Greyscale Gorilla has released a stunning new lighting kit for Cinema 4D.

Showcase your skills and win cool tools

Are you ready for a new challenge? Well Motionworks is teaming up with Digieffects, and this time your mission is to create an eye-popping animation using Digieffects plug-ins. All entries will be showcased on Motionworks, with the top three entries receiving an entire set of Digieffects plug-ins worth over $1,000. Read below for the details.

• All entries must use the music track written especially for the challenge by Selcuk Can Guven. Download music
• All entries must include the Digieffects logo (3D is okay) Download logo
• All entries must feature at least one Digieffects plugin. If you don’t own any Digieffects plugins you can use trial versions. Any watermarks from the demos won’t affect your chances of winning. Download trials
• Resolution should be no greater than 640 x 360.
• Format can be Vimeo, YouTube or MP4/H264.
• The length of the animation should be that of the music track.
• All entries must be sent to Motionworks no later than April 1, 2010.
• All entries will be featured on Motionworks during the challenge, with the final 3 chosen from the top 10 entries.
• Send your movie or link to john@motionworks.com.au.
• Please list all plug-ins used in your entry.

So let the challenge begin. We can’t wait to see your creations!

Do you ever find yourself suffering the effects of overwork – even doing what you love? This episode takes a frank and honest look at the damage working crazy hours can do to your business – and your life – and how to handle it.

For free 1-minute business tips with Robin Dickinson, watch BLACK CHAIR Business
Mentoring TV

A handy checklist of the top 4 things users do wrong when rendering in Cinema 4D.

Amateurmedia.net has some terrific type-based Cinema 4D tutorials.

Great topic! I have a horrible story where I learned this stuff the hard way!

When I was just young and starting out, I was working on an opening sequence for a client. From the start I had the go-ahead from my producers, and I spent weeks pouring  my heart and soul into this project. I felt it would be my big break! To my delight, my producers and co-workers all loved my final project. I was feeling pretty cheeky. But when the piece was submitted to the client, they didn’t like it. At all. I was crushed.

So I made them a very boring stock intro, they were pleased with it, and that was done. But I had my old original piece that I wanted people to see. So I posted it online, with the caption “this was the original opening to ’such-and-such show,’ it was rejected.” My friends left harsh comments towards that client. “What were they thinking? they are idiots!” “I never like that company anyway!” And of course, that client’s company name was mentioned BY NAME in my piece.

Well, when someone from that company was shown the video, and read the comments, she wasn’t very happy with our production house. Needless to say I was fired that day. Luckily, my producer fought for my job and it was changed to a suspension. But I definitely learned some hard lessons, not only about intellectual property rights, but taking things personally. Don’t do what I did, kids.

Related Links

After Effects: Creating magic from presets – part 1

After Effects: Simplify your workflow

For free 1-minute business tips with Robin Dickinson, watch BLACK CHAIR Business
Mentoring TV

Rob Redman has released Xbreaker, a handy, new script for smashing up your Cinema 4D objects. The basic version is free.

Stu Maschwitz has a brand new tutorial showing the ins and outs of Mojo. One cool tool! For a 10% discount use the code “motionworks10″.

Harry Frank has posted a great collection of images captured during his recent visit to Alcatraz.

Naldzgraphics has posted 33 terrific and inspirational Iron Man images. Coolness personified.

For free 1-minute business tips with Robin Dickinson, watch BLACK CHAIR Business
Mentoring TV

Hi John, back in ‘92 when I’d been a 32-bit paint system specialist (a rarity back then) I was hunted by the music industry for a variety of projects that – at the time – were very exciting and made me alot of money and allowed me to circulate among many stars of the day in both design – Peter Saville & Malcolm Garett among others – and pop stars. Great fun.

Sadly this new found popularity and lifestyle brought with it the inevitable negatives of drug abuse which moved very quickly from ecstasy & cocaine to heroin which stayed with me destroying my life and the majority of my career for the better part of 20 years.

18 months ago I managed to force myself back into 3D (Cinema 4D in fact). For over a year I locked myself in a cold garage with heroin in one hand and a C4D loaded laptop in the other, learning as much and as quickly as I could.

In March of 2009 I put myself into rehab and managed to finally leave behind my addiction and concentrate on my love of animation returning to work like a new man. A year down the line I’m doing great and I owe a great deal to the lessons learned from Tim Clapham and Motionworks (amongst others) who have given me the push and confidence I lost through heroin in the first place.

