Catching Up
July 2nd, 2008

As we approach the new Video Copilot website update, great new tutorials are still coming out; like this one. We will be using a very simple method to create nice looking 3D text we can focus more on a nice design that will likely impress your friends AND the people who don't really understand what it is, you say you do here.

View Sample Movie

We also have a new blog schedule that we will launch with the new site that keep you motivated on those long days at the office (PG-13) and keep you up-to-date in the magical world of magic.

Andrew Kramer
POSTED:
17 years ago
64 Comments
Whoa, looks awesome. Have you released this??
Navarro Parker
16 years ago
Are you still planning to complete this tutorial? It seems like many of the techniques have been covered in other tutes.

Unless that 3D text is created in AE without plug-ins!
dan el
16 years ago
hey andrew k. how are you..??i think that maybe its difficult to be you because you have a lot of fans and its very complex to satisfy them all.. but youre making a g reeeat job.. so i don't have any.. concrete suggestions 4 tuts.. but i have a lot of freak ideas and maybe some day.. but i can't wait the #100 tut..!! i know that comes and groundbracking tut... congratulations and keep going..!!
hobbit
16 years ago
hi
I would love to see this tutorial
when will it be ready ???
thanks a lot
Shams
16 years ago
Hi! Andrew Kramer you the best.I LEARN ALOT FROM YOU.
1.CAN YOU DESIGN LIVE STAG WITH SO MANY STAG LIGHTS,SO THAT WE CAN PRE TEND THAT WE PREFORM LIVE.
2CAN YOU VIST THIS WEB SIT AND COME UP WIHT YOU OWN DESIGN OR TUTORIALS. YOU MADE EVERY TUTORIALS SIMPLE.
LONG LIVE ANDREW
http://www.ayatoweb.com
Tracker
16 years ago
You are amazing Andrew!I "eat" your tutorials on a breakfast,lunch and dinner.Good and helpfull job.For me its a great hand of help.I wait your new tutorials.Bay the way:can you make an tutorial whit optimal settings for composition in AE?Best way to create a good project(including PAL).
Greetings from Romania.
kyndel382
17 years ago
Eagerly waiting for this one!!!
17 years ago
I cannot find the tutorial for this. WAs it removed or does it look different..(or am I just overlooking it)? Would REALLY REALLY love to see this one and check out the project file. Thank you.


.-â???žMAHâ???¡-.
M.a. Farooqi
17 years ago
Adnrew...... this is not you.. there must be somebody else.. inside your!!! you've really GOD GIFTED mind!
...
can you plz tell me.. only 5 steps to get the best.. not specifically in sence of tools.. rather.. in whatever some body is going to develop creative..
excellent!

luv you
Jimmy
17 years ago
So was the text just created in 3DS? I think this may be the most anticipated tutorial yet and I'm dying to know.
smail
17 years ago
hi i m impatient to see your next tutorial so i just make a small video look a little bit like this video with different color ..pleas give me your opinion..(sorry for my bad English)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WNE28qyL80

and here is the other color

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvdFOpsnF1I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujoz1hzaJy8

thanks from smail in morocco !!!
17 years ago
very nick..waiting for the tut...
allister
17 years ago
Hi Andrew when will this tutorial be up? and will you have a project file for this one?
SunYulin
17 years ago
WoW ...
That's very very cool!
like it
Great men
eye design
17 years ago
Can't Wait"
17 years ago
I agree Leah...
17 years ago
Faking 3D in AE, either with native or third-party plugins, always seems to be a lot of work for results that are still inferior and inflexible compared to genuine 3D from a real 3D app. Cinema 4D in particular has such great integration with AE that I don't know why more people don't just make the investment in learning a real 3D package to supplement their motion graphics work, as opposed to devising all sorts of ingenious but shabbier-looking 2.5D trickery.
5ive&2wo
17 years ago
To catch an editor sounds like a great documentary title. i would totally use it if i had a great story about an editor... which i dont heh. maybe a mockumentary?
Sandy
17 years ago
OMG, Its awesome, I wonder from where do u get these creative Ideas ?

Plz answer my question, Plz!!!!

Its looking very eye catchy. Superb Work.

thnx for the updates.

Sandy
Omermintz
17 years ago
love your tuts man! grate work
17 years ago
No zaxwerk plugin .. please i dont like this plugin !!!!
Babatunde Tunslike
17 years ago
Hi Community

Here we await another world of VideoCopilot, i once told my Wife that "Look, dont be susprise that Videocopilot may change in some months later" and when she saw the Blog, she's like "Wao! you guys aint satisfied".

Great Look, can someone help me out (Andrew), What stuff is used to generate that kind of light strikes, i mean i have always use particuliar, but seems complex in it tweakings.... Andrew, how did you achieved those small tinny light streaks round the 3D text, please i will appreciate if someone that has the idea reply to my post. or Andrew himself...

or Maybe i wait for the tutorial... but i have a commercial coming and like to used such effect.. help pls
Smithy
17 years ago
hey andrew, will your new website, will it be html still or flash/xml based?
Ben
17 years ago
Looks nice,
I'm just trying to figure out how to get those rings with the warp.
Hey I got a tutorial idea!! can you do a tutorial on how to recreate the movie Wall-e?
Should not be that Hard.......
Pixar Slaughter
Leonard Koch
17 years ago
Hi
If you need good 3dtext azzap then you should definitely check out maltannons CE Shape extruder.
For most purposes it's the best way to create 3dtext in AE.
Check his preset and tutorial out:
http://maltaannon.com/articles/after-effects/studying-ce-shapeextruder/
VFX-Anomaly
17 years ago
Nice Andrew, I wonder if the next version (CS4) of after effects will have better 3D and 3D Text capabilities?

