C4D - Bouncing Lights with GI

Hello people!
So here's a first, a Cinema4D post.
Lately I've really been toying around in C4D. I'm sure you remember Abstraction.
Anyway, yesterday I was messing around with GI and trying to find a solution to the 'dirty' renders, as well as how to get descent lighting from a single light-source.
The results were interesting...

VIDEO: Abstraction

Hey guys!

I present "Abstraction":

[ Watch on YouTube ]

[ Watch on Vimeo ]

This was done in Cinema4D. Click the title for more info.

VIDEO: Fancy Holographic Watch

Hey everyone!
New video. Shot and edited yesterday (7th Sept), I was testing some techniques for an upcoming project! I've always wanted to something like this. I guess this would be Holographic 5.
Check it out here: (click <--- link to watch in higher res (1080p available))

(click the title for more info)

AfterEffects + Photoshop - Aligning Similar Layers

Hey people!
I was working on a cloning technique for a test video and, of course, it required various shots from the same angle that needed to be lined up before the masking could begin.

The problem was I had set the camera on a surface rather than using a tripod, so I ended up with slightly offset clips because the camera moved a few degrees every time I pressed Record.

Anyway, this isn't about how to shoot it, this is a quick tip on how to line up the shots in post! This process can be used for anything that involves aligning similar layers. Using Background Plates, creating clones, merging characters from separate shots etc.
This process would also apply to Photoshop, and any application that supports Blend Modes.

Create a 3D Scene in After Effects

Hey peoples!
In this fun post, we're going to look at how to create the 3D illusion using red-blue glasses (old school style) and also how to create the 3D glasses to view the scene!

AfterEffects - Joining Parented Points with a Line with Expressions

In the previous post we learnt how to join points with a line using the Beam effect and a very basic expression. In this tutorial, we're going to look at how to enable this to work with parented Null objects, since things appeared to get weird when we did that.

After Effects - Join Points with a Line with Expressions

Hey guys!
While working on the Mission Briefing video, I had to make the flexible line that joins the house to the text. This was because later the line had to move but still stay connected to the house. Here's a quick tip on joining objects with a line using a bunch of Nulls and some sneakiness XD

CC Particle World Producer and Nulls

Hey guys!
Most users I've met thus far are big fans of Trapcode Particular. If you've roamed around the net you'll notice everyone suggest as soon as you get into After Effects it's best to download it, rather than be tortured by the other particle systems. In fact some discourage you from using Particle World at all!
Well, sometimes a budget can be tricky to come across and we have to use CC Particle World. So in this post, I'm going to be showing you how to make the producer follow a Null, just like Trapcode can.

Photoshop - Create Soft Shadows

Hello peoples!
It's been a while since I did a Photoshop tutorial.
In this tut, I'm gonna be showing you how to make soft, falling shadows. It's may seem like a strange technique, but with explanation it's going to make a lot of sense.
So, let's get started! (if you find the images are too small, you can click to view the larger original version)

Spinner Advertisement (with some sound effects) with Monocollettivo

Hey peoples!

So you remember a while ago I posted an After Effects tutorial on how to make a spinning "preloader" style element? At the end I mentioned that you could probably make an advert that you'd use to sell it to your customers, but it didn't have sound.
So my new friend over at Monocollettivo in Italy thought "this is just sad" and went ahead and added sounds for me. So we can call this my first collab video XD

Monocollettivo is an artist project based in Italy that's into electro music and has some foraying into video.
The have a presence everywhere, so check them out. You can get to their spaces easily via their MySpace:


http://www.myspace.com/monocollettivo

Thanks again!!

What do you think? Drop a comment below, or like and comment on the Facebook page, or holla at Monocollettivo on their spaces.

After Effects Expressions Basics

Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to present my first ebook: After Effects Expression Basics!

This ebook is for beginners to intermediate users and will cover:

• The basics of using and applying expressions;
• Arrays and variables;
• Using the pick whip;
• Using common expressions such as wiggle and valueAtTime;
• Using the expressions learnt in some fun and informative examples.

All the expressions will work with all versions of After Effects (except international versions in different languages)!

So what are you waiting for, get downloading!

Get it from any of the following:

• Download it from MediaFire
• Read it online on Scribd
• Read online on Google Docs

When you're through, why not come back and check out more posts on expressions that build on the knowledge gained!

• Interesting Expressions
• Using lookAt to create 3D Glow
• Using Expression Controls

Drop a comment below or on the Facebook page and let me know what you think! And use the Tweet/Like and Share buttons below to tell a friend!

Yours truly,

davdalx

After Effects - 3D Glow, LookAt Expression and Face Camera

That's right! 3D Glow!
I was working on an Iron Man-ish HUD and needed some of the objects to glow. One problem I had is that whenever the camera turned you could see that the glow was actually very flat. I eventually found a solution, and in this post I'll explain how I came to the conclusion, how to use the 'lookAt' expression, and give out a preset from the upcoming Presets Pack. :-D

New Video - Holographic 4 + Breakdown

Hey guys!

So here is Holographic 4, a short video where I create a 3D holographic display. Click the title to see full details on the video::

Have you been following the holographic series? No? Well, you should check out my Youtube channel  and catch up!
The video inside the video is the freeTV advert I created a while ago, which will be up and explained in a future post. (click the title for more info)