Ideas to Creations

PHOTOSHOP | Road to Home Photo Manipulation

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Fri, 17 May 2013 06:57:00 +0000

I thought I'd update you all today with a photo manipulation tutorial. We're gonna be using Photoshop and 4 images to create a subtle manipulation. We'll mainly focus on blending the colors and the contrast of the different images to get the final result. Click the title to see the tut...

Multipass Compositing with Cinema 4D and After Effects 04

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Thu, 09 May 2013 07:06:00 +0000

Check Previous Posts

Okay, so we brought everything into AE and set up our workspace. Now, what do we gain from using multipass? Let's take a look:

AE Quick Tip 04 | Isolate Layers for Masking

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:35:00 +0000

Here's a quick tip on isolating layers that have effects and have been transformed so you can mask them without obstruction:

More on Youtube
AE and C4D Tips on Twitter and Facebook

AE Quick Tip 03 | Comp and Layer Markers

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 10:34:00 +0000

Here's another quick tip on adding markers to compositions and layers. Very useful for future reference.

After Effects CS7 to Come with FREE Cinema4D!

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:14:00 +0000

Adobe and Maxon recently made a strategic alliance, and this is the awesome product!

Just before NAB, Adobe announced new features we can expect to see in After Effects CS7. Perhaps the biggest part of it being that it comes with a free version of Cinema4D Lite!

Click the title to read the full story, and screenshots!

UPDATE: Maxon have updated their site with a demo of Cinema4D and AE working together here

Images via digitalartsonline.co.uk

AE Tip 02 | Change Default Render Queue Output Module

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:53:00 +0000

The Lossless output module that's default in After Effects leads to some REALLY huge files. Here's a quick tip on how to change that default to your own preset. I personally prefer Quicktime or High-bitrate FLV as my default render setting.

Hey, if you enjoyed, consider subscribing and sharing!

AE TIP 01 | Using Dingbat Characters

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:35:00 +0000

Hey!
Welcome to AE Tips. In this series I'll be explaining some very useful techniques when working with After Effects. You guys liked them on Twitter, now they come in quick videos.
In this episode, we'll look at how to use dingbat fonts like Wingdings and Webdings to get the vector characters you're looking for.

Let me know what you think.
Lots more to come, so subscribe to the channel for updates on new episodes!

Silk and Pearls

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 20:36:00 +0000

Render of a silky cloth material and three pearls. Inspired by this video, I decided to go out and try making a silky material in Cinema 4D. This was done entirely in C4D with no post processing.

Click to view larger

AE Expressions eBook Hits Over 5000 Reads!

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:11:00 +0000

After Effects Expressions Basics hits 5,000 reads today!
Thanks everyone for checking out the ebook! I'm glad it's really helping out a lot of people.

If you haven't gotten your hands on it yet, get it right here!

Thanks again!

TUTORIAL | Jump Out of the Frame

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 20:52:00 +0000

Hello!

In this video tutorial I demonstrate how to make someone jump out of the frame. This technique can be used for pretty much anything. Here's the final product:

Young girl dancing happy in a field by african_fi: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1386581

BREAKDOWN | Final Destination 5 Before After

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:48:00 +0000

Here's an awesome before-after of the bridge scene at the beginning of Final Destination 5. It really shows the amount of work and planning that goes into the making of feature films.

Be warned: Expect blood and gore. Quite violent (it is Final Destination, after all).

BREAKDOWN | The Hobbit Characters

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:30:00 +0000

Weta Digital break-down the characters in the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in these three videos, one of which I'm surprised was actually CG. They also demonstrate their facial rigs and animation techniques.

They recently created this channel.

Enjoy!

INSPIRATION | Britney Spears Speed Painting

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 09:22:00 +0000

Igor Kazarin shares this speed painting video. I like watching Speed Painting as it gives insight to workflows and new techniques.

Like? Hate? Opinion? Comment below will be appreciated!

INSPIRATION - Microsoft Advertising

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 09:04:00 +0000

Check out this fun video by Microsoft looking at kids' ideas of the future. Some cool motion graphics in here as well.

BREAKDOWN | Cut & Fold by Erik Johansson

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 09:09:00 +0000

Photo Manipulator Erik Johansson shows a breakdown of "Cut & Fold" a very interesting piece.

He also did a TED talk in February 2012, here:

Erik Johansson is a photo manipulator. His work is extremely inspiring. He's done a lot of popular pieces, this one being one of the first I saw:

Images via ArtistADay

His website

TUTORIAL | Fix Canon EOS Utility Issue in Windows 8

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 10:34:00 +0000

Having issues using your EOS Utility application on Windows 8? Here's the solution.

I use a Canon EOS 650D and whenever I connected it to my Windows 8 PC (x64), EOS Utility would not pick up on it and all options would remain grayed out and disabled. This problem is also reported on the EOS 7D and 5D.

To fix this problem is pretty simple.

Go to the Canon Support Page here.

Select your camera. I'm going to select the 650D.

On the next page, check out the numbered links below for news on your camera. Might find something important. I just learnt there's a problem with 650D's producing a white irritating substance on the grip over time, luckily their check system said my camera is not affected.
Click on "Downloads" at the top.

Select "Software (drivers and applications)", your operating system and select a language.

Down below, you'll find "EOS Utility 2.12.3" (at least, at the time of this post, it may be higher).

Read the disclaimer, then click "Accept & Download" if you accept. The download will begin.
Install the program as you would any other program. If you already have a previous version of EOS Utility, you can proceed with installing and it will update.
Enjoy using your EOS Utility!
Remember to check back every few months for new updates to the software.

