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!

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 part 2 of this After Effects CS5 E-Seminar, we explore cool ways of using the Shape Layer Wiggle, Text Wiggly Selector and various automated effects.

Watch Part 2

This seamlessly looping After Effects background is based on the Cell Pattern effect and includes a number of adjustment layers you can use to modify the basic look.

Watch tutorial

Gallery post   Download project

Learn how to build backgrounds like a broadcast designer

In this series of tutorials your host John Dickinson demonstrates how create to a range of professional, broadcast-style backgrounds in After Effects. In addition to the base backgrounds, you will learn how to create numerous stunning variations. By the end of the series you will have a strong understanding of the workflow that John uses every day working in broadcast television and the skills necessary to build your own. Your creativity is the only limit!

This value bundle includes lessons 2 to 7 of the Creative Background Design Series:

• Lesson 01: Basic Fractal Loop
  Getting started with Fractal Noise in After Effects Free Download (32MB)
• Lesson 02: Award Night
  Create a realistic theatre curtain.
• Lesson 03: Venetian Blocks
  Create interesting and varied background effects.
• Lesson 04: Fractal Flower
  Create a gorgeous fractal flower and hi-tech worm hole.
• Lesson 05: Molten Cells
  Create an undulating molten lava background.
• Lesson 06: Rose Window
  Create a variety of Persian-style designs.
• Lesson 07: Vector Light
  Create a versatile and stylish blurred light background. Note: the Vector Paint effect was removed in After Effects CS5, although projects from previous releases using Vector Paint will open in CS5.

All project files are included as well as bonus project files which include the individual lesson title animations created using Zaxwerks ProAnimator. The documentation contains an introduction PDF that explains everything you need to know.

About your Host: Based in Sydney Australia, John Dickinson is a cutting-edge motion graphics artist who is in demand. John combines 12 years of industry experience with a proven teaching ability to provide high quality learning resources that encourage and challenge participants to break through to new levels of excellence and impact in their work.

Make a realistic theatre curtain in After Effects

In this video tutorial your host John Dickinson demonstrates how to make a realistic theatre curtain background and other variations in After Effects. John uses innovative techniques and explains several shortcuts that will help your workflow.

All project files are included as well as a bonus project file which includes the beautiful Award Night titles created using Zaxwerks ProAnimator. The documentation contains an introduction PDF that explains everything you need to know.

Make a multi-layered, tech-style background

In this video tutorial your host John Dickinson demonstrates how to use expressions and real-world techniques to make a multi-layered, tech-style background and stunning variations. The lesson is clearly explained and includes cool tricks that will help your After Effects workflow.

All project files are included as well as a bonus project file which includes the Venetian Blocks titles created using Zaxwerks ProAnimator. The documentation contains an introduction PDF that explains everything you need to know.

This starry background was created using a combination of Fractal Noise and Trapcode Particular and is based on a preset included with Particular.

Download Project.