Working with the new Layer Styles in Photoshop CC 2015

Layer styles in Photoshop have always been good for a quick effect, but using them can leave a bit to be desired if you want to add multiple layers of effects, or change the render order. Well, a problem no more! In this Photoshop CC 2015 Tutorial, learn about the new options for layer styles, and how to use new settings for creating multiple drop shadows, glows, strokes, and other new settings for Photoshop Creative Cloud 2015. 

Want more info on New Features in Photoshop CC 2015? Learn more about:
• Quick Export to PNG and updates to Save for Web

• New 3D Filter to create bump maps and normal maps for 3D

• Working with Creative Cloud Libraries in Photoshop and other Adobe Apps

• Using the updated Blur gallery in Photoshop CC

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Top 5 New Features of Photoshop CC 2015

Photoshop CC 2015 is a huge update, and there are some updates to major features like layer styles and PNG export, creative cloud libraries, and one of my favorite new features for working in 3D - a filter for quickly creating bump maps and normal maps. Check out my Top 5 features top Photoshop CC 2015 in the video above.

My Top 5 features are:
• New Layer Styles
• Quick Export to PNG
• Filter to create bump maps and normal maps for 3D
• Creative Cloud Libraries
• Updated Blur gallery

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

Element 3D V2.2 Updates and New Features

It is June 2015 and there were just some minor updates released for Element 3D V2, the After Effects plug-in by Video CoPilot. This update brings the software to Version 2.2. These updates add some minor tweaks and features that are little things here and there in the UI and render settings, but some very useful things that'll help workflow in Element 3D. While there are a bunch of updates, these are my Top 5 updates for Element 3D V2.2

My Top 5 updates are:
• OBJ and E3D format Export
• Saving Group Folders
• Group Shadows & Reflections
• The Symmetry Function
• Lots of additional new switches!

New to Element 3D? 

Start with how to create a 3D Logo with Shadows & Reflections!

Learn about the Top new Features of Element 3D V2!

Learn about how to use Cinema 4D Animations in Element 3D V2 in this video! 

And my shortcut tips and tricks for Element 3D V2 in this video!

Want to Motion Track a 3D Object using Element 3D? Learn how in this video!

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

Top 5 Updates to Adobe After Effects CC 2015

Time for some After Effects Creative Cloud Updates! Since the release of Creative Cloud as a subscription software, Adobe has been updating all of their apps more frequently with lots of new features, and the Summer 2015 update to After Effects comes with some key new features. In this video I'll cover my Top 5 updates to After Effects CC 2015.

My Top 5 Updates are:
• Uninterrupted Preview
• Face Tracking
• Expression Information
• UI Updates and the new Blue Interface
• Improved Overall Performance

Alert, alert! Since this video there have been some additional updates to After Effects. Be sure to check them out in this video for the December 2015 Updates.

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

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Create a Flat Design Title sequence using Cinema 4D or Cinema 4D Lite

For this video, I wanted to go over how to recreate the flat design technique using Cinema 4D or Cinema 4D Lite inside of After Effects CC. This was also a good opportunity to show off the new Cogwheel object in Cinema 4D, that was added in Cinema 4D R16.

Ever since the Apple went flat with the UI design of the iPhone, flatter, minimal colors and design have been more and more popular. This was very apparent during the end credits of Captain America: Winter Soldier. I love this style of animation, where it looks like everything is flat, 2-dimensional pieces, with sudden camera movement revealing that the objects are actually 3D. Check out the reference at the video below to see the inspiration for this tutorial.

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Captain America: Winter Solider End Credits

How to Recreate the "Mad Max: Fury Road" Title Sequence in After Effects

I think the design and animation for the titles using to promote Mad Max: Fury Road fit perfectly with the grittiness and edge of the film. The textures work nicely, and there is some really nice details with the blood particles animating inside the letters as the camera pulls closer. For this video, I wanted to see how closely I could recreate it using After Effects, and some Trapcode Particular Tricks for the blood and dust animating inside the letters.

This also includes working in Adobe After Effects CC 2015, and creating 3D particle effects to recreate the Mad Max Title.

Want to get the project file for this tutorial? You can purchase it in the online store for just a couple dollars!

Want a quick idea of what this tutorial is all about? Check out a time lapse video of this project:

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

How to recreate the Avengers Title Animation using After Effects & Element 3D, Part 2

To recreate the Avengers Title animation in After Effects, it really took some thought on how to pull it off and get everything working how it is in the real thing. In part 2 of my series on how to recreate it in After Effects CC using Element 3D, I get into some of the advanced techniques, such as using 3D stroke to reveal the 3D text, setting up the Trapcode Particular particle simulation, and more.

Want to get the project file for this tutorial? You can purchase it in the online store for just a couple dollars!

