Check out these 2 new templates from Professional Video Templates: ScratchScreen 2 and 3D Tower. Both templates work in After Effects CS4 and higher and are 1920x1080. Both are 50% off through March 22 also!

ScratchScreen 2 from Professional Video Templates on Vimeo.

3D Tower from Professional Video Templates on Vimeo.

Labels: After Effects, Professional Video Templates

Online Trade Show Featuring Live Webinars and New Technology Previews

Marlborough MA - March 10, 2010 - Boris FX , the leading developer of integrated effects technology for video and film, announced that the Boris FX Visual Effects and Motion Graphics Expo, an online trade show, will take place from Monday, March 15, 2010 through Thursday, March 18, 2010. The Boris FX Visual Effects and Motion Graphics Expo will feature:

• Live Webinars
• New Technology Previews
• Partner Presentations
• Daily Raffle Prizes
• Q&A with Product Managers

The live webinar schedule includes:

Boris Continuum Complete's 3D Objects Filters

• Tuesday, March 16th at 1:00pm Eastern Time
• Presented by Michele Yamazaki of Toolfarm
• Demonstration of Boris Continuum Complete's 3D Objects filters in After Effects

Boris Continuum Complete and Boris XML Transfer

• Wednesday, March 17th at 1:00pm Eastern Time
• Presented by Kevin P. McAuliffe of Pro Editing @ Home
• Learn how to seamlessly export Final Cut Pro timelines to After Effects

Boris New Technology Preview

• Thursday, March 18th at 11:00am Eastern Time or 4:00pm Eastern Time
• Be the first to preview all-new Boris visual effects technology

For more information regarding the Boris FX Visual Effects and Motion Graphics Expo, including webinar access details, please visit http://www.borisfx.com/events.php#expo

About Boris FX

Founded in 1995, Boris FX is the leading developer of integrated graphics and effects technology, delivering 3D compositing and vector graphic products for broadcast, post-production, film, and multimedia. Boris products have grown to serve millions of artists worldwide. The company's success lies in its ability to integrate and leverage technologies through strong partnerships with industry-leading developers such as Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Avid, Grass Valley, and Sony.

Labels: After Effects, Boris, Boris Continuum Complete, Boris XML Transfer, Final Cut Pro, News, Press Release, Webinar

Tutorial: How to Make the 2010 Winter Olympics Ice Cube Event Bumpers Using Maxon Cinema 4D and Adobe After Effects: View/reference at greyscalegorilla.com

How to Make the Winter Olympics Ice Bumpers with Cinema 4D and After Effects from Nick Campbell on Vimeo.

"In this tutorial, I show you how to make the ice cube bumpers that have been popular on the NBC’s presentation of the olympics. I show you how to build an ice cube using material displacement, refraction, transparency, reflection, and specular highlights. I also cut out a photo of a snowboarder to add to the ice cube logo. Then, we animate the rotation of the ice cube and prepare it for After Effects where we will add the rest of the elements for the final piece."

Tutorial: How to Make the 2010 Winter Olympics Ice Cube Event Bumpers Part 2

How to Make the 2010 Winter Olympics Ice Cube Event Bumpers Part 2 from Nick Campbell on Vimeo.

Labels: After Effects, Maxon Cinema 4D, Tutorial

After Effects Tutorial: Master particles in After Effects



"Both Card Dance and Shatter allow you to divide your layer into particles determined by layer map. They also allow you to animate pieces in 3D space, and interact with After Effects' cameras and lights.

This tutorial will help you understand how layers can be used as displacement maps or control layers for other layers in your compositions. This process is just as useful when controlling VFX as it is for motion graphics."

Read the full tutorial at digitalartsonline.

Labels: After Effects, Tutorial

It is now possible to experience high-end, workstation class functionality inside of After Effects!

Digieffects FreeForm AE is an intuitive and robust plugin that takes After Effects 3D compositing to the next level. FreeForm AE advances After Effects' 3D compositing from just "postcards in space" by adding three dimensional textures and organically distorting layers in 3D space.

Digieffects FreeForm AE is half off through February 26th, 2010 at midnight EST (Reg. $299.00 SALE $149.50)

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Ever needed to fix a clip where an unwanted or unexpected object appears in the scene?

A car is suddenly passing across or a stage hand got in the shot by accident? As long as the object is moving in relation to the scene, this job can be done in minutes instead of days with Boris Continuum Motion Key. Motion Key is based on Optical Flow technology that uses intra-frame data to cleanly remove any moving object- no rotoscoping!

Boris BCC Motion Key is half off through February 26th, 2010 at midnight EST (Reg. $199.00 SALE $99.50)

Labels: After Effects, Boris, Boris Motion Key, DigiEffects, Digieffects FreeForm, Digieffects FreeForm AE, Sale

This one has been around for a while but I saw it posted on Facebook today. Additional Scripts for After Effects CS4.

This download contains scripts for editing keyboard shortcuts (KeyEd Up), launching scripts (Launch Pad), create project folder hierarchies (Folder Setup), converting Adobe Swatch Exchange (.ase) files (Swatch You Want, kuler Shapes), and modifying a comp's motion blur settings interactively (Active Shutter) in Adobe After Effects CS4. These scripts include minor updates to the ones originally provided for After Effects CS3, such as support for new keyboard shortcuts and improved Mac support in Folder Setup. To use, unzip the archive and place the contents in the Scripts folder located within the Adobe After Effects CS4 folder (Mac OS) or its enclosed Support Files folder (Windows). Active Shutter, Folder Setup, Launch Pad, and Swatch You Want can also be used as dockable panels by placing the scripts (and associated .png files) in a ScriptUI Panels subfolder of the Scripts folder, and then choosing them from the application's Window menu. v1.1: Swatch You Want will display larger swatches if there are 8 or fewer colors in the file.

Labels: After Effects, Free, Scripts

It is now possible to experience high-end, workstation class functionality inside of After Effects!

Digieffects FreeForm AE is an intuitive and robust plugin that takes After Effects 3D compositing to the next level. FreeForm AE advances After Effects' 3D compositing from just "postcards in space" by adding three dimensional textures and organically distorting layers in 3D space.

Digieffects FreeForm AE is half off through February 26th, 2010 at midnight EST (Reg. $299.00 SALE $149.50)

Labels: After Effects, DigiEffects, Digieffects FreeForm AE, Sale

Find more videos like this on MyToolfarm

LME Video Wall Freebies 2 for AE 7.0 and up; comes with HD and SD versions and instructions for replacing art. Download the Freebie!

See More LME Templates for After Effects
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Labels: After Effects, Freebies, LME

Create an Ultra-Realistic Image Using the new Boris Continuum Materials Unit in conjunction with Adobe After Effects and MAXON CINEMA 4D


Find more videos like this on MyToolfarm

In this Boris TV episode, Kevin P McAuliffe shows you how to create an ultra-realistic image using the new Boris Continuum Materials Unit in conjunction with Adobe After Effects and MAXON CINEMA 4D.

Learn More About Boris BCC Materials Unit | Download a Free Trial

Labels: After Effects, Boris, Boris Continuum Materials Unit, Maxon Cinema 4D

From Tues, Feb 9th through Tues, Feb 16th, 2010, save 30% off Tiffen individual products (no bundles, electronic download only).

Sale Pricing (Note: Prices have been revised to reflect 30% discount)

• Tiffen Dfx Digital Filter Suite for AE, FCP, or Avid - $419.97 (reg. $599.95)
  Hosts to choose from: After Effects v2, Final Cut Pro v2, Avid Editing Systems
  
  
• Tiffen Dfx Plug-in for Photoshop or Aperture - $209.97 (reg. $299.95)
  Hosts to choose from: Photoshop v2, Apple Aperture v2
  
  
• Tiffen Dfx Software - Stand-Alone Edition v2 - $104.97 (reg. $149.95)

Labels: After Effects, Apple Aperture, Avid, Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, Sale, Tiffen Dfx

The freebie listed in our newsletter from LME does not come from the Amazing Text Display Vol 1 Collection but rather Headline Text Display Tricks Vol 1, the latest release.

