In this new tutorial you will learn the compositing tricks behind this car hit scene including simulated vehicle damage, keying tricks, fun rotoscoping and even the puppet tool. Be sure to stay tuned for a pointless video I made at the end :)

Watch Tutorial

Project file and footage will be online tomorrow.

Friendly Advertisement:
Be sure to checkout some of our great products and help keep these tutorials coming. We appreciate the support and promise to keep making exciting new episodes. This new tutorial clocks in at 35 mintues long... I think that is a new record.

Don't miss our new Advanced Training DVD "The Bullet".
Visit our online store now!

i

The new Car Hit Tutorial will be online sometime tomorrow. Here is a sample of what we will be creating plus some bonus footage. Watch Clip

Interesting Flashback:
Some of you may remember seeing a clip where a van runs over some guy. In April 2006, just before getting married, I created a tutorial demonstrating a car hit effect for that shot. But, I was very busy with wedding plans and the Serious Effects and Compositing DVD that I never released it. Then I re-visited the tutorial but the magic was lost... I always planned to remake it and I think it turned out much better this time around. Only took 2-years. Lousy time-zones.

Special Thanks to:
Jeff, Tino, Tahna, and Mark for helping behind the scenes on this tutorial.

Am I forgetting someone? Saaa... Sss.. Mmm... NOPE.

The T-shirt contest is now closed and the winners will be notified this week and announced shortly after. Thanks to everyone who participated, we see a lot that we like.

View Contest

NEW SERIES ONE DVD:
Our Series One Tutorial DVD features 20 minutes of never before seen footage and free bonus features is now available and I have put together a free project file with similar particle effects as seen in the promo video.

Download AE Project File
Please note: The project file has been created with AE 7 Professional and uses the CC effects that come with After Effects, if you can't find yours, please contact Adobe.

ADVANCED CAR HIT TUTORIAL:
The new free tutorial featuring Sam and Tahna experiencing a pretty bad day, will highlight many powerful compositing techniques as well as expand on some interesting new features in AE CS3. The final video will be out this week after it passes the MPAA. The free tutorial will be online Tuesday, June 3rd.

EXCITING NEW DVD:
Our exciting New Training DVD is available in our Online Store for only $49.95. This DVD features 21 tutorials and over 5 hours of Advanced Training that will show you how to integrate After Effects with 3D. This training covers all steps necessary for creating the Slow Motion Bullet in Cinema 4D, Blender and 3Ds Max.

Read Product Information

Watch Promo in Higher Resolution

SHATTER TEXT SHOT BREAKDOWN:
Once we completed "The Bullet" training DVD, we went to work on the promo video featuring a 3D shattering text effect. This promo has generated a lot of excitement and I wanted to explain the basics of what was needed. Let me just say, it wasn't easy.

The text was created in 3Ds Max and fractured into pieces. These pieces were then linked to a particle system, where each piece was represented by one particle. The system was setup with gravity and a floor plane deflector. A collision event triggered the particles 'explosion' and the pieces went flying. I used Action Movie Essentials for the fiery explosion along with Trapcode's Horizon for the Sky Background in AE.

The setup for this effect took many, many hours to complete as well as several unsuccessful tests. A tutorial specifically on this title is not currently planned but I will experiment with the possibility of a tutorial if it can fit our normal tutorial platform. In the mean time a more detailed breakdown will be released along with images and my experiences with this shot.

NEW MOTION GRAPHICS TUTORIAL:
I've been experimenting with this Fold-Out Animation where After Effects Layers are linked together to form a fluid animation as layers animate sequentially. As you can imagine some interesting expressions will be used to make it easy and robust.

THANKS:
I'm excited to be able to contribute more to the Blog and the tutorial section as we build up this amazing community. We encourage everyone to join in and take part in these blog discussions, we would love to hear from everyone. Finally, I want to thank everyone again for there support on this latest DVD release. You guys and gals make this place happen!

We recently released a new DVD called "The Bullet", an Advanced Training series for integrating 3D with After Effects, I think there is a banner around here somewhere. Your response to this DVD and it's content has been great, and we aren't slowing down one bit. This new high quality tutorial is dedicated to our faithful supporters who keep this site running strong.

On to it, I'm pleased to introduce the newest and probably best looking member of the of the Video Copilot team besides Tino, in her starring role. Welcome the very talented Tahna to our exciting community.

In this upcoming tutorial, Sam finds himself between a rock and hard place but will Tahna be able to save him? Let me be the first to say...
I doubt it.

Additional details will be officially leaked later in the week along with the final video and then join us Tuesday June 3rd 2008 when we launch this unprecedented free tutorial on VideoCopilot.net

As always be sure to check out our newest DVDs and bundles from the Online Store and we'll keep making exciting new tutorials.