{+} Drop Tags

Say it with Drop Tags. Drop Tags simulates an object being dropped attached to a string. The project file can be customized to make it your own. Four high quality tags are provided as Illustrator files. A tutorial is also included to walk you through the process of changing the following:

- String Thickness - Wrap Thickness - String Color - Tag Text

The tutorial also illustrates how to create your own tag from native AE Tools or import an image to attach to the string. In addition to tags or still images, you can attach any 2d element to the end of the string; such as video footage or text.

The comps are at 2K to give you the most flexibility in adding the Drop Tags to other compositions.

Download the project file here: http://tinyurl.com/cc72vfw

{+} After Effects: Use Expressions on Individual Mask Vertices

My latest tutorial on AE Tuts +.

Summary:
Using a combination of two scripts, we’ll learn how to apply expressions to individual mask vertices to create fluid and organic motion. This technique has possibilities that extend much further than this single project and hopefully it will demystify many styles that are popular in motion graphics. Let’s get started!

Tutorial: http://tinyurl.com/c8ghdnu

{+} Dynamic Popcorn

Playing with the Adobe After Effects plugin Newton 2 from http://motionboutique.com/newton

The plugin is really fun to play with and aides in making a style of dynamics that would be tough to pull off in traditional 3D packages or scripts.

{+} Retro Ice

Just playing around with Cinema 4D and After Effects integration.

{+} Drawing Hearts

Here is my 5 second project for Greyscalegorilla. The theme was “Candy Hearts”. Find out more about 5 second projects here: http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/five-second-projects/

{+} Unraveled: Animated

This animation was inspired by a still image made (you can see it here: http://tinyurl.com/ajb86tx). I had to make some changes to accommodate render time, but I am happy with the final result. I really like the end of the video when everything starts to unravel. I wanted a few more seconds of it unraveling, but render times ballooned to almost 2 hours per frame.

{+} 3d Object Tracking in After Effects CS6

Using the native tools of After Effects CS6 we’ll perform 3d object tracking that normally requires standalone 3d tracking programs. The first part of this tutorial will explore ways to create the illusion of 3d with mostly 2d elements in static scenes. In the second part of the tutorial, Mocha AE will be used to isolate our moving object of interest. Using After Effect’s 3d camera tracker, a camera will then be calculated for the object to allow other elements generated with the ray-trace engine to be added to the scene. A couple scripts, nulls, and parenting will be utilized along the way to help streamline the process. This technique is a powerful concept that I am excited to share. Let’s get started!

Check out the tutorial here: http://tinyurl.com/a2sstnl

{+} Product Photography Book

Images from a recent product photography job turned into a book. The book was designed in Photoshop, animated in Cinema 4d and color corrected in After Effects.

{+} Cinema 4d Experiment: Waveforms

Here are a few experiments using the Cinema 4D Audio Waveform Rig found here: https://vimeo.com/50926153

The rig is great to create a wide range of waveforms. I recommend anyone that uses Cinema 4D to give it a try and shoot a thanks to the creator of the rig.

Audio if from the artist Matisyahu: “Searching”

{+} Cinema 4D Camera Mapping

Short test to check out camera mapping options in Cinema 4D. I have to say, I am very impressed. I started out looking for ways to do it in After Effects, but none of the results were great. I am surprised how easy it is to do in Cinema 4D. There are some problems with the floor at extreme angles, but overall not bad. I added depth of field, motion blur, and color correction in After Effects to complete the shot.