LME Display Text Tricks Freebies for After Effects. 3 After Effects text effect compositions in HD and SD sizes. Download the Freebie!

Labels: After Effects, Free, LME, Preset

A very honest review of BCC6 AE from Mark Franklin at Studio Daily.

• Read the review
• Download a free 14 day trial of BCC6
• Buy BCC 6 AE

Most of BCC 6 AE's effects run in Adobe's Premiere Pro CS4, my NLE of choice, and After Effects, an application with which I have a love-hate relationship. There are a few new effects that only run in After Effects. They tend to involve 3D text, or both. The BCC 6 filters that run in AE I find easier to use than many native AE filters. One that was surprisingly easy to use was the Type-On Text filter. While I've used AE's templates to make animated tltles before, this lets you do much more, with less work. It also creates the text in 3D, with a wide array of textures, and pre-made motion files, that far exceeds what you can do in AE alone.

Labels: After Effects, Boris, Boris Continuum Complete, reviews

After Effects New York will have their January meeting tomorrow, so if you're in the area, be sure to come by. They have great prizes and their meetings are always packed. Check out their new website!

Date, time & Location: On Thursday, January 28, 2010 @ 6:45PM
PS 41 in NYC @ 116 West 11th St., New York, NY 10011-8306

Tiny Inventions: Max Porter & Ru Kuwahata
Known for their playful and humorous mixed-media animations, Tiny Inventions combines handcrafted art, photography, and digital techniques. Since they began collaborating in 2007, Max and Ru have directed music videos, produced PSAs, developed original television content, and headed design on a large-scale toy brand. Recently, they directed the TMBG video "Electric Car."

Animator, Story Artist, Stephen Neary
AENY favorite, Stephen Neary returns to us to screen his animated short, "Chicken Cowboy," and will give a rundown of his workflow and process. He’ll also show a couple story boards from a new project as well.

Labels: AENY, After Effects, Minnesota AE User Group

Optical Flares is a plug-in for designing and animating realistic lens flares in After Effects.

Video Copilot Optical Flares Plug-in for After Effects, Includes 60 Presets and Tutorials.

Video Copilot Pro Presets for Optical Flares 50 Additional Presets for the Optical Flares plug-in.

Video Copilot Optical Flares and Pro Presets Bundle Bundle Includes Plug-in for After Effects and 50 Additional Presets.

Video Copilot Action Flares Bundle Bundle Includes Action Flares, Pro Presets for Optical Flares, and Action Essentials II (720p HD Version).


Find more videos like this on MyToolfarm

Features

• On-Lens Simulations Simulate dust & scratches on your lens that becomes visible by the light source. Includes 12 HD lens textures or use your own.
• 3D Occlusion Obscure layers by alpha or luminance to simulate the light source going behind objects in the foreground. Works with 2D & 3D layers!
• Luminance Tracking Generate a lens flare from bright spots in your video such as a particle system or matte layer. Control resolution and threshold.
• Mask Positioning Animate lens flares along the contour of complex shapes with ease. Great for detailed shapes that would require extra key framing.
• Auto-Shimmering Add smooth flowing shimmer to elements with self-propelling animation. Simply set the amount and speed of the animation. -No Keyframes!
• Chromatic Aberration Simulate realistic color bleeding around the outside of the lens. This effect also helps make the lens flares look more organic & natural.
• Light Flickering Make lights appear more energetic with random light flickering featuring a unique seed for each light source. Choose from smooth or Twitchy.
• 32 Bit & GPU Ready Optical Flares renders up to 32 bpc offering high color fidelity as well as enhanced speed with Graphics card acceleration.
• Flexible Core Objects Build stunning lens flares with the use of 12 powerful core objects. These elements offer unmatched flexibility with detailed control settings.
• Precise Translating Control the position of each object with distance, offset and custom translation. These features are essentials to building anamorphic elements.

Labels: After Effects, Optical Flares, Video Copilot

15 Filters for Creating Realistic Surfaces and Animated Organic Backgrounds

Marlborough MA - January 21, 2010 - Boris FX, the leading developer of integrated effects technology for video and film, announced that a new Boris Continuum Unit, Materials, is now available. The Boris Continuum Materials Unit includes 15 Boris Continuum Complete filters for creating realistic surfaces and animated organic backgrounds.

The Boris Continuum Materials Unit generates realistic textures such as Steel Plates, Bricks, Clouds, Granite, Wooden Planks, and Rock. The textures are procedurally-generated to ensure smooth render at any scale. Each filter provides a variety of animation parameters including controls for the color, width, height, and other aspects of the material. Many of the filters allow users to add 3D detail and lighting to the material surface. Users can apply the materials as realistic surfaces or use them as animated organic backgrounds. All of the filters include presets which make using the materials a point and click operation - even for complex animations.

Boris Continuum Materials Unit Filters

• Steel Plate: generates a non-slip steel plate look for backgrounds or multifaceted objects. The filter provides controls for the number and size of rivets, bolts, and steel plates as well as the shininess of the surface.
  
• Brick: Brick is a versatile generator of brickwork or tiled surfaces with realistic texture and lighting controls.
  
• Caustics: The Caustics filter can be used to simulate the effect of light refracting through water onto the bottom of a swimming pool. Caustics is a key element in many popular texture looks.
  
• Cloth: Cloth creates a texture resembling tightly-woven fabric. It has many creative uses in the texturing of graphics elements.
  
• Clouds: Clouds can be used as a realistic cloud generator or a noise map for other filters in a composition.
  
• Fractal Noise: Fractal Noise creates a simulated marble texture.
  
• Granite: Granite simulates the appearance of granite or any other type of mottled stone.
  
• Mixed Colors: Mixed Colors produces a color noise map.
  
• Noise Map 2: Noise Map 2 generates procedurally-based, resolution-independent, auto-animated image clips that can be used as backdrops or as a mask track input for other image clips.
  
• Reptilian: Reptilian produces a texture resembling a scaly or spotted animal skin.
  
• Rock: Rock is a realistic rock generator featuring 3D bumps and light effects on a rough rock surface.
  
• Veined Marble: Veined Marble produces a marble texture with pronounced "veins".
  
• Weave: Weave produces a texture resembling loosely-woven fabric, such as burlap or gauze.
  
• Wood Grain: Wood Grain creates the appearance of a solid piece of wood.
  
• Wooden Planks: The Wooden Planks generator simulates a surface covered in wooden boards, similar to a parquet floor.

The Boris Continuum Materials Unit supports Apple Final Cut Pro, Apple Final Cut Express, Apple Motion, Adobe After Effects, and Adobe Premiere Pro.

The Materials Unit is the latest addition to previously-released Boris Continuum Units: Chroma Key, Pan and Zoom, UpRez, Motion Key, Lens Flare, Film Look, Glitters, Optical Stabilizer, Light Rays, 3D Objects, Cartoon Look, Motion Tracker, and Image Restoration.

Pricing and Availability
The Boris Continuum Materials Unit is immediately available through the Boris FX worldwide reseller channel and direct from the Boris FX web site at www.borisfx.com for an MSRP of $199 USD. Customers who purchase the Boris Continuum Materials Unit or any other Boris Continuum Unit may credit the price of the Unit towards the full Boris Continuum Complete plug-in suite. For more information, please visit the Boris FX web site at www.borisfx.com.

About Boris FX
Founded in 1995, Boris FX is the leading developer of integrated graphics and effects technology, delivering 3D compositing and vector graphic products for broadcast, post-production, film, and multimedia. Boris products have grown to serve millions of artists worldwide. The company's success lies in its ability to integrate and leverage technologies through strong partnerships with industry-leading developers such as Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Avid, Grass Valley, and Sony.

