In Depth Articles (53 Tutorials)
In Depth: 3D Renderers (Updated 14 May 2020) #3drenderer
June 16, 2020
There are so many renderers available out there, and how does an artist know what to choose? Although they really do the same thing, they work differently and have different results. Here is a breakdown of what the different renderers offer, not reviews, so you can decide which renderer is right for you.
In Depth: DaVinci Resolve Studio vs the Free Version
June 15, 2020
Is Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve Studio version worth the investment over the free version? Yes, it is! Learn why you should upgrade to Resolve Studio.
In Depth: Why Should I Use V-Ray?
April 24, 2020
V-Ray is a powerful 3D rendering system that was built for designers, architects, and jack-of-all-trades. Learn about how artists use V-Ray.
Best of 2019: The Top 10 Tutorials at Toolfarm.com
January 7, 2020
According to our website stats, these were the Top 10 Tutorials of 2019. It’s interesting that most are technical, not about VFX.
Deepfakes Examples & Tutorials: AI in Media Production #AI
October 2, 2019
Deepfakes use artificial intelligence to create a convincing face swap in video and imagery. There is a big future for deepfakes in the film industry.
In Depth: Render Farms / Network Rendering / Distributed Rendering
September 11, 2019
The idea of network rendering is to distribute your render over a network, or farm, of computers, to speed up your render times.
In Depth: What in the Heck is Bokeh?
July 18, 2019
Bokeh is a type of defocus or lens blur where the blur takes on the shape of the lens diaphram. We explain how to pronounce the word, how it is created, and show lots of cool examples. Also, a few plug-ins to create a bokeh in post-production.
In Depth: Fireworks
June 25, 2019
Yes, the U.S. Independence Day is upon us once again! Whatever your country or holiday, here are some methods of creating some beautiful explosions in the sky with After Effects, CINEMA 4D, and other hosts. There are some great plug-ins out there for making fireworks too.
In Depth: The Ultimate Guide to Building a Great Demo Reel
June 13, 2019
Is your New Year’s Resolution to get a new job or to bring in new freelance work? A new demo reel can help. What are employers looking for in a reel? I was on a panel at a college last month where we talked about what makes a demo reel great and what makes it… well, not so great. I also asked around to some industry peers for their opinions.
Michele’s NAB Survival Guide #NABShow
February 18, 2019
Why a NAB Survival Guide? For those of you who will be first timers to NAB, this is the insider’s guide from someone who has been to at least 15 NAB Shows in a row. I have lost track. Trust me, I’m a Pluginologist.
In Depth: Gunfire and Muzzle Flash (Updated 18 January 2019)
January 18, 2019
If you’re planning on making an epic action film like Max Max: Fury Road or Rambo, you’re going to need lots of fire power. Here is a rundown on how to add spectacular muzzle flash and gunshot effects to your films in your host of choice. I’ve also included info on 3D models of weapons and some sound effects.
In Depth: Time Effects – Time Displacement aka Slit Scan, with Examples
December 31, 2018
Learn all about the Time Displacement filter, which creates an effect known as slit scan, a trippy looking time manipulation that can be used to represent a time travel, a warp in the space time continuum, a drug trip and much more.
In Depth: Troubleshooting After Effects Issues and Plug-ins (Updated 17 Dec 2018)
December 17, 2018
Even though After Effects is a very solid product, everyone will run into issues from time to time, whether it be from corrupt preferences, random errors, codec problems, and more. Here is a general problem-solving guide on how to troubleshoot some common issues with After Effects.
News: 7 of the Most Popular Posts of 2017 at Toolfarm
January 2, 2018
To celebrate the new year, we thought we would take a look back at some of our most popular blog posts from 2017. Lots of freebies and a few tutorials top the list.
In Depth: 32 Uses of 360° VR + Some VR Tools to Get You In the Game
November 7, 2017
We get asked all the time if we think that VR and 360° immersive video is something that is just a novelty or if it is an important technology. Plus, I’ll go over some of the 360° VR tools available for your favorite NLEs, 3D programs, and more to help you get started in VR.