Blog Archives
Creating Normal Maps with Trapcode Form
In this demonstration, Harry Frank shows how to add light and reflections to Trapcode Form by using a custom particle generated from a 3D Normal Pass in conjunction with Stefan Minning’s Normality plug-in.
Download the project here:
people.redgiantsoftware.com/Explore/PresetDetail.aspx?PresetId=1835
For more information on Normality, visit 3dcg.net/software/normality/
Promos, Products & Plot Device
Once it again, here is one of those “I know it’s been quiet around Graymachine” blog posts. But, again.. as these usually go, it’s been for good reason. A lot has been happening.
First, if you poke around the newly re-designed redgiant.com, you’ll see a LOT of new promo videos for Red Giant products, like this one for Magic Bullet Suite, or this one for Trapcode Suite, or this one for the Effects Suite, or this one for Magic Bullet Cosmo, or this one for Magic Bullet Looks 2. That’s me pumping that stuff out, trying to make the products look good.
There’s also a new preset pack I designed for wedding videographers, which contains 50 different compositional wedding themed elements.
Plus, I’ve been producing numerous QuickTip tutorials, some I still need to post here. AND, I am planning a regularly scheduled live broadcast to be launched soon. You can also find me on the Twitterz, answering questions, spreading industry news and offering my rapier wit and dapper charm.
Oh, and I had another baby, too. Jaxon Lewis Frank was born April 6 and is an awesome little bundle of baby.
And last but not least, I did a massive space galaxy logo animation that is the new opening for RGTV and a new short film co-produced by Red Giant called Plot Device. It’s awesome. Please take a moment to check it out.
That is all. More to come now that I have a chance to breath.
Fairytale Lighting in After Effects
In this quick tutorial you’ll learn how to take video and turn into something straight out of a fairytale. You’ll learn how to set up a down-and-dirty 3D track, add volumetric light and dust to a live action shot, and then finish it with some simulated camera lens blur.
Easy Vignette? Use the Circle Effect
As many times as I’ve created a vignette with a mask, it only dawn on me today that the circle effect can also be used to create a circular vignette (and saved as a nifty preset.) Simply invert the circle, twirl open feather and soften the edges. This works well directly on a layer or on an adjustment layer.
Download a CS4 FFX file for the vignette here. Or look at the settings below.
Environment Replacement in After Effects
Using The Foundry’s CameraTracker, a keyer and Trapcode Horizon, you can totally change the environment of a shot. Here’s a short demo.
Here is the clip used:
Music to Light Effect
In this episode of Red Giant TV, I’ll shows you how to re-create the Music-to-Light effect (seen last season on Heroes), using Trapcode Particular 2. This is a deep exploration of the extremely powerful Aux System in Particular.
Rendering with the Adobe Media Encoder
Render your After Effects compositions in the background using the Adobe Media Encoder
RGTV 50: Alien Attack!
In this episode of Red Giant TV, I will show you how to destroy the city of Los Angeles through an alien attack. We’ll explore compositing, 2D and 3D tracking, color correction and visual effects techniques that will blow your mind. Kablooey!
Mamoworld
Mamoworld has launched from effects wizard Mathias Möhl. There’s a fantastic and fun set of tutorials covering a wide range of content, but with a heavy focus on all things Mocha and After Effects. You know Mathias from great AE scripts like Tracker2Mask, MochaImport, and Chameleon over at aescripts.com.
FXPHD: Broadcast Design with Red Giant
I’m heading up a 10 week course over at FXPHD on broacast design with a slew of Red Giant plug-ins, including the Trapcode Suite, Magic Bullet Suite, and many from the Effects Suite.
The class will be focusing on creating a broadcast design package for an awards ceremony. Over the course of 10 weeks, I’ll be showing the ins and outs of about 14 plug-ins packages: Trapcode 3D Stroke, Shine, Starglow, Particular, Form. Magic Bullet Mojo, Looks, Colorista II. Knoll Light Factory, Planespace, Text Anarchy, Warp, Radium Glow, and Image Lounge.
With 10 weeks to fill, we can cover a LOT of stuff. It will be a great learning experience! I hope to see you there!