Labels: After Effects, Boris Continuum Materials Unit, Final Cut Pro

The After Effects Apprentice 2nd Edition

If you are new to After Effects and want to get up to speed quickly, The After Effects Apprentice was created just for you. With 11 core lessons plus a hip final project that pulls it all together, you'll learn how to tap this program's vast potential- whether you want to create motion graphics for network television, corporate communications, or your own work. Fully updated to cover After Effects CS4, this book presents a professional perspective on the most important features a motion graphics artist needs to learn in order to use this program effectively. You'll learn to creatively combine layers, animate eye-catching titles, manipulate 3D space, key and stabilize a shot to place it in a new environment, and use effects to generate excitement or enhance the realism of a scene.

Taught by Trish and Chris Meyer, principals in Crish Design (formerly known as CyberMotion), an award-winning motion graphic design studio.

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Adobe Production Premium for Final Cut Studio Editors

In Adobe Production Premium for Final Cut Studio Editors you will learn how to put the Adobe Production Premium toolset to use throughout your production to realize astonishing efficiencies and creative opportunities. Adobe's CS tools are the perfect compliment to Final Cut Studio, with tools that improve your preproduction, production and postproduction capabilities in leaps and bounds. Move seamlessly between the toolsets -- always using the best tool for the job with the real-world practice that you get in this guide.

Taught by By Larry Jordan, Apple-Certified trainer in digital media with over 30 years experience as a television producer, director and editor.

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The After Effects Illusionist

The After Effects Illusionist contains recipe after recipe that allow you to harness the full power of the native plug-in effects in the After Effects application. In a step-by-step manner, author Chad Perkins guides you through the creation and application of each and every native plug-in effect available for use in the AE toolset. The book also shows you how each can be used optimally in your media project, when and why it makes sense to use each, and also how to combine multiple effects.

Taught by Chad Perkins, Adobe Certified Instructor and Expert in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat, After Effects, and Premiere.

View All Training Book Titles in our Store

Labels: Adobe, Adobe CS4, After Effects, Book, Final Cut Studio, Tutorial

PHYX Keyer consists of 5 powerful plugins: instantly remove green or blue spill. The despill algorithm effectively neutralizes spill. Compatible with After Effects, Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express and Apple Motion.

Learn More/Purchase in our Store | Download a Free Trial

PHYX Keyer is a new set of keying plug-ins developed by visual effects specialist PHYX, Inc. The trial, unlockable version of PHYX Keyer is included with the FxFactory 2.1.2 installer. Download a Free Trial of FxFactory.

Filters Include:
DESPILL
Despill effectively neutralizes excess green and blue spill without tell-tale magenta or yellow fringe artifacts found in other keyers. Artifacts force you to chose: spend time and money trying to correct them, or settle for artifacts worse than the original spill.

DIFFKEYER
DiffKeyer creates a matte based on difference between two images. For example, film an empty room (cleanplate), then film the same room with actors present. DiffKeyer will create a matte of the actors, as if the actors were shot in front of a green or blue screen. This gives you the ability to effectively key without a green or blue screen.

KEYER
Three keying engines in one package: YUV Difference, 3d Keyer, and Channel Keyer. Keyer gives you powerful optimized controls to extract precise keys in seconds. Keyer also includes a powerful deartifactor which reconstructs chroma channels to restore details lost to chroma subsampling (4:1:1, 4:2:0, etc.). No more blocky keys.

LIGHTWRAP
Creates a light source from a background image, and wraps the light around the foreground image to seamlessly blend them together in a composite.

SCREENCORRECTOR
Screencorrector compares a clean plate, and a solid color (green or blue) and creates a perfect green or blue screen. Excellent for keying with, this processor corrects unevenly lit screens, removes tracking markers, and repairs other ‘garbage’ which makes keying difficult, tedious, and expensive. Tell your clients you can do it.

Labels: After Effects, Final Cut Express, Final Cut Pro, Motion, PHYX, PHYX Keyer

By utilizing masks, precomps, multiple layers and plug-ins that are included in CS3 LME has created LME 100 Headline Text Display Tricks: a collection of 100 imaginative and innovative ways to animate a few words of text which can be applied in a broad spectrum of broadcast designs for dozens of uses: commercials, corporate, Internet, webcasts, film, promos, experimental, and more.


Find more videos like this on MyToolfarm


For After Effects CS3 or higher for Mac and Win. Premiere Pro for Windows.

Learn More/Purchase in our Store

Labels: After Effects, LME, Premiere Pro, Templates

Today Michele Yamazaki from Toolfarm shares a tutorial and project for creating a gorgeous 3D spinning snow flake completely in After Effects and use Boris Continuum Complete 6.0. 3D Objects is the focus here - an amazing new set of plug-ins in v6.0. The project files are AE CS4.

Boris Continuum Complete was used on this one, so if you don't own the plug-ins, you can download a free 14 day unwatermarked file here. If you love Continuum Complete as much as we do, buy it here.

I created a quick walk through of the template so you can see how to replace the images with your own photos, or even video, if you are so inclined. The video was captured and edited very quickly and easily in Telestream ScreenFlow, which is fantastic. Try a free demo here.

Labels: After Effects, Boris Continuum 3D Objects, Boris Continuum Complete, Secret Santa, Tutorial

Today Michele Yamazaki from Toolfarm shares a template for creating Polaroid style pictures for animation in After Effects. The project files are AE CS4, but you can definitely use an older version of AE to create the same effect.

No third-party plug-ins were used on this one, but they could have been. I had a lovely sample with Magic Bullet Looks being used to treat the images. I also set it up with Boris Continuum 3D Objects to "Shake it like a Polaroid picture", but I decided to simplify things for the sole purpose of actually meeting my deadline. I can spend hours tweaking and tweaking and had some pretty complex expressions going on. Simplicity is key, right? Special thanks to Andrew Embury for use of his Polaroid image.

I created a quick walk through of the template so you can see how to replace the images with your own photos, or even video, if you are so inclined. The video was captured and edited very quickly in Telestream ScreenFlow, which is fantastic. Try a free demo here.

Labels: After Effects, ScreenFlow, Secret Santa, Telestream, Templates

Happy Holidays Title with stylized Particular snow, add your own stills or footage.

Author: Alicia VanHeulen, Toolfarm

Hosts: After Effects CS4

Plug-ins Used: Trapcode Particular v2 (Download a Free Trial)

Project Files: http://www.toolfarm.com/card09/PARTICULAR_SNOW.zip

We hope you are enjoying all of the Secret Santa Freebies!

Labels: After Effects, Holiday Freebies, Particular, Secret Santa, Templates, Trapcode

Join BorisFX for a free Live Webinar: Transfer Apple Final Cut Pro Program Sequences to Adobe After Effects with Boris XML Transfer on Tuesday, December 15th, 2009, at 1:00pm Eastern Time. The sale is for the full version only. No academic version is included in the sale.

The following day, save 50% on Boris XML Transfer, Wednesday, December 16th, 2009! Get Boris XML Transfer for just $149.50, regularly $299.00. Boris XML Transfer will transfer your projects from Final Cut Pro and After Effects, leaving any Continuum and Final Effects Complete plug-ins and their settings intact. It's a must have for those using FCP, AE and Continuum or Final Effets Complete.

Try Boris XML Transfer today for free. Download a 14-day free trial here.

Labels: After Effects, Boris XML Transfer, Final Cut Pro, One Day Sale

Final Effects Complete 5.0.3 AE is available as a Free Update for Final Effects Complete 5.x users. Just download the demo.

New Version 5.0.3 features include:

Support for Adobe Premiere Pro CS4
FEC AE now provides support for Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 on both Macintosh and Windows platforms.

New Motion Tracker Features
FEC 5 AE filters now include the ability to save and load motion tracker data which can be used in any Final Effects Complete or Boris Continuum Complete filter - including across platforms.

