Chapter: Compositing Tools and Techniques

Topic: Scripting or Expressions

As many of you know by now, AE 5.0 has introduced a new feature called Expressions. Experienced users akin it to Motion Math, although they are quite different. In this tutorial, Roland Kahlenberg, who is a non-programmer, intends to show other similarly inclined users of AE 5.0 that Expressions do offer quite a bit to the toolset of the conventional designer.

http://www.creativecow.net/articles/kahlenberg_roland/expressions/index.html

TAGS: line, nervy, nervous,

Chapter: Compositing Tools and Techniques

Topic: 3D Objects (or pseudo 3D) Objects for 2D Space

Ever wanted to extrude a logo in After Effects but are on a tight budget and always looking to tinker about? Read on as Roland Kahlenberg demonstrates a cool way to introduce some z-depth to our objects in AE 5.0 Production Bundle. We’ll be using Evolution’s original Shatter or AE5.0’s rendition of the same plug-in. The only source file is the COW’s very own logo.

http://www.creativecow.net/articles/kahlenberg_roland/3d_logo_extrude/index.html

TAGS: extrude, depth

Chapter: Motion Graphic Design

Topic: Backgrounds and Stock Footage

Join noted broadcast designer Kurt Murphy as he continues his exploration of the process of re-creating the on-air identity of a local broadcast affiliate in the Pacific Northwest area of the United States. In part three of the series, Kurt examines the design choices he made regarding the background imagery and the tools he used to implement these design choices.

http://www.creativecow.net/articles/murphy_kurt/background/index.html

TAGS:

Chapter: Paint, Draw and Design

Topic: Logo Design

In Part Two of the series, noted broadcast designer Kurt Murphy expands on the logo that the client chose in Part One. Here, Kurt takes the EPS files into After Effects and uses the 3D powers of Zaxwerks Invigorator to bring the “Wow!” to the on-air identity Kurt creates for KVEW. Even if you do not have the Invigorator, this is a great article for AE and other users as it shows the process used by a respected artist in action.

http://www.creativecow.net/articles/murphy_kurt/invigorator/index.html

TAGS:

Chapter: Keying

Topic: Lighting for Keying

In addition to his tutorial on how to pull a usable matte from badly lit blue or green screens, Barend Onneweer has put together a list of things to consider when shooting for chromakeying.

http://www.creativecow.net/articles/onneweer_barend/chromashoot/index.htm

TAGS: match, light, foreground, background, screen, place

Chapter: Workflow

Topic: Inter-application Creativity

This is part of a presentation Jim Tierney gave at After Effects West 2001. The presentation will be on using AE and Flash together, with some intro tips for Flash, info on what is supported as vector (the info presented here), the best way to get it out of AE, the best way to get it into Flash, and when and why you should use AE to create Flash content.

http://www.creativecow.net/articles/tierney_jim/flashing_ccow/flashing_ccow.htm

TAGS:

Chapter: Workflow

Topic: Inter-application Creativity

This is part of a presentation Jim Tierney gave at After Effects West 2001. The presentation will be on using AE and Flash together, with some intro tips for Flash, info on what is supported as vector (the info presented here), the best way to get it out of AE, the best way to get it into Flash, and when and why you should use AE to create Flash content.

http://www.creativecow.net/articles/tierney_jim/flashing_ccow/flashing_ccow.htm

TAGS:

Chapter: Titling

Topic: Titling Tools

This tutorial is in response to the many requests about how to use Adobe Illustrator to make the text files for the ‘Animating Skies and Writing Text with Light’ tutorial Mark Simpson wrote demonstrating the Foundry ‘Tinderbox’ set of Plug-ins for After Effects. This simple tutorial focuses on creating text for the aforementioned tutorial, but is useful for creating any text for use in AE. While the versions of software used are now old the principles are the same for the latest versions.

http://creativecow.net/articles/simpson_mark/prepare_text/index.html

TAGS:

Chapter: Paint, Draw and Design

Topic: Logo Design

Join noted broadcast designer Kurt Murphy as he outlines the steps he used to re-create the on-air identity of KVEW television, an ABC affiliate in Washington state. In this on-going series, Kurt explores design issues as well as set-up short-cuts and tricks. In part one, he introduces the subject and then sets out to create it. Join in, you will enjoy this great series.

http://www.creativecow.net/articles/murphy_kurt/open/index.html

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