Okay… list em.

Consider this, I like to make tutorials that are helpful to a large audience.

Where should I go next? Should I create tutorials demonstrating integration with Flash or a 3D program? And which 3D program would you prefer. I am pretty good at 3D max, but I’m sure I could get up to speed on C4D.

I know the majority of my tutorials will continue to use the core function of After Effects but I would like to open the door to other effects not possible in AE.

Just wondering…

In this tutorial advance your skills with for a fresh new perspective on 3D projection. Remember to refresh your browser ; )

In this tutorial learn how to use the vanishing point feature in Photoshop CS3 to create 3d layers for After EFfects CS3. This tutorial is a nice contrast to the 3D Projection Tutorials. It is also my very first CS3 Tutorial.

Create a 3D scene from a still image in After Effects with this 3d Camera Projection technique.
Watch Tutorial

Wouldn’t it be cool to turn a simple photograph into a 3D scene? It can be done. Basically you arrange several white solids in 3D space to resemble the shape of your photographed room. Then using a 3D light you can ‘project’ the image onto the walls with Light Transmission. Now you can use a camera to move around the room.

NOTE: The video below was created from a single image. Only 2 white solids where used, one for the floor and one for the wall. Additional solids can be used to create more walls as needed.

See Example

In the new After Effects CS3 there is a feature that allows you to use PhotoShop to create a similar effect called Vanishing Point. Obviously if someone is standing in the room it messes up the illusion. Ideally you would want to have a simple scene that could be composed using square solids.

I was going to record the tutorial tonight but I’m not feeling so hot, but I will try to have it ready for tuesday (tomorrow) and the Earth Zoom for next week and the meaning of life the week after. Needless to say, this is a trick that everyone should at least know about.

I forgot to mention, the audio intro on the Jumpy Text tutorial was done by the amazing Sonny Garcia.

http://www.sonnygarcia.com

Nice stuff.

My favorite film series is underway. They just released this great photo of the man himself:

Sure he looks older but not too bad for 60 years old. To tell you the truth, Indiana Jones is my hero. I have a signed Raiders of the Lost ark poster and you might say I’m a HUGE fan. I’ve heard people say negative things about this movie and how old Harrison Ford looks, etc. But not here. This guy is the man! If you write negative comments, I will delete them and I will come to your house and unplug your refrigerator. Your comment will be an unsolved mystery for the Hardy Boys.

Now if want to praise this movie uncontrollably… Please do.

Depth of Field is a wonderful thing. Many 3D programs can render this, but it takes a deathly long time. After Effects has a plugin called Lens Blur that does a nice job of taking a depth matte and using it to generate depth of field. Most 3D programs allow you to render a depth matte which is basically a black and white image, where white shows things close to the camera and black is far away.

You can even rack focus from the foreground to the background using this plugin. I’m working on a spot for Monster Energy Drink and this is one of the elements that will be incorporated.

The lens blur pugin I’m using is right Here:
http://www.frischluft.com/frischluft/index.php