Additional Optimizations to the Built-in Motion Tracker
Almost every FEC filter includes a built-in motion tracker that can be used to control the X/Y position of a light source, the center point of any object such as a geometric primitive, or the position of a PixelChooser mask. Optimizations in FEC 5.0.3 AE make working with the Motion Tracker feature faster and easier than ever before.

Optimizations to the Built-In PixelChooser
The PixelChooser feature, which is included in all FEC filters, has been optimized to further enhance performance, meaning shorter render times and greater user interactivity.

Overall Performance Enhancements
All FEC 5.0.3 AE filters have been optimized to render faster.

Improvements to Transition filters
All FEC AE transition filters have been modified so that while working in Auto mode, where the transition occurs automatically between the outgoing and incoming clips, the filter respects the layer in/out trim points.

Faster Downloads
More and more people rely upon electronic downloads for software updates. With this in mind, we have reduced the size of the FEC AE product installer to make downloading and installing this new version faster and easier.

Download a Free 14-day Trial Version

Labels: After Effects, Boris, Final Effects Complete, Premiere Pro

Digital Anarchy returns to the film/video market with a powerful skin smoothing and blemish removal plugin

San Francisco - Monday, Dec. 7th, 2009 - Digital Anarchy, a leading provider of cost-effective special effects software for Adobe and Apple products, has today announced the release of a new product for Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere, and Apple's Final Cut Pro. The Beauty Box 1.0 provides editors and visual effects artists working with film and video an easy and powerful way of smoothing out skin and removing blemishes. Regardless of whether it is used for a feature film, reality TV show, or just a corporate talking head, Beauty Box provides best-of-class skin beautification.

Beauty Box 1.0 marks Digital Anarchy's return to making expert products for the film/video market. "This is a problem we've wanted to solve for a long time," said Jim Tierney, president of Digital Anarchy. "There are so many cases where the on-camera talent doesn't have enough makeup on or you're trying to make a 45 year old rockstar look 25. Especially now that HD is so common, seeing skin flaws has become a big problem. Beauty Box provides a great solution that, in many cases, requires little or no masking on the part of the editor or artist."

Beauty Box uses face detection to automatically identify skin tones and create a mask that limits the smoothing effect to just the skin areas. This process usually requires little or no input from the user and does not involve hand masking. Just apply the filter, click auto-detect, set the amount of smoothing, and render. This is designed to speed up the workflow that is usually required for skin retouching. Effects artists and editors no longer have to manually create masks and retouch frame by frame.

The skin smoothing itself is also new technology. It keeps the important features of the face sharp while reducing or eliminating wrinkles and blemishes. By incorporating state-of-the-art face detection and smoothing algorithms, Beauty Box is designed to give actors a makeover in post-production.

Some of the practical and creative features of Beauty Box 1.0 include:

• Face Detection: Use face detection algorithms to identify skin tones and create an automatic mask.
• Skin Smoothing: Advanced smoothing algorithms will reduce wrinkles and remove blemishes.
• Sharpening: Built-in sharpening keeps important details like facial features.
• Add Grain: A grain generator helps add back any grain that is lost because of the skin smoothing.
• Mask Creation: Improve the auto-mask by using optional built-in mask tools.
• Use An External Mask: Control the amount of smoothing with a separate layer when using other mask/roto tools.
• Use Paths As Garbage Mattes: In After Effects, paths can be used to set the area of a layer that the effect will be applied to.

Pricing and Availability

Beauty Box is regularly priced at USD $199, and will be available for an introductory discount of $139 through Thursday, January 7, 2010. The filter works in After Effects 7.0 - CS4, Final Cut Pro 6.0 - 7.0, and Premiere Pro CS4. On Macintosh, the product runs on OS 10.4, 10.5 and 10.6. On Windows, the product supports Windows XP Home, Windows XP Pro, Vista 32-bit, Vista 64-bit and Windows 7.

About Digital Anarchy

Digital Anarchy is a privately owned company operating out of San Francisco, Calif., that creates high-quality creative software for broadcast designers, 2D animators and professional photographers. These tools solve a wide range of design issues, from creating background design elements to masking out bluescreens for commercial still photography. Digital Anarchy products work in conjunction with host applications from companies like Adobe and Apple.

Labels: After Effects, Digital Anarchy, Digital Anarchy Beauty Box, Final Cut Pro

Gorgeous detailed effects look organic and natural. Over 1000 presets that adapt to image size make Eye Candy easy to use. Professional features support production environments, such as CMYK color mode, 16-bit/channel images, and acceleration for multi-core computers.

Raleigh, North Carolina - December 1, 2009 - Alien Skin Software today announces the immediate availability of Eye Candy® 6, the new version of its graphic design special effects plug-in for Adobe® Photoshop®. The 30 filters in Eye Candy render beautifully detailed realistic effects that are difficult or impossible to achieve in Photoshop alone. Now it is easy to create attractive results quickly because Eye Candy adapts to the current image size.

"Eye Candy could always render a huge range of beautiful effects, but you had to be an expert to achieve them," said Terence Tay, the architect of Eye Candy. "Now version 6 hands them to you on a silver platter by providing improved presets which automatically adapt to your image size."

Beauty
Eye Candy handles every situation elegantly, from slick Web interfaces (Chrome, Glass, Perspective Shadow) to tasteful logos (Bevel, Brushed Metal, Extrude) to spectacular titles (Chrome, Corona, Fire). Realism sets Eye Candy effects apart from the generic filters built into Photoshop. Effects like Animal Fur, Smoke, and Reptile Skin are rendered in exquisite detail down to individual hairs, turbulent wisps, and irregular bumps. Eye Candy makes your designs look natural and organic, not computery and fake.

Ease of Use
Eye Candy makes it easy to apply tasteful special effects to any project, which is quite a feat considering that it contains 30 filters, over 1000 presets, and hundreds of controls. All that power is tamed by a deceptively simple user interface. The presets are now organized into categories and each one adapts to fit the size of your current image. The numerous presets handle nearly any situation, but you can also customize each effect and save your own settings.

Help for Eye Candy 6 is everywhere. Tooltips appear above every control and a detailed manual pops up with a single key press. The Web site has a large library of tutorial videos, example images, a knowledge base, and a discussion forum.

Professional Features
Eye Candy is made for professionals in demanding production environments who need support for 16-bit/channel images and CMYK mode. Eye Candy 6 now takes advantage of multi-core CPUs to run fast on modern machines. Eye Candy 6 is one of the first plug-ins to work with the 64-bit version of Photoshop. Panels for Photoshop CS4 are provided for starting Eye Candy filters with a single click and for quickly creating attractive buttons. Eye Candy provides multiple techniques for non-destructive editing in Photoshop, including Smart Filter support and rendering effects on a duplicate of the original layer.

Pricing and Availability
Eye Candy 6 sells for $249 USD. Owners of any version of Eye Candy may upgrade for $99 USD. Online or physical delivery is available through the Alien Skin website at alienskin.com. A real live human can take orders or answer questions at 888-921-SKIN (7546). Free upgrades will be automatically sent to purchasers of the Eye Candy 5 Bundle (Impact, Nature, and Textures) who purchased after October 11, 2009.

Host Requirements
Eye Candy 6 is a plug-in and requires one of the following host applications:

• Adobe Photoshop CS3 or later
• Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 or later on Mac OS X
• Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 or later on Windows
• Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2
• Adobe Fireworks CS4
  

System Requirements
Microsoft Windows users must have at least a Pentium 4 processor or compatible and Windows XP or later. Apple Macintosh users must have a PowerPC G5 or Intel processor and Mac OS X 10.5 or later. A monitor with 1024x768 resolution or greater is required.

About Alien Skin Software
Alien Skin Software makes Photoshop plug-ins for photographers and graphic designers. We distill advanced math and cutting edge research into simple tools that render beautiful pictures. Our reputation for bug-free software and fast, friendly tech support has grown worldwide since 1993.

