Motionworks » Tutorials

After Effects: Working with Illustrator CS5

John Dickinson — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:44:56 +0000

In this 50 minute, recorded E-seminar for Adobe, we look at a range of must-know techniques, tips and gotchas for using Adobe Illustrator CS5 with Adobe After Effects CS5.

Watch E-Seminar

Note: If you want to see the gradient on the text without converting to outlines, in the Appearance panel add a New Fill and choose the gradient as the fill. This will place the gradient fill over the Character fill. To remove the Character fill choose None as the fill for the Character layer. This removes any edge pixels caused when the Character fill is behind the gradient. Thanks to John Stanowski.

After Effects: Dynamic Sci-Fi Look

John Dickinson — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:21:41 +0000

In this tutorial for Digital Juice, learn how I used the Motion Designer’s Toolkit 2 with Cinema 4D and After Effects to create a detailed background and multi-layer text effect with a dynamic sci-fi look.

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After Effects CS5: Adobe Media Encoder

John Dickinson — Sun, 02 May 2010 02:39:02 +0000

Up until now I’ve had little success with Adobe Media Encoder, but things have changed in CS5. In this short tutorial for video2brain, I demonstrate how you can use Adobe Media Encoder in your After Effects and Premiere Pro workflow.

Watch on AdobeTV

After Effects CS5: Dynamic Link

John Dickinson — Sun, 02 May 2010 02:30:31 +0000

Dynamic Link has always been a powerful feature in the Production Premium and Master Collection suites, but with CS5 it is truly kick-ass fast. In this short tutorial for video2brain, I demonstrate a workflow for using Dynamic Link between After Effects, Premiere Pro and Encore CS5.

Watch on AdobeTV

After Effects CS5: The Roto Brush

John Dickinson — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 04:28:31 +0000

In this tutorial for video2brain, Get up to speed fast with a range of important tips and techniques for getting the most out of the powerful new Roto Brush tool introduced in Adobe After Effects CS5. Watch Tutorial

Workflow Update

Adobe’s Todd Kopriva on making corrective strokes: I think the reason that you were having some trouble cleaning up the top of the mage’s head is that you weren’t working outward from the base frame. Corrective strokes only influence the frames that are away (not toward) the base frame. Think of it as “working the bubbles out a frame at a time”.

Rotoscoping with masks: In the example shown I used one single mask but generally rotoscoping is more effective using multiple masks. That being said, it’s still very time consuming and labour-intensive.

After Effects: Inglourious Basterds Blood Splatter

John Dickinson — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:24:09 +0000

In this tutorial for Digital Juice, learn how I used the Motion Designer’s Toolkit and some free grunge textures to recreate the blood splatter style used in the Inglourious Basterds trailer. Watch Tutorial

After Effects: Creating magic from presets – part 2

John Dickinson — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:18:36 +0000

In this two-part tutorial for Adobe, learn how to take basic Adobe After Effects presets and customise them to create your own unique looks. This section focusses on further enhancing the text animation, customising a background preset and adding finishing touches including a bloom and displacement.

Watch Example | Watch Tutorial

After Effects: Creating magic from presets – part 1

John Dickinson — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:29:58 +0000

In this two-part tutorial for Adobe, learn how to take basic Adobe After Effects presets and customise them to create your own unique looks. This section focusses on giving a simple text preset a touch-of-class, with a clear explanation of Text Animator Groups, Animator Properties and Range Selectors. Turning a simple typewriter look into something special. Watch Example | Watch Tutorial

After Effects: Spray paint and bullet holes

John Dickinson — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:13:51 +0000

In this E-seminar for Adobe, learn how I used Adobe Photoshop and After Effects to create a grungy, bullet-riddled wall with spray-painted text. Note: this is the unedited seminar with a few short pauses due to technical glitches. The audio is loud so you may need to turn down the volume.
Watch E-seminar | Watch Movie

Cinema 4D: ReelSmart Motion Blur

John Dickinson — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:49:28 +0000

In this tutorial, guest host Grischa Theissen demonstrates a must-know technique for adding motion blur to your 3D renders in After Effects using ReelSmart Motion Blur. Watch tutorial (10min, 20MB)

Cinema 4D: Unplugged Opener – Part 2

John Dickinson — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:02:05 +0000

Unplugged Challenge winner, Robert Leger, is back with part 2 of a breakdown of his terrific animation. This section focusses on tips and techniques for integrating Cinema 4D with Adobe After Effects.

Watch Tutorial

Cinema 4D: Photo mosaic

John Dickinson — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:55:08 +0000

In this tutorial, guest host Grischa Theissen demonstrates a cool technique for creating the popular photo mosaic look in Cinema 4D, where one image is made up of multiple images. Recently Grischa was working side-by-side with Tim Clapham, who helped refine the technique. I wonder what’s bringing these talented Cinema 4D artists to Australia… there must be something in our water! Watch tutorial (13min, 40MB)

Cinema 4D: Unplugged Opener – Part 1

John Dickinson — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 04:17:40 +0000

Unplugged Challenge winner, Robert Leger, has posted part 1 of a breakdown of his terrific animation. This section focusses on tips and techniques used to build the 3D elements in Cinema 4D.

Watch Tutorial

After Effects: Holomatrix

John Dickinson — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 06:03:56 +0000

In this Adobe After Effects walkthrough learn how Red Giant Holomatrix was used to give grungy 3D text a dynamic sci-fi look. Grab a 10% discount over at Red Giant Software using this code “motionworks10”.

Watch tutorial (14min, 42MB)

After Effects: Jumbotron Column

John Dickinson — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:34:22 +0000

In this extended tutorial learn how to identify the field order of footage and interpret it collectly; create a realistic Jumbotron-style look using CC Ball Action, Glow, Levels and Curves; turn the jumbotron into a 3D column mounted on grungy wire mesh using Zaxwerks 3D Layer Warps; and fine tune the look by adding animated arrows plus a touch of Trapcode Shine and Magic Bullet Looks. (Use the code “motionworks10” for a 10% discount at Red Giant Software)

Watch tutorial (47min, 82MB) Download free metal textures.

Purchase the CS4 project file ($6.00) (contains place holder for footage and metal texture).

Motionworks » Tutorials

After Effects: Working with Illustrator CS5

After Effects: Dynamic Sci-Fi Look

After Effects CS5: Adobe Media Encoder

After Effects CS5: Dynamic Link

After Effects CS5: The Roto Brush

Workflow Update

After Effects: Inglourious Basterds Blood Splatter

After Effects: Creating magic from presets – part 2

Related Links

After Effects: Creating magic from presets – part 1

Related Links

After Effects: Spray paint and bullet holes

Cinema 4D: ReelSmart Motion Blur

Cinema 4D: Unplugged Opener – Part 2

Cinema 4D: Photo mosaic

Cinema 4D: Unplugged Opener – Part 1

After Effects: Holomatrix

After Effects: Jumbotron Column