Guest host Florian Füger jumps ahead in the After Effects Effects A-Z series with a revealing look at CC Flo Motion.

In this walkthrough tutorial learn some of the techniques and workflow used to create a battle-scared Captain America Shield using Cinema 4D, Photoshop and After Effects.

Watch Example (Captain America)  |  Watch Example (Chris Evans)

Guest host Jerzy Drozda Jr (Maltaannon) is back with another After Effects: Effects A-Z series tutorial, this time explaining the basics of the Channel Blur effect. Watch Tip (flv) | Watch Tip (mp4)

Have you ever created an animation you were happy with only to realise you needed to extend the length? In this short tip learn a technique for extending an animation quickly and easily while maintaining the velocity.

In this tutorial for Boris FX I demonstrate how to build an organic logo animation using Boris Continuum Complete 8’s Particle Emitter 3D. I asked Boris FX Product Manager Dirk De Jong for his thoughts on how BCC Particle Emitter 3D compared with Trapcode Particular. Here’s Dirks response:

“My sense is that BCC Particle Emitter 3D matches up well with Trapcode Particular. With this effect we are basically upgrading the BCC particles to have better AE integration, adding support of After Effects lights, cameras, masks, etc. The Evolution graphs and Gradient controls give a better level of control than what could be found in the old Particle System for particle size, color and opacity over the life of the particle. There is now support for some true 3D particle shapes with 3D lighting etc. In many cases the OpenGL rendering allows BCC Particle Emitter 3D to use bigger size particle images without slowing down as much as a software rendering Particle effects such as Particular might.”

In this walkthrough tutorial Brett Morris discusses the After Effects workflow he used to create impactful Fast and Furious-style titles. Third party plug-ins used include Video Copilot Optical Flares and Red Giant Software Magic Bullet Mojo (use motionworks10 for a 10% discount). If you purchase MovieType for Cinema 4D  you also get membership to MovieType Plus, where Brett discusses how Cinema 4D and MovieType were used to style and animate the text.

Watch tutorial (flv) | Watch tutorial (mp4) | Explosive TV Promo Graphics 1

After Effects has a very powerful type engine for creating all kinds of dynamic type animations, but what if you want something a little more subtle? In this 10 minute tutorial learn how you can combine After Effects’ Opacity and Type Opacity to create stylish, cinematic type fades. Update: Peripatew Design has created an expression-driven preset that automatically fades the text in and out.

In this After Effects tutorial recorded exclusively for Motionworks, Mathias Mohl demonstrates a convincing pendulum effect using iExpressions, a new product allowing all After Effects users to more easily harness the power of expressions. Watch Tutorial (flv) | Watch Tutorial (mp4)  | Learn More about iExpressions

In this tutorial for Digital Juice we look at how to use one of the Toxic Type After Effect templates as a starting point for a grungy promo. We also jump into Photoshop Extended and enhance the look with Smart Filters.  Watch Tutorial

After Effects Change Color and Change to Color effects are handy tools for isolating and changing colors in footage, but what exactly is the difference between them? After Effects: Effects A-Z series continues with guest host Jack Grundy.    Watch Tip (flv) | Watch Tip (mp4)

In this Cinema 4D tutorial by guess host Eugene Opperman, learn how to set up a pinball bumper with dynamic sound, bump action and lighting effects through Xpresso. Watch Tutorial (flv) | Watch Tutorial (mp4) | Download Project | Muse Creative

After Effects: Effects A-Z series continues with Cell Pattern, a handy background creation effect originally part of the Cult Effects set of plug-ins. With a little experimentation you’ll be surprised what you can create!

Guest host Eran Stern dives deeper into Motionworks’  After Effects: Effects A-Z series, covering Caustics, the water surface simulation effect created by After Effects pioneer Brian Maffitt. Originally included in Atomic Power’s Evolution, along with Shatter, Card Wipe and others,  the longevity of this effect is truly amazing.  Watch Tip (flv) | Watch Tip (mp4)

The importance of experimentation to a motion designer can’t be over emphasised. Experimentation stretches your skills into new areas and has the potential to result in fresh, personalised looks, rather than copying the latest trend.

In this walkthrough After Effects tutorial I breakdown a concert/music video-style video wall look, emphasising where I experimented along the way. Plug-ins used include CC Ball Action, Trapcode Lux and Starglow,  (use motionworks10 for a 10% discount), Video Copilot Optical Flares and GenArts Sapphire.    Watch tutorial (mp4)

In this Adobe After Effects walkthrough tutorial we look at some key 3D techniques including seamless scene creation, 3 point lighting, shadows and reflections. I also demonstrate how Digital Juice’s Color Rules plug-in can be used to fast track the colorisation of your comps.

Special Deal for Motionworks Readers

Color rules is 69.95 but for a limited time Motionworks readers can get it for just 59.95. Use the code DJCRMC392 on checkout.

Watch Tutorial (mp4)  | Download Project