Labels: After Effects, Alien Skin, Eye Candy

Oak Park, CA December 1, 2009 -- Digital Film Tools releases Power Matte v2 for Adobe After Effects-- a simple and fast interactive image matting tool.

Digital Film Tools Power Matte v2 for After Effects is an easy to use interactive image matting tool capable of extracting almost any object in an image--even if you are dealing with fine hair detail, smoke, or reflections. This extraction process creates what is known as a matte--essentially a black and white cutout. White matte areas are extracted, black areas not, and gray areas in between represent a level of transparency. Once a matte is extracted, the foreground object can be seamlessly composed onto a new background as well as apply filter and image corrections only within the area defined by the matte. All this is made possible without the aid of blue or green screen photography.

Learn More/Purchase in our Store | Upgrade | Free 15 Day Trial

To work this magic, Power Matte iteratively estimates the transparency value for every pixel in the image, based on a small sample of foreground (what you want to cut out) and background (what you want to get rid of), marked by defining simple open or closed masks. Results show that compared with previous approaches, our method is more efficient and requires minimal effort to extract high quality mattes for foregrounds with significant semi-transparent regions. In addition, the foreground edge colors can be estimated in the semi-transparent areas to create a seamless composite. What was once thought of as the Holy Grail of digital imaging is now a reality with Power Matte.

After intense research and development, we've created an enhanced rendering algorithm coupled with multiprocessor acceleration for Power Matte v2 to allow it to render incredibly faster using far less memory. This means that you can matte much larger images at much faster speeds than before. Just how fast are we talking about? Using a 2048 x 1556 pixel image on an Intel Quad Core CPU (Q6700) running at 2.66GHz, the previous version of Power Matte would process the matte in 2:42 minutes. Power Matte v2 now processes the same matte in 6.4 seconds using 5 times less memory.

Power Matte is based on unpublished research and technology by Jue Wang from the University of Washington. Upgrade pricing is available for existing customers.

Digital Film Tools brings together the unbeatable combination of superior software designers, motion picture visual effects veterans, video editors and photographers. Add three Emmy Awards and experience in creating visual effects for hundreds of feature films, commercials and television shows and you have a recipe for success.

Labels: After Effects, Digital Film Tools, Power Matte

Now is your chance to contribute directly to the improvement of After Effects.

From Todd Kopriva on the After Effects region of interest blog, who handles the documentation for After Effects for Adobe: "Please take one or both of the following surveys about tasks that you might do in After Effects. Your doing so will help us to learn what people are having trouble with and how we can make it better."

Take the surveys at the After Effects region of interest blog.

Labels: Adobe, After Effects, Survey

Save 30% on these amazing plug-ins from Tiffen. The sale runs midnight Friday through 11:59pm Friday night, November 20, 2009 only. The sale includes the download version only.

Sale Pricing (Note: Prices have been revised to reflect 30% discount)

• Tiffen Dfx Digital Filter Suite for AE, FCP, or Avid - $419.97 (reg. $599.95)
  Hosts to choose from: After Effects v2, Final Cut Pro v2, Avid Editing Systems
  
  
• Tiffen Dfx Plug-in for Photoshop or Aperture - $209.97 (reg. $299.95)
  Hosts to choose from: Photoshop v2, Apple Aperture v2
  
  
• Tiffen Dfx Software - Stand-Alone Edition v2 - $104.97 (reg. $149.95)

Labels: After Effects, Apple Aperture, Avid, Final Cut Pro, One Day Sale, Photoshop, Tiffen Dfx

In the second tutorial of this series, we will go a step further and add a little "punch" to our displacement mapping by combining it with Freeform's other main feature, Mesh Warping. By adding Mesh Warp, our stamped in effect will do a little more damage by creasing and buckling the entire sheet of metal. We all know Digieffects loves "Damage", so don't miss this one! We'll also tweak our lighting to add a little mood to the scene.

• Download the project files
• Download a free trial of FreeForm AE
• Buy FreeForm AE

Labels: After Effects, DigiEffects, Digieffects FreeForm AE, Tutorial

Get the Look of Sci-Fi Holograms with Red Giant Holomatrix

Red Giant Holomatrix lets you control your reality and offers a new dimension in effect generation. Now you can get the look of your favorite hologram effect in After Effects in just two clicks. The package includes over 30 presets that turn ordinary footage into animated sci-fi holograms, mimics bad TV reception and creates realistic looking digital signage.

Learn More/Purchase in our Store | Download a Free Trial

Features

• 30 high-quality presets
  Get started right away with presets that include Ghost, Bad Reception, Security Cam and more.
• Save time
  Creates complex holographic looks and animations in seconds that would take hours to reproduce by hand
• Flexibility and customization
  Get real control by fine-tuning over 80 properties to get just the look you want
• Simplified user interface
  A single interface handles the complexities of sophisticated scripts and 15 effects

Highlights

Transmissions from a galaxy far, far away
Recreate the holographic looks you loved in sci-fi productions like Star Wars and Star Trek, or make your keyed actors look like the Hogwarts ghosts from Harry Potter. Great for logo treatments and other motion graphic elements.

Digital Signs and Screens
Get your futuristic funk on with jerky, dystopic Blade Runner-like digital signage, enhance the look of your virtual heads-up displays with different effects and behaviors, or give your perfectly clean visuals a gritty, hyper-digital feel.

Bad Reception
Video isn't always pretty - kick it old school by giving your footage a "bad TV" look. With features like color noise, static, TV roll, image ghosting and color separation, you're ready to go from good to bad. Effects can be randomized, or you can keyframe the effect's on/off switches for total control.

Labels: After Effects, Red Giant, Red Giant Holomatrix

We've set up a few sales for the week before the Thanksgiving Holiday here in the US. The sales start now!

Monday & Tuesday, November 16 & 17, 2009

Save 50% on select titles from Class on Demand, including titles for Adobe, Apple and GenArts Sapphire (which you may need for Wednesday's sale!)

The sale includes the DVD versions only, no downloads. Class On Demand will give the users free updates to Final Cut Pro 7 and Final Cut Studio 3 Training when they buy Final Cut Studio 2 or Final Cut Pro 6 training. All you need to do is peel off the sticker on the DVD and send it in to Class on Demand and they will send you the new training for free, released in about 6 weeks. You'll have to pay for shipping, but you'll get 2 sets of training for half the price of one!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Get the After Effects compatible or FxPlug version of GenArts Sapphire for only $999! Save $700 only at Toolfarm.com

On November 18, 2009, only from 12:00am to 11:59pm PST, get GenArts Sapphire for just $999, regularly $1699. No orders will be taken after that time. Please see our contact page for the current time at our headquarters in San Francisco, CA.

• Buy GenArts Sapphire
• Download a free trial of Sapphire
• Download color brochure

The sale is for the node-locked version only of the Adobe After Effects compatible and FxPlug versions of Sapphire only. FxPlug works in Apple Final Cut Pro and Motion.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Get Boris Continuum Chroma Key 6.0 for 50% off on Thursday. This suite of keying tools includes the Chroma Key, Matte Choker and Light Wrap tools, which for this suite have been re-engineered to run in real-time - even on HD clips.

Not only that, it comes with BCS Chroma Key Studio, exclusively for users of Apple Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Final Cut Express we offer Chroma Key Studio, which is included in the Chroma Key Unit. Regularly $299, get it for just $149.50 on November 19.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Save 30% on these amazing plug-ins from Tiffen. The sale runs midnight Friday through 11:59pm Friday night, November 20, 2009 only. The sale includes the download version only.