The real problem was that the previous versions of EOS Utility are not compatible with Windows 8. Since the software on the disk was written before Windows 8 came out, you'll have to download directly from Canon.

Enjoy :-D

BREAKDOWN | Deep Compositing in Rise of the Planet of the Apes

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 01:11:00 +0000

Robin Hollander give this breakdown on using "Deep" data for Deep Compositing in the Foundry's Nuke. He does explain what it is and how it was used in Rise of the Planet of the Apes for compositing (Weta Digital). If you're not into Nuke, just watch anyway. Very interesting concept.

Render passes are very powerful, and with Deep it gets even easier on the compositor's side.

BREAKDOWN | The Avengers Fight Scene - ILM VFX Breakdown

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 11:20:00 +0000

ILM explain their work in this scene in the Avengers where they had a camera follow individual heroes but all in one shot.

Here's a breakdown of what they had to do to pull it off, and how digital doubles come to the rescue:

I love that they had a team shooting NY so they could have it entirely in CG. And that's a LOT of HDRIs.

Industrial Light & Magic is the first VFX company. They started out with Jurassic Park and Star Wars and have worked on Transformers, Pirates of the Caribbean and many high-grossing films out there.

TUTORIAL | Using INTERFERE on Holographic UIs

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 12:18:00 +0000

In the first of many video tutorials, I explain how to setup i2c_INTERFERE for a quick RGB-split and distort effect for this holographic UI panel.

Get i2c_INTERFERE in the Presets Pack here.

Your feedback is appreciated.

TUTORIAL | Snowflakes with Shape Layers and Stacked Modifiers

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 07:09:00 +0000

The festive season is upon us and the Christmas work begins.

As a little helper, I thought I'd share this video on how to use Shape Layers and their modifiers to create fancy shapes and snowflakes. There's also lots more you can do with this technique, but I'll leave that up to you :-D

Wait a second! Tip 32?

I've been posting plenty of tips on Facebook and Twitter! If you'd like to stay up to date, follow @i2cblog or join Ideas to Creations page. There's plenty of useful info, and feel free to share your own discoveries!!

Enjoy!

INSPIRATION | Portal: Terminal Velocity + Breakdown

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:33:00 +0000

Jason Craft on Vimeo created this amazing and complex Portal video.

It's amazing just how much work must've been put into this. Below is the before-after comparison, the amazing part is that some things are composited via green screen and CG...

I still can't believe that the gun was entirely CG!!

This video is a great example of the importance of tracking markers. Yes, programs are now powerful enough to track without markers but that doesn't mean they don't help.

It's amazing the things we can do at home today that was nearly impossible for studios only a few years ago!!

What say you?

BREAKDOWN | Sorcerer's Apprentice

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:44:00 +0000

Here's a nice set of videos by Ghost FX showing the work they did on Sorcerer's Apprentice. Great example of mixing practical and CG (like the real statue and the CG chain).

PREVIEW | Nuke 7.0 Tracker

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 08:55:00 +0000

The new tracker in Nuke 7.0, which was announced a few weeks ago, is simply AMAZING! Check out what it can do with this dedicated video:

My favorite feature must be the Traffic Lights feature and the "assisted keyframing".

What's yours?

Nuke is a high-end, node-based professional compositing software originally developed by Digital Domain and now distributed and developed by the Foundry in UK. Nuke has become the industry standard for compositing. It's highlighted features include the ability to work in 3D space with 3D meshes and geometry, it has built in Planar, Point and 3D Trackers, it can be programmed via Python, and the workflow is completely open!

BREAKDOWN | Before-After Green and Blue Screens

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Take a look at some chroma keying work in television. You'd be surprised some of the things that aren't actually done practically.

**sigh**

TIP | RGB-Split Black with INTERFERE

noreply@blogger.com (David Alex) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:03:00 +0000

How do you RGB-split Black? Well, in this post I'll show you a quick workaround when using i2c_INTERFERE.

This post is about i2c_INTERFERE in the i2c Presets Pack. You can get it, and more info, here.
Well, technically it's not possible to get RGB from black. Because black has [0,0,0]; all values of [Red, Green, Blue] are zero. Which is why Interfere won't work with black text, but there is a way to fix this.

The above example is with black text. As the manual goes, I've renamed the layers to "RED", "GREEN" and "BLUE" and set the top two blend-modes to "Add", but the layers remain black.

In order to get the colors out from these layers, we need to use a different "formula" to calculate the color output. We do this by changing the fx_COLOR effect in the layers themselves:

Under fx_COLOR's "Operator", change it from "And" to "Or".
This will make the layers nice and colorful, back as their names are set:

Okay, look right in the middle where the layers intersect. It's getting a strange mix of colors, but black is nowhere to be found.

The solution is simple: Change the blend-mode of the top two layers to "Multiply"... and...:

Cool! Now we have black where the layers intersect!

One other thing, you're probably asking: Why isn't this the default?

Well, for one, this process doesn't work if the layers are originally white. It becomes like we've swapped the problem. With these settings, white text would remain white! Also, multiply doesn't work with white.

Another thing to notice is the differences it makes with images:

Here's a comparison of the RED layer with the "Lighthouse" image that comes with Windows 7

The left is the default operator (And), the right side is the operator in this post (Or). See the difference?
On the left, the blacks remain black while on the right the whites remain white. So depending on your image, you can choose an operator appropriately, or choose one on the look it produces.

Though in the end, they all produce very similar images. So... yea...