In this combined After Effects and Photoshop tutorial we look at how to create a clean plate using Photoshop’s Smart Object settings, then use that plate with the Difference Matte effect in After Effects to composite text into a scene.
Rob Redman has released a new set of 25 classroom related models for Cinema 4D.
Learn how to bend 2D layers along paths using Cinema 4D and After Effects in this 3 part tutorial by EJ Hassenfratz (@eyedsyn).
Tinka Tinka’s Render Booster can dramatically improve After Effects render speeds.
The Pixel Lab’s Backyard Pack for Cinema 4D includes 30 backyard themed models.
The Pixel Lab’s Garage Pack for Cinema 4D includes 30 garage and mechanic themed models.
It was my honour to be included as part of this talented group of After Effects creators and teachers at the 2013 Media Motion Ball in Las Vegas. Photo by Steve Oakley.
Maxon and Adobe have announced a strategic alliance. Looks like it’s going to get a whole lot easier to work between After Effects and Cinema 4D.
The Pixel Lab’s new model pack for Cinema 4D includes 30 roof themed models.
Vimeo has launched a new visual enhancer powered by Vivoom – a vast library of video looks created by myself, Angie Taylor (@theangietaylor) and Andrew Embury (@aembury).
Newton 2, the powerful physics simulator for After Effects has been updated. Check it out on aescripts.
Plexus for After Effects has been receiving some attention recently on air. Check it out on aescripts.
After Effects pioneer trainer Brian Maffitt (@bmaffitt) has created some stunning imagery by pointing a projector into a blizzard and recording the result. Not surprisingly the imagery is making waves online and reminds us all of how great it is to have Brian as part of our industry.
The Pixel Lab’s latest Cinema 4D model pack includes 30 travel related models.
My latest collection of presets for GenArts Sapphire is all about colour, with a focus on the Quadtone, Gradient and Tint effects.
Greyscale Gorilla has released a big new HDRI collection for the popular HDRI Studio Pack.
28 Responses to this post
July 23, 2012 at 7:39 am |
Wow, nice one! With quite a few good tips! Thanks John
July 23, 2012 at 8:08 pm |
You’re welcome Erik.
July 23, 2012 at 9:28 am |
What a great episode, I especially liked the Photoshop part! I didn’t know the median technique and think it’s really really useful! Thanks John!
July 23, 2012 at 8:09 pm |
Thanks Alex.
July 23, 2012 at 2:29 pm |
Nice one John. I wasn’t aware of the median technique either. Very handy!
July 23, 2012 at 8:09 pm |
You’re welcome Mark.
July 24, 2012 at 8:41 am |
Wow – solid work as always John.
I nearly gave up on PS and Video. But this Median stackmode is really cool.
July 25, 2012 at 8:57 pm |
Thanks illd, don’t give up on the Shop! Best, John.
July 24, 2012 at 3:03 pm |
Thanks, John. You’re always inspired me.
July 25, 2012 at 8:56 pm |
You’re welcome.
July 25, 2012 at 6:32 pm |
Hi John,
Thanks for doing this series, Effects A-Z.
It’s a very useful series, and this episode is one of the best.
As I watched I wondered how much of your workflow would have changed if you had used VCP’s new Element 3D plugin. Would it have taken you less time to work on the project or the same amount of time?
Just curious.
Thanks again for all you do to help the rest of us.
Best, J
July 25, 2012 at 8:56 pm |
Hey Jim,
I actually initially considered Cinema 4D… then ProAnimator but decided in the end to keep the text 2D due to time restraints. If I had had Element 3D I most likely would still have left this 2D and don’t see any way it may have accelerated the process. All the best, John.
July 25, 2012 at 11:08 pm |
seeing that clean plate happen instantly in photoshop relieved years of roto pain! i’m definitely going to try this out on a clip that has been stabilised. i enjoy seeing the amount of detail you go into with your graphics, nice that you get half a day to work on a graphic like this. cheers.
July 30, 2012 at 9:30 am |
Thanks Richard, those kind of aha moments are great heh!
July 26, 2012 at 5:18 pm |
Very nice John. Thank you for great tips!
July 29, 2012 at 6:44 pm |
Hi John! VERY VERY useful tips!!! Thanks a lot for sharing them with us! By the way I wonder how did you come about this technics?
July 30, 2012 at 9:25 am |
You learn these kinds of things over time!
August 2, 2012 at 3:34 pm |
I must say the first part in photoshop just made my life a LOT easier on an upcoming project.
Great as always John.
Cheers!
August 3, 2012 at 7:32 pm |
Amazing tutorial, really very useful.
Don’t suppose anyone has any tips for removing the background and leaving the foreground elements. I’ve got a timelapse and I want to keep the people but remove and replace the rather awful tent it is shot in.
I was hoping this process would work with reversing the mask, but it’s not really getting there.
Any help gratefully received.
Best
September 17, 2012 at 4:30 am |
There’s a few ways I can think of, but most likely I’d imagine a combination of factors will prove to be the best way to go. If you begin by simply reversing the mask that might help but I’d imagine it’ll be a case of trying to key out any background elements that are different enough in one pass – then building up multiple passes with maybe a rotobrush pass to get the basics before refining elements that rotobrush couldn’t separate. For the key you could even trying precomping the shot to really bring out the hues of the tent and using that as a matte, thereby saving the amount you might end up roto’ing.
Without seeing the shot its tough to know but I’d imagine difference matte is a good starting place, then build on that. Multiple passes will still save you a ton of time I’d expect as opposed to do tons of roto by hand.
Hope that helps to some extent.
Cheers!
@AnimoMG
September 17, 2012 at 6:51 pm |
Thank you very much. The job is over now but the footage was very rough indeed (over exposed, exported to low res formats – basically run through the mill) and didn’t stand up to much roto or key work.
But I will be using this method a lot in the future I can tell. Thank you all again for the hints and tips and the excellent tutorial.
September 7, 2012 at 2:00 am |
Great tutorial John, that clean plate info … unbelievable … just amazing how you can unravel components and do it so effortlessly. I hope Adobe is paying you royalties!
Appreciate all your good work. thanks, Laurel
September 17, 2012 at 7:14 am |
Thanks Laurel!
September 17, 2012 at 4:22 am |
Hey John – fantastic tutorial – can’t believe how effective that Median technique is. Genius! I’d tried Difference Matte on a few things but without much success, great to see even effects and blending modes you’d given up on prove useful in the end!
Cheers man
Dave
September 17, 2012 at 7:15 am |
Thanks David.
September 17, 2012 at 7:17 am |
You’re welcome MilanK.
December 3, 2012 at 6:19 pm |
That Median technique is a mind-blower (and obviously a major time saver). Wonderful stuff, so thanks for sharing!
December 4, 2012 at 5:20 pm |
You’re welcome Dave.
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