Sale Pricing (Note: Prices have been revised to reflect 30% discount)

• Tiffen Dfx Digital Filter Suite for AE, FCP, or Avid - $419.97 (reg. $599.95)
  Hosts to choose from: After Effects v2, Final Cut Pro v2, Avid Editing Systems
  
  
• Tiffen Dfx Plug-in for Photoshop or Aperture - $209.97 (reg. $299.95)
  Hosts to choose from: Photoshop v2, Apple Aperture v2
  
  
• Tiffen Dfx Software - Stand-Alone Edition v2 - $104.97 (reg. $149.95)

Labels: After Effects, BCC Chroma Key, Boris, Class on Demand, Final Cut Pro, GenArts, Motion, One Day Sale, Sale, Sapphire

Harry J Frank has created a great new tutorial called Fractal Noise Fade. I always learn so much from Harry. Also, if you haven't seen it, check out Harry's new Video Rock, an awesome new DVD library of pre-rendered QuickTime elements and still images set in a vintage style.

Fractal Noise Fade from graymachine on Vimeo.

Learn how to use Fractal Noise to create a textured fade on a layer in After Effects. Then add some more effects and elements to finish up the title effect.

Labels: After Effects, Harry Frank, Tutorial, Video Rock

Toolfarm is proud to sponsor a free online seminar featuring Adobe After Effects CS4 and its powerful integration with Adobe CS4 Production Premium. Harry Frank will be presenting a project using Trapcode Particular and Michele Yamazaki of Toolfarm will be showing the newest plug-in from Red Giant, Magic Bullet Mojo.

In this eSeminar you'll learn how:

• Steve Whatley will show the deep integration between After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro delivers time-savings and a smoother workflow on every project, so you can stay focused on doing your creative work.
• Particular 2 expands your creative options by offering realistic natural effects, lighting control for shaded particles, 3D camera integration, custom shapes, depth of field, and physics controls
• Red Giant's Magic Bullet Mojo helps you achieve a subtle coloring effect to warm up actors' skin tones while backgrounds and shadows get a cool blue treatment - all while keeping your talent in focus.

Labels: Adobe, After Effects, Harry Frank, Magic Bullet Mojo, Particular, Premiere Pro, Red Giant, Trapcode, Webinar

The Video Editor's Wish List of Tools & Techniques in One Package

La Jolla, CA - November 04, 2009 - NewBlue, Inc. today launched Video Essentials III, the third and latest offering in its best-selling Video Essentials series of video effects and transitions plugins. NewBlue Video Essentials III provides highly-practical video tools designed to solve everyday production issues. The collection includes Rolling Shutter, Image Mapper, Edge Smoother, Split Screen, Gradient Tint, Spotlight and three additional video effects plugins.

Available for all major video editing software platforms, including Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Premiere Elements, Adobe Premiere Pro, Apple Final Cut Pro, Apple Final Cut Express, Avid Media Composer, Avid NewsCutter, Avid Symphony, Avid Xpress, Avid Liquid, Corel (formerly Ulead) VideoStudio, Pinnacle Studio, Sony Vegas, Sony Vegas Movie Studio and Canopus EDIUS, NewBlue Video Essentials III improves and enhances video footage while reducing overall project time.

Who says the sequel can't be as good as the original?, says Todor Fay, NewBlue's chief technology officer. "We built NewBlue Video Essentials III in response to the incredible feedback we received regarding our original Video Essentials effects plugins products. Video Essentials III represents the best-of-the-best of these wishlists."

Using NewBlue Video Essentials III, video editors and enthusiasts can easily fix motion distortion from CMOS cameras, soften jagged edges on text and graphics, effortlessly map the four corners of a video insert over a scene, selectively strengthen color and manipulate atmosphere and easily perform dozens of other tasks designed to optimize workflow.

NewBlue Video Essentials III joins the company's highly-regarded product line of nearly 20 exclusive video plugins collections and is value-priced at $79.95.

Included in NewBlue Video Essentials III are:

• Image Mapper, which makes it easy to superimpose a smaller image within the scene, including curving the edges for flexible shapes.
• Auto Contrast, which dynamically adjusts contrast and vibrance, helping achieve well-balanced visuals without tedious keyframing.
• Edge Smoother, which selectively softens jaggy edges on text and graphics to blend the scenes together - the next best thing to true anti-aliasing.
• Proportion Helper, which assists the scene composition and balance by providing practical guidelines to arrange elements.
• Rolling Shutter, which repairs the common wobble and skew damage that affects many video cameras using CMOS sensors.
• Split Screen, which elegantly divides the image in a few clicks for compositing - no messy math required.
• Diffusion, which makes the clips bloom in seconds, whether it's giving a soft glow to wedding footage or an otherworldly aura to the next sci-fi epic.
• Gradient Tint, which gives the power to bring out blue skies, selectively affect color ranges, and more, an invaluable evolution of a key photographer's filter.
• Spotlight, which provides a versatile way to bring focus to the subjects and apply finishing touches such background blur.
• Dual Booster, which provides an innovative way to independently affect darker and lighter parts of an image, going from subtle enhancements to artistic expression.

Users can purchase NewBlue Video Essentials directly from Toolfarm. A fully-functional trial version is available for download, as well.

About NewBlue, Inc.

NewBlue, Inc. develops innovative audio, video and multimedia technologies for leading companies throughout the world. Founded in early 2002, NewBlue creates and licenses a range of proprietary technologies, including a series of NewBlueFX video technologies, the NewBlue Audio Engine and Audiomatrix technology platform, that meet the varied multimedia needs of mid-and large-sized companies. Experienced developers, musicians, artists, and software professionals with a unique and commanding set of skills, experience and talent comprise the NewBlue team.

The company unveiled its NewBlueFX product line in 2006 to meet the needs of digital video editing enthusiasts. The NewBlueFX collection of software plug-ins includes special audio and video effects, such as audio filters, noise reduction, equalization, compression and dozens of sophisticated graphic filters and transitions. To date, the NewBlueFX line includes 5 audio-oriented plug-in collections and 15 video-oriented effects and transitions collections for the Adobe Premiere, Avid Liquid, Avid Media Composer, Avid Xpress Pro, Pinnacle Studio and Sony Vegas desktop video product lines, as well as AVCHD UpShift, an AVCHD conversion utility.

Labels: After Effects, Avid, Avid Liquid, NewBlueFX, Pinnacle Studio, Premiere Pro, Sony Vegas, Video Essentials

Get the fantastic After Effects Camera Training from the Toolfarm Expert Series, taught by Rob Birnholz for just $29 for the month of November.

Basic to Advanced Professional use of the After Effects Camera. Rob uses two projects to explain how to animate and control the After Effects Camera in a 3D environment. The first takes you through a winding art gallery and out a picture window. The second builds upon techniques explained earlier and features a very cool Easy 360 degree Tracking Shot around a rock band. Rob uses clips from Crowd Control from All Bets Are Off* in the training to demonstrate how you can combine live video with stills and the camera for a convincing 3D composite in After Effects.

If it's help with animating the camera you're looking for, the After Effects Camera Training tutorials wrap up all the most useful tricks in one training package with some nice eye candy to boot. - Trish Meyer

Labels: AE Camera Training, After Effects, Chris and Trish Meyer, Sale, Toolfarm Expert Series

Trish Meyer reviews Rob Birnholz's After Effects Camera training from the Toolfarm Expert Series. This is one of the most unbiased reviews I've ever read and Trish goes through the training very thoroughly. It's a great review. She knows After Effects like know one else.

• Read the review
• Buy the training

Sample Chapter of After Effects Camera Training

Labels: AE Camera Training, After Effects, Chris and Trish Meyer, reviews, Toolfarm Expert Series

Boris XML Transfer is an Adobe After Effects plug-in designed for seamless transfer of Apple Final Cut Pro program sequences to Adobe After Effects. Boris XML Transfer preserves all aspects of a Final Cut Pro project including effects, audio, media clips, transitions, geometric transformations, and multi-clip edits.

