If you want to fast-track your visual fx knowedge, there is no better place than FXPHD. Check out the latest term offerings here.

In this screen capture of a recent Adobe E-seminar we take a look at the Adobe Photoshop Brush Panel and learn a technique for creating cel-style animation in Photoshop Extended using the Onion Skin feature.

Watch tutorial (18mins)

Robert Sharp got into video in the early 1990’s as one of the early members of Terran Interactive – makers of Media Cleaner Pro. In 2007 Robert relaunched Digieffects – makers of Cinelook, and the more recent Camera Mapper plug-in.  In this frank and open discussion Robert talks about the early days with Terran, founding Toolfarm, and what it took Read more…

Aixsponza has kindly given Cinema 4D users our very own teapot model for radiosity testing.

This 1 hour recorded e-seminar covers some basic techniques, some little-known techniques and plenty of handy workflow tips for using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator with Adobe After Effects. View post

Missing this BOD discussion could cost you dearly. This week we give you an amazingly simple tool to immediately boost your spending power and control. We also give you a highly effective way of asking for a discount.

Watch Discussion (13min, 28MB)

Red Giant TV has posted a tutorial by Carl Larsen, using Trapcode Form and Red Giant PlaneSpace.

New spot by Umeric (assisted by Making It Look Great 6 author, Tim Clapham)

In this screen cast of a recent Adobe E-seminar, learn how to incorporate Adobe Photoshop Extended into your Adobe After Effects workflow, by preparing video in After Effects, exporting to Photoshop and adding Filters, then reimporting back to After Effects for final compositing. Read more…

Can Twitter get you a job? Absolutely it can. Check out this post by RADSMARTS on how a single tweet by me (John Dickinson) landed Brett Morris (a talented young motion designer) a job working at Foxtel in Australia. Also be sure to watch this tutorial on how I use Twitter.

This project is an example of taking poor quality 4:3 vision, making it 16:9 and giving it some polish. Tools used include Adobe After Effects, Zaxwerks ProAnimator, Trapcode Horizon and Shine, and Maltaannon’s Screenify effect (featured in MILG 5)…

Chris Zwar has a new 3-part tutorial covering planning and creating a complex 3D project in Adobe After Effects. (via Todd Kopriva).

Red Giant TV has a new tutorial by Making It Look Great 6 host Tim Clapham, on using Trapcode Form to create 3D text. Use the code “Motionworks10″ to get a 10% discount on any Red Giant Software products.

A massive toolkit that’s pretty good value

Shipping on a whopping 28 disks, the Compositor’s Toolkit from Digital Juice includes over 250, 2K resolution organic stock clips. With 15 categories including Clouds, Water, Ink Chamber, Breaking Glass and Paint Splashes, this series will appeal to both motionographers and visual fx artists. Read more…

Digieffects has announced a new Adobe After Effects plug-in for simulating a 3D scene from 2D stills or video footage. The Camera Mapper was developed in collaboration with Mark Christiansen, author of After Effects Studio Techniques.

Drop everything to watch Part 2 of this exclusive discussion. You’ll be riveted as Andrew reveals his thoughts on why Video Copilot is so popular, and how he and the company are perceived by the industry. Andrew also gives a behind the scenes peak into the production of the wildly popular Action Essentials 2 HD stock footage, and hints on the future of Video Copilot. Read more…

Red Giant Software has announced Mojo, a new member of the Magic Bullet color correction family, created by Stu Maschwitz.

If you are in the motion graphics industry, the Unplugged series is a must. Industry veteran, John Dickinson delivers riveting and highly informative interviews with industry leaders, experts and rising stars. With a specific focus on Adobe After Effects and related software, you’ll learn invaluable insights, inside knowledge, tips and trends.

This BOD discussion is for anyone who loves to spend money. Uncontrolled spending is one of the most effective ways to destroy your business. In part three of this cheeky series, we review the 14 symptoms of uncontrolled spending. Ignore them and you’re guaranteed to fast-track financial catastrophe. Watch Video Discussion (17mins, 19MB)

This short film “No Keyframes” by AixSponza gives a good indication of just what is possible with Mograph 2.0. Jaw-dropping stuff.

For this promo for W Channel, my client suggested this beautiful HBO promo as a guide. I only had 3 days so a full 3D look was out of the question. Instead I turned to the ultra-useful Adobe After Effects plug-in - Trapcode Form. Form was used to transition between shots and text, with the footage itself used as a layer map to colorize the particles and control Read more…

This seamlessly looping After Effects background is based on the Cell Pattern effect and includes a number of adjustment layers you can use to modify the basic look.

The opening titles for Quantum of Solace were created using Trapcode Form and Particular.

The Mill Podcast includes breakdowns of some great spots. This one for Guinness Music Machine is top notch. Thanks to @coleran.

In just a few short years Video Copilot has skyrocketed to become the dominant force in visual fx and motion graphics training online, with it’s founder, Andrew Kramer, becoming an industry icon. In part 1 of this riveting interview Andrew discusses his fascinating journey from high school student to industry leader and what that has meant to Video Copilot Read more…