MILG 6 and 7 host Tim Clapham recently completed a beautiful animation for 3D World magazine, created using Cinema4D and Adobe After Effects. The even cooler news is Tim recorded a tutorial.

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)

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 [Read more]

In this two part tutorial learn how to use Zaxwerks 3D Flag and ProAnimator to create simple yet stylish broadcast promo graphics. In this part we cover using solids and masks to create the banner, combining shapes with the Blend operator and using 3D Flag on multiple layers with different pre run settings. [Read more]

Video Copilot has released a handy new, free, Reflect plug-in for Adobe After Effects.

Generally, when creating a boxing promo, we are given between two and five days. This project was different, or at least appeared to be different at first. My colleague Brett Morris and I, were given two weeks to design and produce a promo for the upcoming Green V Jones Jr fight here in Sydney. However, after the first two days of work the deadline was cut [Read more]

Red Giant Software has just release Holomatrix, a new plug-in for Adobe After Effects. Use the code “motionworks10″ for a 10% discount.

Maltaannon is back with a new tutorial on getting control of the Adobe After Effects camera.

Practicing Neurologist Howard Silby turns to After Effects

“Your website, training, tuts, and unplugged series are outstanding! After 40 years as a practicing neurologist I decided to learn video editing, mainly to begin to archive our family’s life for the benefit of our 5 grandchildren. So, at age 68, I started with the Cassablanca system which allowed me to ease into the skill, I soon found it limiting and decided, with great trepidation, to jump into after effects. So, I purchased total training 6.5, and since have purchased every Cow series, Meyer’s books, total training series thru 7.0, many of lynda.com dvd’s, as well as in/out monthly membership to lynda.com, and take all tuts from you, and messrs.Rabinowitz, Maltaannon, Kramer, Velez, Holmes, etc etc and purchasing almost all of their and your products.

Trying to get into after effects in 2003 would be like you deciding today that you wanted to be a neurologist: I thought “alpha” was a dominant male, “channel” was something that held water, “mask” something the Lone Ranger wore, “transparency” something that defined a shallow person, “matte” something you wiped your feet on, and “travelling” something you did when you retired. I just couldn’t wrap my brain around “layers” and “duplicating”, etc. It all seemed counterintutive to my medically trained brain. Being color blind didn’t/doesn’t help any! But all of you helped me get from After Effects Ground Zero to 0.005% above ground zero, where I now still labor tring to learn this stuff. It’s great fun, and now I mainly continue in order to keep my brain challenged and stave off Alzheimer’s Disease.

Many thanks to all of you who have helped me acieve my limited AE skills that have made my 74 year old artistic life happy and fulfilled. The free stuff is terrific, but the bought stuff even better, and the two complement each other. I use Adobe CS4 with every plug in known to man/woman even tho I use almost none of the special effects when I produce a video since I don’t want the FX to be the story. But just knowing I can do some of the stuff is all the reward I need. On rare occaisions I use FX just to have fun. If you want, here’s a link to some intro fx stuff I did last week.”

I always wanted to be a script writer. In France you need a second job if you want to survive as a writer. So rather than waiting tables I started using After Effects and soon began writing scripts, just not the kind of scripts I had planned!  Scripts are a powerful yet under-utilized feature of After Effects, which you can use to enhance and customize your workflow. [Read more]

An inspiring promo for the new animated graphic novel: Dexter – Early Cuts. The animation was created in Adobe After Effects. (via @studiodaily).

In this Adobe After Effects: Effects A-Z tip, special guest host Eran Stern demonstrates Bilateral Blur.

Watch tip (6mins, 12MB)

In this recorded e-seminar, learn how to create a stylish and moody, Sopranos–style 3D text look. Main tools covered include Adobe After Effects and Zaxwerks ProAnimator. Check out Making It Look Great for more Zaxwerks workflow training.

Watch tutorial (34mins, 60MB) Download project (6MB)

Nick Campbell (The Gorilla) has a new tutorial covering techniques for exporting your Cinema 4D scene into After Effects.

In this recording of a recent e-seminar, learn how to create a Sopranos–style text look, inspired by HBO. Main tools covered include Adobe After Effects and Zaxwerks ProAnimator.

Some more creative uses for Trapcode Particular.

Design skills are important but good workflow is also critical when working with Adobe After Effects. In this tip learn how a seemingly simple technique can be simplified further, saving keyframes, expressions and, most importantly, time!   Watch tutorial (5mins, 15MB)

In this Adobe After Effects: Effects A-Z tip, special guest host Topher Welsh demonstrates Bevel Alpha and Bevel Edges.

Watch tip (6mins, 15MB)

If Harry Frank recommends these 5 Adobe After Effects expressions, then you know you need them!

Robert Redman has some useful Cinema 4D and After Effects tutorials including this one on global illumination and reflections in Cinema 4D.

In this Adobe After Effects: Effects A-Z tip, I  demonstrate Beam and share two more unusual ways to use this handy effect.

Watch tip (5mins, 8MB)   Download project

As with all graphics on Fox Classics, the palette for this spot was restricted to orange, black and white. Being that this is Sunday “Night” at the Movies, it made the most sense to use black as the base color. Most of these movies are from the 60’s/70’s and when I heard the music (The Supremes) I thought of one of those old 70’s-style beaded door curtains and decided to use that as the basis of the design. Read more

In this screen capture of a recent Adobe After Effects e-seminar learn how Adobe Illustrator and Maxon Cinema 4D were used, along with stock footage from Video Copilot’s Action Essentials 2, to create explosive TV promo graphics. [Read more]

In this Adobe After Effects: Effects A-Z tip, special guest presenter Maltaannon demonstrates the Audio Spectrum effect.

Watch tip (12mins, 10MB)

Nick Campbell (The Gorilla) demonstrates various tips for dealing with banding in Adobe After Effects.