After Effects Auto-Orient Expression

Posted On: June 2, 2010

0 Comments

We recently had a project using motion paths where we wanted to auto-orient an object (an arrowhead) as it moved along in the direction of the path. After Effects has a Layer/Transform/Auto-Orient... command that allows you to do this. However, when using expressions to drive the motion combined with floating keyframes we noticed that the arrow would freak out and point in a random direction briefly in some spots. Since there are no options associated with auto-orient you have three options: change the way you're animating to make auto-orient work, manually keyframe the rotations, ...

Compositing animated objects from 3dsMax in After Effects

Posted On: March 15, 2010

0 Comments

Getting object data from various 3d packages into After Effects for compositing has always been a little mystical, especially in 3dsMax. I never really have took the time to find a simple reliable method but found one today. The method is several years old (showing how important it was for me to figure this out) but works great and is very simple. cbaristo over on Simply CG had this post explaining the method: MAX object position to AE layer position using RPF files Thanks, cbaristo! Here's the method: From 3dsMax, render out to RPF format your main scene ...

AEPDX Meeting Wed, Feb. 10th @ Webtrends

Posted On: February 9, 2010

0 Comments

Monthly Portland After Effects group meeting at the Webtrends building on Wednesday, February 10th. I'll be missing it because of a schedule conflict but if you're in the area you should try and make it. Damon Wubben will speaking and deconstructing "strange hollywood" projects. Also a demo of  Transport plugins Camera Mapper & Falloff.

Apple iPad: No Flash support

Posted On: January 27, 2010

0 Comments

With the Apple iPad finally unveiled the trend of deprecating Flash in favor of HTML5 continues. How will this affect the Flash community as a whole? That remains to be seen. In the meantime, I think it's time to see exactly what HTML5 is capable of.

Plugin Sale!

Posted On: January 26, 2010

0 Comments

Digieffects sale - 50% off sale on the Camera Mapper plugin for After Effects. Regular price is $79, sale price is $39. Good until Friday.

AEPDX: 2nd meeting featuring Monovich

Posted On: December 18, 2009

0 Comments

Second AEPDX meeting went down on Wednesday at Webtrends. Stephen Fitzgerald aka monovich showed us two projects from the Cut & Paste contest in PDX and NYC. Really cool to see someone else's workflow. He gave some cool tips on expressions for expanded easing and shortcuts with 3d that make it look a lot more complex than it really is. Good meeting and looking forward to the next one. Lloyd Bagtas posted some pics on his blog.

AEPDX Inaugural Meeting

Posted On: November 12, 2009

0 Comments

First meeting of the Portland After Effects user group where keynote speaker Nando Costa from Bent Image Labs went over production of the Modest Mouse music video "The Whale Song." The group meeting had a great turnout at PopArt's offices with around 30 people in attendance. Strong showing for the motion graphics presence in Portland. I ended up winning one of the raffles from local sponsor Red Giant Software getting the Magic Bullet Suite! Looking forward to the next meeting. If you're in the PDX area and would like to know more, check out the group ...

The Most Common Element

Posted On: August 26, 2009

0 Comments

It's the most widely used font and the go-to weapon of a designer's typography arsenal. You see it literally everywhere; although non-designers are likely oblivious to this. It is venerated by the design community for it's modern clean lines and high readability. After 50 years of design dominance, I think it is also completely lazy, overused, and boring. Helvetica is both one of the best and one of the worst fonts. It's merits are undeniable but it's negative effects on creative design nearly outweigh the pluses. [singlepic id=98 w=200 h=200 float=left]I won't go into all ...

Project Cold mention in Smashing Magazine

Posted On: August 13, 2009

0 Comments

Got a mention for the Coors Light: Project Cold site I did in papervision3d on the ezine Smashing Magazine. Project Cold made it into their "impressive Papervision3D" list of sites. The Project Cold site appears just shy of halfway down under the Advertising heading. Check it out. [singlepic id=97 w=150 h=150 float=left]

Project Cold FWA Site of the Day!

Posted On: July 4, 2009

0 Comments

The Coors Light Project Cold site that I did has won FWA Site of the Day for July 4th! How appropriate on one of the biggest beer days of the year. I'll be adding updates to that site for a new Easter Egg and some Augmented Reality as well. I'll also be updating my portfolio with all the stuff I've been working on, including this, as soon as I can get a free moment.