In Part 1 of the Avengers Age of Ultron Tutorial, I went over how to create the 3D elements using Element 3D, animating the logo, and adding Optical Flares to create the lens flares. Watch part 1 here.

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

How to recreate the Avengers Title Animation using After Effects & Element 3D

The Avengers title animation used in the film has it all: Optical Flares, 3D letters, lines animating in, lights, cameras, particles, and more. After seeing it in ads and trailers, I wanted to take a crack at trying to recreate it in After Effects using all the tools in the toolbox. To get all the details, I used Element 3D, 3D stroke, Trapcode Particular, Optical Flares, and more After Effects CC techniques. Check out part 1 in the video above to learn about getting started on the animation.

Want to get the project file for this tutorial? You can purchase it in the online store for just a couple dollars!

Be sure to check out Part 2 of the Avengers Title Recreation Series here.

Want a quick idea of what this After Effects tutorial is all about? Check out the time lapse for this one:
 

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

Recreate the "Call of Duty: Black Ops III" Logo in After Effects, Part 2

In Part 2 of my two-part tutorial on how to recreate the Call of Duty: Black Ops III logo in After Effects CC, I get into the fine details of how to use Trapcode Particular to create the fiery effect. Usually you'd thing of using Trapcode Particular to have particles bouncing all of the place, but by adjusting a couple switches, you can have the stick to a moving animation, and have some subtle movement that will glow like fire. Check it out in the video to learn how to do it!

Want to get the project file for this tutorial? You can purchase it in the online store for just a couple dollars!

Be sure to check out Part 1 where we'll talk about creating the base Logo Animation.

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

Learn to Recreate the "Call of Duty: Black Ops III" Logo in After Effects using Trapcode Particular

When I first saw the Call of Duty: Black Ops III logo in a teaser trailer, I was a big fan of what was done for the logo animation. It has some very subtle animation, and yet there is a lot of detail in there. I wanted to see how closely I could recreate it using After Effects CC, and some Trapcode Particular techniques. To get the job done I also developed some techniques using track mattes in After Effects. Check out the video to see how it is done!

In part 1 of this tutorial, learn to create the Black Ops 3 logo in After Effects and Adobe Illustrator.

Want to get the project file for this tutorial? You can purchase it in the online store for just a couple dollars!

In this 2 part After Effects tutorial, we'll use Trapcode Particular to create the fire effects for the Black Ops 3 Logo. Be sure to check out Part 2 at this video!

Get Trapcode Particular through my Amazon Affiliate link here:
http://amzn.to/1L20sE3

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

How to use Expression Effects in After Effects to create Number Counters, control a Wiggle, and MORE!

Whenever I first teach about expressions like the Wiggle Expression in Adobe After Effects, one of the first questions I always seem to get is "ok that's great, but how the hell do you shut it off?" Animating the strength of a wiggle expression can be done using expression effects, and some expression-parenting trickery. This technique can also be used to create number counts in After Effects, and more.

In this After Effects Expressions tutorial, learn to use expression effects such as slider controls to create counters, and automate other animations. Also included is using other expressions with expression control effects, such as the wiggle expression, time expression, rounding, and random seed expressions.

Want to learn the basics of After Effects Expressions? Check out my Top 5 Expressions of Adobe After Effects.

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

How to create 3D logos in Cinema 4D starting with a photo Image

Ideally when you're using Cinema 4D to extrude a logo into a 3D rendering using, you'd want to start with a vector version of the logo so it can be infinitely scalable. Sometimes, however, the vector format isn't available, or the logos you need to create in 3D are so complex that there isn't enough time to extrude and texture it piece by piece. 

I recently had that situation come up, where I had to not only create 3D versions of all the Blackhawks logo, but create similar 3D versions of many other NHL logos, all in a short time. To get the job done, I came up with this workflow to use an outline of the logo as the extrusion, and then a still image as the texture. This also covers tips on using Photoshop CC and Adobe illustrator in your Cinema 4D workflow. In this video I go in-depth on how I developed this process!

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

Using the Composite Background Tag in Cinema 4D to cast realistic shadows on top of Footage

When you're compositing 3D models into live action footage or photos using Cinema 4D, getting the shadows to cast and feel realistic can be one of the trickiest parts. Luckily Cinema 4D has the "Composite Background Tag" to do just that. In this video I go over how to get it set up using a still photo with a ground and wall, and casting the shadows from 3D objects onto the physical surfaces.

This Cinema 4D VFX & Compositing tutorial also covers overall Cinema 4D R16 texturing and modeling tips and tricks.

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

Looking for the next Tutorial to watch?

Check out the Top 5 Features of Element 3D V2 for After Effects at this video!

Learn about the Top 5 new features of Cinema 4D R17 at this video!

Learn the Top 5 After Effects Expressions in this video!

Learn how to recreate the Agengers: Age of Ultron 3D logo in this video!

