannon.

Jerzy Drozda Jr, the quirky host of Maltaannon.com,  is a talented motion graphics and visual effects artist based in Warsaw, Poland. In this extended chat, Jerzy reveals how he discovered the wonders of computer programming at a very early age, his transition to Adobe After Effects mastery and the challenges of working with Polish clients Read more…

A touching animated short film by the co-director of Kungfu Panda, with a hypnotic soundtrack by New Order. (via @ArtoftheTitle)

Juicy toolkit surprises with variety – if the price is right

Up until recently I had discounted Digital Juice as a supplier of stock content for editors who needed a quick motion graphic background or sound file for a project. My limited view was that being a motion designer, I didn’t need their products and could create my own looks. Well, while there certainly are some stock products available on Digital Juice that I probably wouldn’t find a use for, I was surprised by what I discovered in the Motion Designer’s Toolkit. Read more…

This is the second of three critical Business of Design discussions that focus on building your profit-ness – your money making muscles. In this cheeky but frank discussion, we look at how people who are busy, talented and creative often minimize their income by ignoring eight essential revenue builders.

Watch Video Discussion (9 minutes, 24MB)    Read Robin’s post and download the checklist pdf

In this Adobe After Effects: Effects A-Z tip, special guest presenter Topher Welsh covers the basics of using the Alpha Levels effect.

Watch tip (3mins, 8.5MB)