We normally only post tutorials here but this is big news. Motion Boutique will shortly (weeks) be releasing a new plug-in for After Effects called Newton. This will effectively add a physics engine to After Effects. ‘Bout time!
http://www.toolfarm.com
The Happenin’ Hotspot for After Effects Artists
Archive for May, 2011
Slow Motion From Pictures! [After Effects Pixel Motion Tutorial]
This is a cool tutorial I found on Vimeo a couple of days ago. I really need to try this!
Create a super slow motion effect from images in After Effects! All you need is two or more photos to create this effect. Pixel Motion is used in After Effects.
Please bestow a ? like or leave a ? comment if you have questions!
0:18 – Slow Motion From Photos Example
1:00 – Tutorial Start (tips and important information)
2:51 – How to Create Slow Motion From Pictures (method explained)
? TIPS:
? Rotate around your subject – your axis of rotation should be around the subject in the photo.
? Choose subjects with little background detail to achieve the best Pixel Motion effect.
? Keep the motion between images very, very subtle. Practice rotating around your subject once or twice before you take the picture.
? Remember to have your camera on manual EVERYTHING: Aperture, Shutter, Focus, and White Balance. This will ensure the fastest multi-burst from your camera (DSLR or point-and-shoot). If you are shooting at a higher ISO, turn off in-camera noise reduction.
? Rename your files to numbers or alphabetical order – After Effects sometimes won’t create a proper JPEG sequence with filenames such as “IMG_9738.JPG”. In this example, I renamed my photos by chopping off the first 5 characters (making the filename “738.JPG”) with a file renamer.
? Resize your images to your output WIDTH (1920 for my project). I created an action in Photoshop that automates everything. This will speed up your overall production and processing time.
? You can also use this method by zooming into your subject (instead of rotating) while shooting the images. Do this by either zooming with the lens, or physically stepping closer to your subject. Remember your manual focus here.
UPDATE: How to resize your photos/images:
? Download my Photoshop preset: http://bit.ly/resize-for-1080p-HD
? Follow the included instructions
REMEMBER that the photos you run through this Photoshop action WILL be overwritten. What I do is create a new folder called ‘resized’, copy my originals into it, then run the Photoshop action on the ‘resized’ images folder. After that, I chop off the first five characters of the filename with a file renamer such as File Renamer Basic (http://bit.ly/File-Renamer-Basic).
To see other After Effects tutorials (including 60p to 24p Slow Motion Conversion, SUPER Slow Motion, TRUE Color Correction, and more), go to:
http://vimeo.com/channels/aetuts
http://devowe.com/
Audio: Zoom H4n + Redhead Windscreen
New site loads slowly
I just want to let you know that I am aware of the slow loading problems. I’ve installed a cache tool to help it load faster and removed unnecessary plug-ins. It still seems to run more slowly than I’d prefer. I may have to use another template for the site. Slow loading is no fun!
New AE plug-in generates hexagon textures
Andrew Yang has made a new Pixel Bender plugin for After Effects called YY Hex Tex and all it does is make hexagons. That may seem like a very limited feature set but when you need hexagons, this is your plug-in! As it says on the plug-in’s aescripts.com page, it’s great for motion graphics and HUD designs. You can set and animate the effect’s anchor point (creating up and down or side to side motion), the size of the hexagons, the thickness of the border around them, angle, color, etc. You can also invert the alpha so you’re left with just the hexagons themselves, or their border. Very nice. No, it’s not free, but you can name your own price. Click here to check it out.
Create Thor-like Titles in After Effects
This 30-minute tutorial recreates the titles from the Thor trailer. Create 3D text and use the Shatter, Advanced Lightning and CC Rain effects. There’s also bits on time stretching and color correction.
Tutorial: How to Transfer CS5 Plug-ins to CS5.5 in Windows
I posted the Mac version of this procedure of moving plug-ins a day or two ago and now Brandon Smith of Digieffects has made the Windows instructions.
How to Transfer CS5 Plug-ins to CS5.5 in Windows from digieffects on Vimeo.
Learn how to transfer your After Effects and Premiere Pro plug-ins from CS5 to CS5.5 in Windows without having to re-install your plug-ins!
Tutorial: Transfering your After Effects CS5 plug-ins to After Effects CS5.5
Michele Yamazaki of Toolfarm and author of Plug-in To After Effects shows you a quick way to get your plug-ins moved to Adobe After Effects CS5.5 from CS5. It will take 5 minutes and will not require you to download new installers.
Free Trim Compose AE Script from Video Copilot
Video Copilot released a very handy script today which is great for cleaning up messy timelines. Andrew Kramer‘s Trim Compose script can take multiple layers and automatically pre-compose each of them. Now you’re free to heap on the effects, background layers, mattes and whatever else it is your cookin’ in each pre-comp keeping the main time nice and neat. Speaking of which, the new pre-comp layers in your main comp are given a close shave so you have a visual on where all the action is in each layer (no more long slabs of layer over layer). Get the script and watch the tutorial which also comes with some handy info on proxies here.
After Effects: A to Z – CC Blobbylize
Eran Stern gives a few ideas on what you can do with CC Blobbylize in After Effects including transitions and an interesting text effect. Watch it at Motionworks.