To check out new features added to Cinema 4D R16, check out this video!

 

How to add post-production Motion Blur to 3D Renders in After Effects

When you shoot footage with a camera, you naturally get motion blur when objects are moving past the camera quickly. When you are working in 3D, however, this doesn't happen by default, which can make 3D animations feel like they are missing something. In this video I cover different options for getting that motion blur into Cinema 4D renders.

This can be done in a number of ways: Using the physical render properties in Cinema 4D, as well as adding post-production motion blur in After Effects using Pixel Motion Blur and Really Smart Motion Blur. This post production motion blur technique can also be applied to other 3D animation software options such as Maya and 3D Studio Max.

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

How to make a Brick Wall Explode using MoGraph and Dynamics in Cinema 4D

In Cinema 4D, you can create 3D animation using Mograph, or you can add dynamics tags and let the simulations do the work. But how do you combine the two? In this video, I dig into exactly that topic, by going over how I created an animation where a brick wall stacks up using MoGraph techniques, and then explodes with realistic physic and gravity using Dynamics Tags! 

Topics include MoGraph animation, working with effectors such as plane and random, animating effector falloff, creating and extruding text, and additional Cinema 4D MoGraph Animation Tips and Tricks.

Want to get the project file for this tutorial? You can purchase it in the online store for just a couple dollars!

Check out Part 2 of the tutorial - adding motion blur to 3D animations here.

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

How to Motion Track & Composite 3D Models into live action footage using Element 3D V2

There are many ways to composite 3D objects into live action footage, and with the updates to Version 2 of Element 3D, using E3D is a great option. In this video, I cover the workflow for motion tracking a scene with camera movement using the AE Camera Tracker, and then how to composite a 3D model into the shot using Element 3D V2.

This is done by using the 3D camera tracker in After Effects CC, adding objects using Element 3D V2, color correcting the objects and shot, and linking Optical Flares into the scene.

New to Element 3D? 

Start with how to create a 3D Logo with Shadows & Reflections!

Learn about the Top new Features of Element 3D V2!

Learn about how to use Cinema 4D Animations in Element 3D V2 in this video! 

And my shortcut tips and tricks for Element 3D V2 in this video!

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

Shortcuts and Interface Tips for Element 3D V2

How do you figure out all the shortcuts for a new app? Press all the buttons and see what happens! In this Element 3D V2 video, I go over all the new shortcuts, UI updates, and workflow tips for Version 2 of the VideoCopilot After Effects plug-in to help you work quicker and smarter.

New to Element 3D? 

Start with how to create a 3D Logo with Shadows & Reflections!

Learn about the Top new Features of Element 3D V2!

Learn about how to use Cinema 4D Animations in Element 3D V2 in this video! 

Want to Motion Track a 3D Object using Element 3D? Learn how in this video!

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

How to import Cinema 4D Animations into Element 3D V2 for After Effects

A great new feature of Element 3D V2 is the ability to directly important Cinema 4D animations into Element 3D, without the need the save out a separate OBJ sequence. In this video, I go over the process of bringing Cinema 4D Position, Scale, or Rotation animations into Element 3D, as well as talk about the animation possibilities for this process by using a particle replicator and animation engine.

To set up the final shot in After Effects CC, I also cover working with After Effects camera properties and settings, as well as final render settings for Element 3D Version 2.

New to Element 3D? 

Start with how to create a 3D Logo with Shadows & Reflections!

Learn about the Top new Features of Element 3D V2!

And my shortcut tips and tricks for Element 3D V2 in this video!

Want to Motion Track a 3D Object using Element 3D? Learn how in this video!

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

Top 5 New Features for Element 3D V2

Version 2 of Element 3D for After Effects is a HUGE update packed with tons of new features, including the long-desired shadows and reflections. Version 2 of the Video Copilot 3D plug-in is basically a new software package compared to V1, so I put together this video to outline the updates, differences from V1 to V2, and some of my top new features.

My top new features include:
• updated Element 3D UI
• Shadows and Reflections
• Sub-Object Aux Channel Animation
• Backlight lighting pack
• Deformers

New to Element 3D? Start with how to create a 3D Logo with Shadows & Reflections!

Learn about how to use Cinema 4D Animations in Element 3D V2 in this video! 

And my shortcut tips and tricks for Element 3D V2 in this video!

Want to Motion Track a 3D Object using Element 3D? Learn how in this video!

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

How to create a Tracing Text animation using the MoGraph Tracer in Cinema 4D, Part 2

In part 2 of the tutorial on using the Cinema 4D Tracer object with 3D text, I go over bringing the project in After Effects CC and adding some post-production effects. Some of these tips include how to create balloon effects on 3D text, as well as animating expressions and adding post-production motion blur.

Watch Part 1 of the video covering the Cinema 4D R16 techniques here.

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

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