Boris XML Transfer is available now for $299 USD. Download a Free 14-day Trial Version Now

Press Release

Seamlessly Transfer Apple Final Cut Pro Program Sequences to Adobe After Effects

Marlborough MA - November 3, 2009 - Boris FX, the leading developer of integrated effects technology for video and film, today announced Boris XML Transfer, a new Adobe After Effects plug-in designed for seamless transfer of Apple Final Cut Pro program sequences to Adobe After Effects. Boris XML Transfer preserves all aspects of a Final Cut Pro project including effects, audio, media clips, transitions, and geometric transformations.

"Improved integration between Adobe, Apple, and Avid applications is a recurring request among digital media workgroups," commented Boris Yamnitsky, president and founder, Boris FX. "Boris Continuum Complete and Final Effects Complete effects presets have always been compatible across Adobe, Apple, and Avid host applications. With the release of Boris XML Transfer, we bring integration to a new level, giving editors the ability to transfer entire Final Cut Pro sequences to After Effects - including multi-clip edits, effects, and audio."

Boris XML Transfer Feature Highlights

• Clips Remain Fully Editable. All trimmed Final Cut Pro clips remain fully-editable in Adobe After Effects as stepped-up or stepped-down layers. Audio levels, pans, and cross-fades are accurately preserved and effects settings and keyframe animations are fully translated.
  
  
• MultiCam Editing. Boris XML Transfer takes special care to preserve multi-clip edits.
  
  
• Boris Continuum Complete and Final Effects Complete Compatibility. BCC and FEC effects provide the same look and keyframe values for every parameter.
  
• Native Final Cut Pro Effects Translation. Many native Final Cut Pro effects are translated into corresponding After Effects features that match the effects' look and behavior.
  
• Familiar Look and Feel. Translated After Effects projects will look very familiar to Final Cut Pro editors. User marks, comments and labels for clips and sequences, and all user-defined names are carried across from Final Cut Pro to After Effects.
  
• No Transcoding or File Duplication Required. QuickTime-based media files are immediately available in After Effects without the need for transcoding or file duplication.
  

Pricing and Availability
Boris XML Transfer for Macintosh OS X is immediately available through the Boris FX worldwide reseller channel and direct from the Boris FX web site at www.borisfx.com for an MSRP of $299 USD. A full-functioning 14-day trial version is available for free download.

About Boris FX
Founded in 1995, Boris FX is the leading developer of integrated graphics and effects technology, delivering 3D compositing and vector graphic products for broadcast, post-production, film, and multimedia. Boris products have grown to serve millions of artists worldwide. The company's success lies in its ability to integrate and leverage technologies through strong partnerships with industry-leading developers such as Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Avid, Grass Valley, and Sony.

Labels: After Effects, Boris XML Transfer, Final Cut Pro

Digieffects Falloff Lighting provides an enhanced lighting system to After Effects built-in light. Falloff Lighting is much more like that of the real world where light naturally decays or "falls off" as surfaces increase distance from the After Effects light.


Find more videos like this on MyToolfarm


Learn More/Purchase Falloff Lighting | Download a Free Trial

Falloff Lighting offers the control and flexibility you need to properly light your scene. You can display the distance from the camera to the corners of the layers. Also, you can adjust the distance scale to account for the scale of objects in your scene. You can also control the intensity of light reflecting off an object and the gradual falloff as the distance from the light increases.

Why not just use AE? Falloff Lighting offers a key feature missing in After Effects. With After Effects' built-in lights, it doesn’t matter how far away a layer is from a light, it is still illuminated the same amount by that light.

Labels: After Effects, DigiEffects, Digieffects Falloff Lighting

Update 2.091 brings improved support for Nucleo Pro background renders. v2.09 added support for floating licenses on Windows and on Mac, support for Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard and floating licenses, plus it fixed a problem with Glare on HD footage . You can update or download a demo here.

Labels: After Effects, GenArts, Sapphire

We're adding the Henry the Jedi training to our site now and the Fracture training for Autodesk 3D Max & Adobe After Effects is now available. This is high quality and very thorough project based training. The training includes all project files plus a bunch of cool smoke elements, sound effects and scripts. It's an instant download, which is nice if you want it at 4am or you're overseas and don't want to get hit with a shipping charge (and it's a greener option).



More Henry the Jedi training will be up in a few days, including some bundles.

Labels: 3dsMax, After Effects, Henry the Jedi, Training

The new broadcastGEMs Jigsaw Puzzle v1 template is a 40-piece jigsaw puzzle that comes with plenty of optional comps, including a Lower 3rd and transition comps. Setup is as easy as replacing a front and a back layer ONCE.



The pieces will then inherit the required imagery. As always, customization is made easier with lots of properties linked to simple effect controls. This one is sure to wow your clients and friends. Use this for business clients or for kids related programming or even anything that requires a puzzle to offer your viewers a challenge (puzzle) as the pieces move into place.


Find more videos like this on MyToolfarm


You may even use Text layers or logos as puzzle imagery and mix and match with the built-in Scramble ImageFX for even more visual interest. You can set transition offset times and choose which layers get transitioned first. Bevel sizes and other puzzle aesthetics are easily setup from within a single Controller Layer Effects Controls panel.

These are HD AEPs for 720 and 1080 in single (25 and 29.97fps) and double framerates (50 and 59,94fps). Requires AE Version 7.0 or newer.

Labels: After Effects, broadcastGEMs, Templates

Nice video tutorial by Mikey Bouchereau. Try the CoreMelt plug-ins with a free demo. It runs in Final Cut Pro/Express, Apple Motion and Adobe After Effects.


Find more videos like this on MyToolfarm

Labels: After Effects, CoreMelt, Final Cut Pro, Motion, Tutorial

From Todd Kopriva, who does the documentation for After Effects for Adobe:

Today we are announcing that the next version of Adobe After Effects will be a native 64-bit application. This news represents a huge step forward and will provide unprecedented advantages to just about anyone who uses After Effects today. It's going to be a must-have release.

Read all about it on Todd's Blog, After Effects Region of Interest and from Michael Coleman, After Effects Product Manager, in his Keyframes blog

Labels: After Effects

From Todd Kopriva at After Effects region of interest blog:

"Michael Coleman has just given a piece of news on his blog that I think will make a lot of people very happy: "Today we are announcing that the next version of Adobe After Effects will be a native 64-bit application." Michael also goes into more detail about what "64-bit" means for After Effects users.

Simon Hayhurst has also given the news on the ProVideo Coalition website: "CS4 will be the last version of Adobe's leading video applications to support 32 bit operating systems."

In this article, Simon also provides links to an FAQ list about the transition and a white paper about the benefits of using After Effects and other applications on 64-bit operating systems. "

Read All About It Here.

Thanks Todd for posting this in our forums!

Labels: After Effects, Forum

We're constantly updating our store and Plug-in Finder with new information and checking over system requirements and compatibility with host applications and operating systems. The list of icons we use to represent that data is growing, so we've put together a handy guide to explain it all.

Labels: After Effects, Final Cut Studio, FxPlug, Plug-in Finder, Universal, Vista, Windows

LME 100 Amazing HD/SD Video or Photo Wall Configurations Vol.3 is the 3rd in our series of video/photo wall collections and this time we've focused on HD 1920x1080. They can all be shrunk down to small sizes just by scaling. 720x480 versions are included for your convenience.


Find more videos like this on MyToolfarm

This collection includes more than 64 graphics: flat screen frames, flat screen clamps, flat screen stands, backgrounds, floor, textures and other art to give you a broad variations of visuals to choose from, which you can interchange between the project and adjust in Photoshop. Many come with stunning reflections and lights that add to the eye candy. Movement has been added to most of the wall projects: This can easily be adjusted or eliminated to suit your needs.

Labels: After Effects, LME, Templates

We're on Day 3 at the Motion Conference 09 in Albuquerque, NM. It's been a great conference. We've been in a lot of interesting sessions and met a lot of great people from all over the country and world! Today there are several great seminars we're attending and there's also a mixer in the Ice Lounge. We have a table set up in the common area/Ice Lounge and we're going to be looping some video and meeting and greeting people.