Lets all say a little prayer maybe it will happen
Some Guy
17 years ago
I liked the old style in your previous post about 3D text more. Nevertheless it will sure be a good motion graphics tutorial. And the background in this one isn't black.
oli
17 years ago
too much youtube for andrew
joris strickx
17 years ago
Another proof of the unlimitless possibility's of after effects. Practicly everything is possible in here. It's mostly finding the way to get it out of the program that's the big problem but you're doing a great job on that.
17 years ago
They are ok. I find them very tedious and can work faster in 3D.
17 years ago
Absolutely amazing!, now i could use it to my short-cut class project, hope you deliver it tomorrow because i have to deliver it on friday!

Greetings from Santiago de Chile, the city with more than 7 pre-emergency's of bad air conditions in 6 month's.

Thanks,
Amit
17 years ago
Hi,

Andrew, these extrude methods are awesome and effective, that said, what do you think of plug-ins like Zaxwerks Invigorator?

Thanks,
Derrick
David Young
17 years ago
@Christopher Gruber
I would like to see it.
17 years ago
I actually just encountered my first practical use of the shatter feature in After effects. (aside from some motion graphics)

I'm doing a few VFX shots for a feature film, and it required me to create a pit fall effect in the terrain. I basically used the shatter feature on the ground layer (using the footage for color) and had it collapse in on itself.

I'll post a link to the shot if anyone is interested.

Chris
Ethan
17 years ago
Great, Sir !!! Cant wait !!!
Dustin James
17 years ago
Office Space is actually rated R for language and brief sexuality.

Great movie though...

'... that's my stapler.'
17 years ago
It's not shatter... the problem with shatter is you can't control it very well or move around the object without moving the camera, having a scene with multiple text instances would be tricky. My favorite method is Maltaannon's shape extruder...

Mostly, I like real 3D text from 3D max, you can have reflections and beveled edges, that is the way to go. In the end, making your design look nice is the key.
5ive&2wo
17 years ago
ahha ha ha. to catch an editor
17 years ago
@jive.turkey Very nice my friend. I most def see talent shining through your work! Keep it steady.
Tim
17 years ago
Well....no, my secretary does that... LOL!

That's the greatest movie ever! Thanks, I needed that laugh.
17 years ago
Is that type all AE? I've been playing with ProAnimator. Have you done any tutorials that utilize ProAnimator?
17 years ago
Just knowing a new tutorial is coming out on a particular day or the release of a new product keeps me at the office until late at night (given the time difference from South Africa to San Fransisco) The new blog is sure to make me bring my duvet to the office.

Thanks again or keeping it fresh and real!

Eugene
RSA
Phill
17 years ago
That is impressive
17 years ago
I cant wait Andrew cant wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Loay
17 years ago
WOW
Loved the end of passage
As usual andrew, This is awesome
krentistthedentist
17 years ago
I love The Office and Office Space... and Andrew helps me get through my days at the office where I work.
17 years ago
Here is my 3D Text, and I know you are going to ask how I did it:
http://stayteen.org/staytv/clips.aspx?key=2AD4E774F5149A7F

And I am not talking about the text in the first couple seconds,
I am talking about when it says "Freedom"..

Believe it or not, all I used was Shatter!!! Hopefully this is what AK
did as well or I am wasting my time rendering it when there is some
magical faster way!
Morten Enoksen
17 years ago
lol, I love the office
Matiass
17 years ago
AK, do u use Nucleo Pro 2?
I want if u can tell us whis settins are best for faster previews,
Regards from Argentina.
Matiass.-
Jorrit Schulte
17 years ago
Well Here Is my 3D Shapes preset:

Preset:
dl2.s27.mihd.net/6of1kixa/3d_shapes.rar

Video Demonstration:
dl1.s27.mihd.net/70exkz9n/3d_shapes_demonstration.rar
17 years ago
Very Very Goog!!!! Great Andrew....
17 years ago
My quick little 15 minute attempt at creating the above scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5QWMF08ibo
Jorrit Schulte
17 years ago
I have made a Preset For 3D Text and Shapes, i can upload it if Andrew Doesn't mind...
ömer tatlisoz
17 years ago
very good...
17 years ago
What is you'r secret for the 3D text ?????
Paul
17 years ago
Keeps getting better & better...
17 years ago
Wow! This looks just Frikking Great!!! Particle-Bliss!! :]
Daryl Booth
17 years ago
Cannot wait. Great work.

PS: Office Space... GREAT FILM!
Nikolaus
17 years ago
Hey Andrew,

look great. I cant wait until your new website will come up!

Nikolaus
Brian Williams
17 years ago
Very nice Andrew, that is a very nice animation and I see so many ways I can use it already. Can't wait for the tutorial.
tommie12P(Thorsten Miess)
17 years ago
looks very very nice!
waiting for the tut...and also for the new VCP-Site (18 days left, right?)
how many YouTube videos do you watch per hour??
17 years ago
Great stuff. VERY much looking forward to it. By the time I finish getting through your first DVD of tutorials (amazing value for money btw) there will be a second tutorial DVD out and I can also get stuck into your other brilliant products.
17 years ago
That looks visually amazing...looking forward to it andrew!!
allister
17 years ago
Andrew - lovely stuff - just what im looking for for a project right now! cant wait for the tut!