I hope this hasn’t sounded pathetic John because guilt and shame aside it’s all a very true and uplifting story. I went from (approx) six months to live to a popular and capable 3D artist all through the guidance and tutelage of sites such as your own. I look forward to every new MILG and make use of the tuition as much as possible…

Related Links

After Effects: Creating magic from presets – part 1

Knowing which material project type to use when using textures in Cinema 4D can be confusing. That’s why I asked my buddy Rob over at Pariah Studios to whip up this handy little tutorial! Thanks Rob! Watch tutorial

Paul Babb is the popular and charismatic CEO of Maxon USA.
In this Cinema 4D–focussed episode of Unplugged we talk about
Paul’s early days, including a time in film and on the stage;
then dive head–first into Cinema 4D and MoGraph and what makes it
just the hottest 3D software out there right now.

This promo for our brand new MILG7: MoGraph Unleashed video training, was created using Cinema 4D and After Effects. The Out Now text bounces using MoGraph 2.0 MoDynamics, the sky was added in After Effects using Trapcode Horizon, and the colour grade was created using a combination of Magic Bullet Looks and Mojo. For a 10% discount on Horizon, Looks or Mojo enter “motionworks10″ on checkout!  Watch Movie

But Brian hasn’t hosted training for some time. So when he mentioned he had just finished recording a brand new Advanced Photoshop CS4 Extended training course I had mixed emotions; part of me was so glad to see Brian once again hosting tutorials, the other half thought “Why Photoshop? Why not After Effects?  But now, having watched the training, I must say I’m impressed. I had no idea Brian had such an in-depth knowledge of Photoshop.

In this detailed, real-world training, Brian walks step-by-step through a dramatic poster design he originally created for the Rockland County Choral Society.

1. Artistic Compositing

In this chapter Brian demonstrates how to take a stock image of a dancer and transform it into a flame-engulfed fire sprite. The project includes tips on choosing source material; a terrific technique using Channels to cleanly select hair; a wealth of workflow tips including managing layers using Smart Objects; a creative technique for taking an existing illustration and customizing it, then using the Liquify tool to wrap the texture around the sprite; and techniques for compositing the sprite with images of fire.

2. 3D Modeling in Photoshop

3D was introduced in Photoshop CS3 but until now there has been no detailed training available. In this chapter Brian dives deep into the 3D features of Photoshop CS4 to create a truly jaw-dropping golden chalice, complete with skull and crossbones. The chapter starts with a brief introduction to 3D in Photoshop and then explores creating a 3D mesh from grayscale; creating and modifying depth maps, including a handy technique for making a seamless fractal noise map; and modeling using the Curves tool (which has to be seen to be believed); merging 3D layers and combining 3D objects.

I have to say that although the results Brian creates using the Photoshop tools are impressive, they weren’t easy to create. Modelling with Curves is cool but I’d much prefer to use a simple lathe in Cinema 4D. Having said that, if you don’t have access to a fully featured 3D software application, it’s pretty cool to know that you can model in Photoshop.

3. Textures and Lights

This chapter starts with a handy technique for creating a seamless metal texture, then moves deep into all of the texturing and lighting settings. Brian demonstrates how to apply the metal texture to the chalice and finely tweak material and lighting settings. The last 3 sections focus on adding detail using bump map textures, with impressive results.

4. 32 Bits – Putting It Together

This final chapter covers how to combine the fire sprite and chalice with a title to build the final poster. Brian starts by demonstrating how to place the fire sprite between copies of the chalice to create a convincing composite, then moves into a thorough explanation of 32bit compositing, including why you would use it and how to use it as an artistic tool. The final two lessons include a cool 32-bit technique for building the poster type element using no less than 6 different Layer Styles; and some must-know tricks for reducing the bit-depth of the final poster for print output.

If you want to explore some of the lesser-known aspects of Photoshop CS4 Extended or if you’re looking to improve your general Photoshop workflow, then this is an excellent training resource. As a trainer Brian is not only highly skilled but is equally warm, friendly and passionate, making watching these lessons a pleasure. I always get the feeling that Brian has my best interests at heart and truly wants me as a viewer to get the most out of the software.

For more information about this training click here. For a free-guest pass to Total Training click here.  You can also subscribe to Total Training for $24.99 per month to access the entire library of titles including Photoshop CS4 Extended – Advanced Techniques. This subscription also gives you access to the lesson work files.

