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Video Tutorial: How to Animate a Logo - 3D Motion Graphics

christophersilva80@gmail.com (Christopher Silva) — Tue, 11 May 2021 18:35:21 GMT

Animate logos in AE by adding shape layers in Cinema 4D mode.

What you will be learning about in the video:

Choose between renderers

Different renderers offer different options for how 3D elements appear in a composition. Compositions can contain both 2D and 3D layers.

To change a layer from 2D to 3D space, in the timeline enable the 3D Layer switch to the right of the layer.

To change from the Classic 3D renderer to the Cinema 4D renderer, click the blue text Change Renderer in the timeline. Then, in the Composition Settings dialog box, change the drop-down menu from Classic 3D to Cinema 4D and press OK.

Differences between 3D options with the Classic 3D and Cinema 4D renderers:

Classic 3D Renderer

Compositions can contain layer blend modes and track mattes

Cinema 4D Renderer

Compositions can contain layers with true 3D geometry and depth
Illustrator Layers can bend in 3D space
Text layers and Shape layers can be converted to 3D objects
Position 2D layers in 3D space

How to Position 2D layers in 3D space

To enable 3D on a layer, in the timeline use the Switches/Modes toggle to view the switches, and enable the 3D Layer switch to the right of the layer.

Enabling 3D on a layer opens options to reposition the layer in 3D space, as well as materials options for how that layer appears within the composition.

To position a 3D layer in space, use the axis handles in the Composition panel or scrub parameter values in the timeline.

Click the Renderer button in the upper right corner of the composition panel if you want to change renderers.

Video Tutorial: Turn a 2D Photograph into an Amazing 3D World!

christophersilva80@gmail.com (Christopher Silva) — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 20:06:16 GMT

In this entry, I'm going to show you how to use Photoshop to transform a 2D Photo into a 3D 'world' in After Effects.

Vanishing Point is one of those really cool effects in After Effects that will always be impressive no matter how many times you use it. In a nutshell, Vanishing Point simulates a 3D environment by creating a simulated 3D projection. While it doesn’t work in every situation, if you have a room with good four-corner perspective, you can create some amazing results.

Let’s take a look at this awesome feature inside of After Effects and discuss a few ways to make your Vanishing Point videos even better.

Step 1: Create a Vanishing Point Grid in Photoshop

In order to create a Vanishing Point in Photoshop and After Effects, you need to use a combination of both Photoshop and After Effects. First things first, you need to open your photo in Photoshop then navigate to Filter>Vanishing Point or simply hit Option+Command+V.

You will see a window pop up. In the window, select the Create Planes tool (C). Make a small rectangle around the back wall of your Vanishing Point image. Make the box as straight as possible.

After you set the edges of your base plane, you can drag the edges of the frame to create the Vanishing Point effect by holding down command. You will probably have to adjust the edges if they aren’t 100% flush with the edges of the walls. You can do this by holding down command and adjusting one edge and corner at a time. If for any reason your plane turns red, you may need to stretch the edges of your frame further in z-space.

Step 2: Export for After Effects

After you’ve created all four edges in your frame, it’s time to export your video to After Effects. Before you hit that ‘OK’ button, navigate to the menu button in the upper left of the Vanishing Point window and then hit Export for After Effects. You will need to designate a place to save the .vpe file on your computer.

Step 3: Import Vanishing Point File

Open up After Effects. With an After Effects project open, navigate to File>Import>Vanishing Point. Now select the Vanishing Point file on your computer and hit ‘OK.’ You should now see a folder with five images pop up in your project panel along with a new composition.

Step 4: Adjust the Composition

Click inside the new composition and you will see a composition made up of five images, a parent, and a camera. By default, the width of the composition will be the same as the width of the image file in Photoshop. You will likely want to change the width of the composition to a standard 1080p composition, but you can simply select one of the presets in composition settings.

Depending on your scene, you may need to adjust the rotation of your parent. If you need to move in or out of the scene, I recommend using the zoom feature versus physically moving the camera in 3D space.

Video Tutorial: Getting Footage to 'stick' to Animated Text in After Effects

christophersilva80@gmail.com (Christopher Silva) — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 17:03:05 GMT

In this entry, you will learn how to merge video footage with a text layer to create the popular "video-text" effect in Adobe After Effects.

Besides using complex camera movements and unconventional angles, having stellar visual effects and eye-catching graphics can also go a long way in capturing the attention of your audience. One interesting graphics technique commonly used by filmmakers is playing video within a shape or block of text. As complicated as this trick may initially look, it is actually very simple to pull off inside of Adobe After Effects.

So, if you’re someone who’s looking to try this technique in one of your next projects, don’t miss the following video tutorial by Trilight Media video editor Christopher Silva, who will walk us through the process of compositing a video into the frame of a text.

First off, you’ll create a new composition based on your video preferences.

Next, create a text layer of your choosing, just make sure that the element you’ve created is on a separate track (i.e., don’t create a masked shaped on your background layer). As a side note, if you want to align your newly created graphic to the center, head over to the align panel on the right-hand side where you can adjust the desired position accordingly.

Once you’re done with your graphical element, import your video clip into After Effects and place it into the composition, positioned below your shape/text layer.

On the timeline, navigate to the Track Matte settings and click the drop-down menu on your video layer’s Track Matte Properties. Of the available options there, you’ll want to select the Alpha Matte “[shape layer name here]”. As a result, your footage will automatically take on the form of your shape/text layer.

If you want to go further with this effect, you can experiment with other Track Matte options. For example, if you add a simple black-to-white ramp on your shape, you can select the Luma Matte instead of Alpha Matte. That way, not only will your video take on the form of your shape/text, but the luminance of the shape/text layer will affect the video as well.

Once you have your footage and text composited, you can pre-compose the two layers to create a new composition, then animate the text layer however you like.

Optionally, you can link all your layers by using the Parent & Link feature which can be pretty handy when you want to animate the graphics and make your video more visually appealing by adding motion to your entire composition. Just be patient, take your time, get creative and see what else you can bring to the table by utilizing this simple, yet extremely effective compositing technique.