This set of quick-turnaround graphics all have a similar look and feel and were created using  Cinema 4D,  After Effects  and plug-ins from  GenArts,  Video Copilot  and  Boris FX. Although Dark Shadows is the most simple, it took by far the longest (2 days) because I used it as an opportunity to learn how to model the letters.   [Read more]

Video Copilot  Element 3D  has come in extremely handy over the past few weeks for some quick packshots and full frame supers.  All of these are text-based looks and I’m yet to play with the in-depth particle settings, but so far am impressed with Element 3D. [Read more]

Following on from the success of my April collection of text presets for GenArts Sapphire, I was asked to create another set. Check them out along with other collections and individual presets in FX Central.  View Collection

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.

I was recently asked by GenArts to create some presets for the Sapphire set of plug-in effects. I immediately chose text as a subject since I use Sapphire all the time at work to create different kinds of text looks. The collection is available directly from GenArts, check it out along with other collections and individual presets in FX Central.  View Collection

After Effects has a very powerful type engine for creating all kinds of dynamic type animations, but what if you want something a little more subtle? In this 10 minute tutorial learn how you can combine After Effects’ Opacity and Type Opacity to create stylish, cinematic type fades. Update: Peripatew Design has created an expression-driven preset that automatically fades the text in and out.

In this Adobe After Effects walkthrough tutorial we look at some key 3D techniques including seamless scene creation, 3 point lighting, shadows and reflections. I also demonstrate how Digital Juice’s Color Rules plug-in can be used to fast track the colorisation of your comps.

Watch Tutorial (mp4)  | Download Project

Recently I needed to create a look where rows of text animated vertically down, fading on in turn as they moved . This could have been achieved in a number of ways using multiple layers and keyframes, but that would have not only added complexity to the composition, it would have made updates and versioning more time consuming. [Read more]