The Making It Look Great Cinema 4D Bundle includes Making It Look Great 6: Design and Production Techniques for Cinema 4D and After Effects, and Making It Look Great 7: MoGraph Unleashed. Both loaded with hours of Cinema 4D, MoGraph and After Effects techniques.

Hosted by renowned Cinema 4D and After Effects expert Tim Clapham, these are must-watch workshops for anyone who is serious about using Cinema 4D with MoGraph and After Effects at a real-world, industry-level.

Learn more about Making It Look Great 6

Learn more about Making It Look Great 7

About your Host: With over 12 years experience, Tim Clapham is an industry recognized expert in Cinema 4D and a renowned trainer with a strong attention to detail. As owner of LUXX, Tim works with a wide range of global advertising and broadcast companies, producing world-class content that is both technically challenging and innovative.

MILG6 host, Cinema 4D expert and Mograph master Tim Clapham is back to guide you step-by-step through 6 stunning, 3D motion graphics projects.

In these workshops, Tim demonstrates must-know, real-world Cinema 4D MoGraph techniques and workflows you will find immediately useful in your own work.

While based around MoGraph, Tim also discusses general Cinema 4D workflow techniques for modelling and texturing which will improve your all-round expertise when working with Cinema 4D.

MoCap

Working with Motion Capture files such as the FBX format, this workshop takes you step-by-step through various techniques for creating animated elements from captured motion.  Watch your motion design advance to new grounds with many possibilities  to create natural flowing movement with your graphic components.

Main areas covered include: Spline Effector, Random Effector, Tracer, Sketch & Toon.
Watch example | Watch teaser

Flourish

Based upon the popular theme of heraldry, this workshop will provide you with a variety of strategies to assist in developing your ideas into real world projects.  Link Effectors to regular Cinema4D objects to harness the power of MoGraph within your established animation techniques.  Deform objects along any path with the Spline Wrap deformer.  Animate multiple objects in sequence by utilising the Time Offset feature.  This class is jam–packed with a huge combination of techniques you will use on a day-to-day basis.

Main areas covered include: Spline Wrap, Time Offset, Random Effector, Delay Effector, Xpresso Sample Effector Node, Stacked Materials, Stick Texture Tag, Step Effector. Watch example | Watch teaser

Halftone

Whether you wish to recreate a realistic print style halftone effect or build a giant stadium jumbotron structure, this workshop explores the numerous options available when working with image–based source material.  Combining the power of the MoGraph Cloner in Grid Array mode, explore the potential the Shader Effector has to offer.  Once integrated with the Color Shader, you will unleash unlimited possibilities for your own projects.

Main areas covered include: Sort Clones, Shader Effector, Color Shader, Formula Effector. Watch example

Dynamic Letters

Starting with the creation of a simple logo model, then breaking it apart polygon-by-polygon, a techni-coloured interior is revealed.  Lit using Global Illumination and powered by dynamic forces, watch thousands of tiny letters, each an individual light source, falling, colliding and bouncing.  After studying this workshop, the power of dynamics will be at your fingertips.

Main areas covered include: Rigid Body Tag, Plain Effector, Random Effector, PolyFX, Global Illumination. Watch example | Watch teaser

Flocking

Need swarms of bees? Shoals of fish? Maybe you simply want to move with the crowd?  This collection will point you in the right direction.  Streaming with an abundance of opportunities, control the crowds of parameters with ease as you guide them towards your goal.

Main areas covered include: Spline Effector, Step Effector, Delay Effector, Random Effector, Target Effector, Multi Shader. Watch example | Watch teaser

Dancing Morphs

Attach visible lights onto multiple object vertices and watch as your clones move to the rhythm of the beat. Channel the power of the Inheritance Effector as your objects morph from one to another, leaving a trail of ever decreasing light that flickers through the falloff.  This workshop will guide you through the intricacies of some of the often misunderstood and rarely used MoGraph tools, such as the Matrix Object, Instance Object, Sound and Inheritance Effector. MoGraph Instance Object.

Main areas covered include: Matrix Object, Inheritance Effector, Sound Effector, Beat Shader, Displace Deformer. Watch example

Reviews

Trish Meyer says “buying this course is a no-brainer for anyone interested in learning MoGraph (which should include every motion graphics artist)” Read the review

About your Host: With over 12 years experience, Tim Clapham is an industry recognized expert in Cinema 4D and a renowned trainer with a strong attention to detail. As owner of LUXX, Tim works with a wide range of global advertising and broadcast companies, producing world-class content that is both technically challenging and innovative.