In this 3 tutorial series we’ll look at how to build a glass shatter effect, based on a recent project for Damages 2, using Illustrator, After Effects and Cinema 4D. This section includes capturing the template in After Effects, paths in Illustrator and setting up imported splines as polygons in Cinema 4D. Read more…

A while back I did a series of tutorials covering various aspects of Zaxwerks 3D Invigorator Pro for After Effects. Most of the tutorials are also relevant to Zaxwerks ProAnimator since 3D Invigorator Pro and ProAnimator share the same setup window. These are now back online as a single zipped download (42MB) containing the following tutorials with workfiles: Read more…

Recently I was chatting with Aharon Rabinowitz about how I get value out of Twitter and Aharon suggested I record a tutorial to share with everyone. This tutorial will give you a rundown on how I’ve been using Twitter to add value for those who follow Motionworks and as a powerful business tool. Read more…

In this 30 minute tutorial you’ll learn techniques and workflow used in Adobe After Effects and Illustrator to create the dramatic effect of the Batman icon shattering apart revealing a bright light source behind. Plug-ins used include Knoll Light Factory, Trapcode Particular and Shine. For a 10% discount on these and other Red Giant Software products use the code Motionworks10.  Thanks to Ko Maruyama and Jonas Hummelstrand for creative input.   Watch Tutorial

In this short tutorial learn how to use After Effects’ Fast Blur, Turbulent Displace, Roughen Edges, Texturize, Displacement Map and Gradient Wipe effects to give text a grungy look.

Watch tutorial    Download Project

In the final part of this series learn how to use After Effects’ Color Link effect to integrate the can into the background, work with various Layer Styles, create a 3D text animation and add other finishing touches.   Watch tutorial

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. Click the thumbnail to view full size images.   Watch e-seminar   Download project

In part 3 of this series learn how to use After Effects Shape Layers to add dynamic and organic, self-animating elements to the background.

Watch tutorial

In part 2 of this series learn how to use After Effects Shape Layers, Fractal Noise and Grid effects to create background elements, then animate them using the Convert Audio to Keyframes feature. Watch tutorial

In 2008 I did a series of roadshows for Adobe where I presented a neat little animation of a dancing can. In this series of tutorials I’ll walk you step-by-step through various After Effects techniques for creating this spot. This section deals with Puppet Pin tool basics and how to use the cool motion sketch feature to animate to music.  Watch tutorial

Primatte Keyer is a popular and powerful keying plug-in that has been used in numerous high profile motion pictures. This video tutorial walks you through the basics of using Primatte Keyer Pro in Final Cut Pro but is also suitable for After Effects, Motion and Avid users.  Watch tutorial

Text Anarchy includes the GridSquares and GridLines effects, previously part of Digital Anarchy’s Geomancy. In this tutorial you’ll learn the basics of using these surprisingly useful particle effects.

Watch tutorial

After Effects CS4 includes numerous less obvious features that are great general time savers. In this tutorial, we’ll take a quick look at the new 4:3 inside 16:9 safe guides, Separate Dimensions, Centre in View, Flip Horizontal and Vertical, Shape Layer’s new Wiggle Transform and more.  Watch tutorial

In this recorded e-seminar I walk through the techniques used in Adobe After Effects and Adobe Illustrator to create the silhouette look used in the award winning Bond Classic Bond teaser. Topics include working with green screen, preparing footage for clean vectorization and batch vectorization of sequences using Illustrator and Bridge. View Gallery post  Watch e-seminar

CS4 introduces us to 3 new effects: Cartoon, Bilateral Blur and Turbulent Noise. Bilateral Blur and Turbulent Noise are very similar to the existing Smart Blur and Fractal Noise effects. In this tutorial, we’ll take a quick look at these new effects and see what makes them different. Watch tutorial

Up until CS4 the only way to work with true 3D objects in After Effects was to use a plug-in such as Zaxwerks 3D Invigorator. Now thanks to Live Photoshop 3D, 3D objects can be imported directly without the need for a plug-in. As you’ll see in this tutorial, it’s still early days but certainly gives an idea of the direction in which After Effects is heading. Watch tutorial

Complex projects with many nested comps have always been a challenge to navigate, but the new Composition Navigator and Composition Mini-flowchart make it so easy you’ll wonder how you worked without them. In part 2 we take a look at the key techniques for using these new features. Watch tutorial

In this video tutorial series we’ll take a look at all of the great new features in Adobe After Effects CS4 plus many smaller updates and tweaks that you’ll probably never find in the manual. Part 1 includes the welcome screen, general interface enhancements and the new search features. Watch tutorial

Text Anarchy is a particle generator specifically for text that allows you to create some pretty detailed text-based looks very quickly. In this tutorial you’ll learn the basics of using two of the key effects: Text Matrix and Text Grid.  Watch tutorial

In this tutorial you’ll learn the basic work flow for Red Giant Software’s Radium Glow plug-in. This was the first time I’d used the effect and have been pretty impressed with the results; you have a lot of control over exactly how and where the glow appears on your footage.  Watch tutorial

In this recorded e-seminar I walk through various techniques used in Adobe After Effects and Photoshop for creating the grungy, dark look of Saw 4. Topics include sourcing and combining stock images, using Photoshop brushes to give text a grunge look and create blood splatter, color grading and lighting.
Watch movie | Watch tutorial

In this tutorial you’ll learn a simple technique using grungy brushes in Adobe Photoshop to make some grungy text. If you like this you may like the on-demand e-seminar where I discuss this and other techniques used to create the graphics for a Saw 4 promo.  Watch tutorial

In this recorded e-seminar I’ll show you how to build a simple yet dynamic type-based animation. Topics include working with Illustrator files, setting up simple relationships using expressions, per-character 3D type, setting up 3D layers, creative use of shape layers, Brainstorm, modifying and saving a preset. Watch e-seminar

In this tutorial you’ll learn the basic workflow for using Magic Bullet Frames. Formerly part of the Magic Bullet Suite, this plug-in for Adobe After Effects that allows you to create high quality progressive frames from interlaced footage. Other effects include Opticals for beautiful film-like cross dissolves and fades to black or white and De-artifactor.  Watch tutorial

In this free introductory video tutorial from the Creative Background Design in After Effects series, your host John Dickinson demonstrates how to make a simple, seamlessly looping Fractal Noise background and variations. John uses innovative techniques and explains several shortcuts that will help your workflow.  Download tutorial