If you're at the conference, we're running a show special for Boris FX Box Sets and it's an amazingly good deal. Come by for information on that. We also have a show special for Toolfarm and we'll give you those details. Not only that, we're going to do a drawing for some training from the Toolfarm Expert Series, so give us your business card and you're entered! Or you can just drop by and meet the ladies of Toolfarm!

Here's a little review of the conference so far. The first session I was in was with Phil Young who was an animator for Disney for years. He worked on The Lion King, Beauty & the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Rescuers Down Under and more. He discussed the industry, and went very deep into creating maquettes, small 3 dimensional scale models of drawings, with wire and sculpey (sculpture clay). He also discussed giving characters personalities and how to translate that to the moving image.


Phil Young with one of the maquettes of a crocodile from the Rescuers down Under

I sat in on both Chris & Trish Meyer's sessions on animating with audio and the After Effects text tool vs. the Motion text tool. We stuck around for the keynote where all the "Rock Stars" were introduced and Karin Fong from Imaginary Forces went into detail about several of the title sequences she has worked on (Bedazzled, Bride Wars, The Pink Panther).


The Rock Stars of Motion 09. That's Chris and Trish Meyer in the front in the spot light

Karin Fong and Elaine Montoya, director of Motion 09

Yesterday Alicia of Toolfarm sat in on some Match Moving classes and I sat in with the producers of Crash, the tv show. They filmed a lot of great dented metal and breaking glass shots to include in their promos. My favorite thing they did was use empty paint cans that were sealed and poked them with a vacuum tube, imploding the cans. Genius.

They gave us the afternoon off and arranged a trip to Old Town. Alicia and I decided to take a tour with a guide and no one else showed! We had a completely personal guide to take us around and share the very interesting history and lore of the area. It was so much fun. We also had amazing food. All of the food here has been delicious.... love those green and red chili sauces. Food where we live is generally pretty bland unless you go out of your way to find something ethnic.

Last night we saw another panel on title design and then stuck around for a late night session on Camera Mapping in Maya. Unfortunately we were not allowed to record video during any of the sessions, because he covered A LOT! - Michele

Motion09 Tuesday Sessions:

Michele and I have so far been very impressed with the caliber and variety of talent in the Motion09 sessions. Tuesday was certainly no exception.

Screen Design: Imaginary Visual Interfaces

Marc Coleran designs computer interfaces and graphical systems for film and has a prolific resume including: The Bourne Identity, Mission Impossible 3, xXx, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and many more.

Rarely is any computer screen seen on the big screen a "true", unmodified system. That is where interface designers come in- to create screen graphics that serve as functional storytelling elements within a film.



They can be anything from an on-screen OS, from ambient set dressings, to visual systems or HUD (heads-up-displays).

Coleran Reel 2008.06 HD from Mark Coleran on Vimeo.

Mark went into the different styles of interfaces; realistic- which function and appear much like current operating systems but "on steriods"; semi-realistic- which push the limits of reality but still retain some visual cues from current systems; and "fluff"- systems that are slick, state-of-the-art, and cutting-edge, that are more difficult to conceptualize.

Along with introducing us to the integration of Photoshop, Illustrator and After Effects in his projects, he also showed us a few tricks he uses with expressions in After Effects for maximum efficiency. Many times interface designers need to tweak things on-set and don't have the time to adjust hundreds of keyframes.

These were just a small sampling of the amazing talent exhibited at Motion09. We highly recommend you attend next year if you're able, as they are constantly evolving and adding new talent each year. - Alicia

Labels: After Effects, Chris and Trish Meyer, Motion Conference

Animating Text in Apple's Motion, a primer for After Effects artists.

Trish Meyers spoke today at the Motion09 Conference in Albuquerque and brought up some interesting comparisons on the text engines behind After Effects versus Apple Motion. Not quite new information, but worth a look if you haven't seen it already and are wondering whether to use After Effects or delve into Motion's capabilities when creating text effects.

"If you're familiar with animating text in After Effects, you might glance at Apple's Motion and think that it offers many of the same features for flying text around. While that is true, if you look a little closer you'll find that Motion can create some really great looks that you just can't get with After Effects. In this article, I'll review the text capabilties of both programs, and lead you through in detail how to typeset and animate text in Motion."

View the comparison.

Labels: After Effects, Motion, Motion Conference

Ko Maruyama gives After Effects Camera Training from Toolfarm Expert Series, created by Rob Birnholz a terrific review! Read it here.

Steps right into the more intermediate - advanced concepts of After Effects rather than explaining beginner procedures. Each section focuses on a specific topic. You can navigate directly to lessons you need to review. Even if you're on an earlier version of After Effects, you can take advantage of this instruction. Lesson files are compatible with CS4, but the theories apply to 3D cameras in previous versions of AE as well.

Here's a free chapter too, to whet your appetite!


Find more videos like this on MyToolfarm

Labels: AE Camera Training, After Effects, reviews, Toolfarm Expert Series

Revamped Optical Stabilizer, Enhanced Adobe Premiere Pro and Apple Motion Support

September 28, 2009 - Boris FX, the leading developer of integrated effects technology for video and film, today announced that its flagship Boris Continuum Complete product line has been updated to Version 6.0.4. The Boris Continuum Complete (BCC) product line includes BCC AE for Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro, BCC FxPlug for Apple Final Cut Pro, Apple Motion, and Apple Final Cut Express, and BCC AVX for Avid editing and finishing systems. The new Version 6.0.4 release includes a revamped optical stabilizer filter, enhanced support for Adobe Premiere Pro and Apple Motion, new animated presets for BCC 6's 3D Objects filters, and official support for Apple Final Cut Pro 7, Apple Motion 4, Avid Media Composer 4, Avid Symphony 4, and Avid NewsCutter 8.

What's New in Boris Continuum Complete Version 6.0.4

• Enhanced Apple Motion Integration. BCC 6 FxPlug's 3D Objects filters now allow 3D extruded text, logos, and EPS graphics to respond to Motion's native camera.
• Revamped Optical Stabilizer Filter. BCC Optical Stabilizer, which automatically smoothes or completely eliminates shaky camera motion, now provides more feedback during the image analysis process. In addition, a new Autoscale option automatically transform scales a locked down clip so that it fills the frame or composite window.
• Improved Adobe Premiere Pro Support. Based on award-winning Optical Flow and Motion Tracking technology, workhorse BCC AE filters such as Optical Stabilizer, Corner Pin, Match Move, Witness Protection, and Motion Blur are now available in Premiere Pro Version 4.1.
• Animated 3D Objects Presets for Adobe After Effects and Avid. BCC 6's Animated Presets option has been extended to include the BCC 3D Objects category of filters. This powerful feature lets you save animated effects for use in other projects or BCC hosts.
• New Swish Pan Transition Filter for BCC AVX. Swish Pan enables editors to create fast, camera pan-style transitions between clips. The filter is fully automated and includes controls for the velocity of the pan with on-screen display of the ease-in and ease-out curve.
• Support for Apple Final Cut Pro 7 and Apple Motion 4. BCC 6.0.4 FxPlug introduces official support for Mac OS X Snow Leopard as well as Apple's new Final Cut Studio release.
• Support for Avid's New Editing Software Releases. BCC 6.0.4 AVX introduces official support for Avid Media Composer 4, Avid Symphony 4, and Avid NewsCutter 8.

BCC 6.0.4 AE is a free update for BCC 6.x AE users, BCC 6.0.4 FxPlug is a free update for BCC 6.x FxPlug users, and BCC 6.0.4 AVX is a free update for BCC 6.x AVX users. The BCC 6.0.4 updates are available for download from the Toolfarm Demos Page. Full-functioning 14-day trial versions are also available for free download.

Labels: After Effects, Boris, Boris Continuum Complete, FxPlug, Premiere Pro