Free festive presets

Free festive presets

We’re giving away some free festive presets in December’s newsletter to say thanks to all our friends for supporting Creative Cabin in 2016. Please fill in the form below to sign up for this and future newsletters. Each month you’ll receive tips, presets or tutorials as well as occaisional special offers for training at Creative Cabin.

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After Effects tips

Here’s my latest collection of After Effects Twitter Tips from the Creative Cabin archive.

Learn all sorts of useful tips and tricks in bite sized portions. Make sure to Follow us on Twitter to get even more of these tips regularly as well as other goodies welike to share.

  1. AFTER EFFECTS TIP | To make a one node camera point at a layer, select the layer, then with the unified camera tool selected, hit the F key
  2. AFTER EFFECTS TIP | Copy & Paste any mask shape into a position property to make layer move along the path. Click on property name to select
  3. AFTER EFFECTS TIP | Give Adobe your feedback | Report Feature Requests & bugs here; http://t.co/s7f1NOPs @AdobeAE #AfterEffects
  4. AFTER EFFECTS TIP | To stretch or squash an animation – select all keyframes – hold Alt key & drag first or last Keyframe in selected group
  5. AFTER EFFECTS TIP: Video tutorial – Use the Stroke effect on Illustrator paths to make handwriting animate on screen http://t.co/0E6UHcKOsr
  6. AFTER EFFECTS TIP: How to make a layer follow a path copied from Adobe Illustrator artwork. http://fb.me/CEapjgCw
  7. AFTER EFFECTS TIP: add new Refine Matte effect to ANY matte in AE to refine edges or add motion blur. Not just for Rotobrush! Fabulous tool!
  8. AFTER EFFECTS TIP: Animating characters, use expression pickwhip 2 link body parts 2 cntrl layer. Expression control effect 4 each movement.
  9. AFTER EFFECTS TIP: How to make a layer follow a path copied from Adobe Illustrator artwork; http://bit.ly/f8tP4w
  10. AFTER EFFECTS TIP: Lay down markers in time with audio by previewing the audio and hitting * on number pad when you want markers to appear.
  11. AFTER EFFECTS TIP: to edit the path of an effect’s positional property (e.g. Particles) got to Layer panel & choose effect in target menu.
  12. AFTER EFFECTS TIP: To use more than one layer as matte without precomping. Add multiple copies of Sett Matte effect to layer needing matted.
  13. AFTER EFFECTS TIP: @butlerm_com Try combining transfer modes, use more than one layer with a different mode and opacity value on each! 🙂
  14. AFTER EFFECTS TIP: Add keyframes for hidden Transform properties by selecting layers & hitting alt & property letter (eg alt-p for position)
  15. AFTER EFFECTS TIP: Applied a preset & wanna find out how it’s made? Select layers then double-hit the U key to expose adjusted properties.
  16. AFTER EFFECTS TIP: Make 3D layers turn to face camera as it moves. Select layers, go to Layer>Transform>Auto Orient. choose Towards Camera
  17. AFTER EFFECTS TIP: Right-click on a property value to open Edit Value dialog. Here u can access different measurement units & adjust ranges.
  18. #AfterEffects Tip | Rotate , scale, skew or move all layers by adding the Transform effect to Adjustment layer – keyframe to animate them
  19. #AfterEffects Tip | Scaled a layer down, nested the comp, then scaled it up? Click Collapse Transformations switch to fix resolution issues.
  20. #AfterEffects Tip | Travis Wade presents his After Effects: Copy and Paste Shortcuts on Motionworks; http://t.co/nP2yA1nJ
  21. #AfterEffects Tip Make layer automatically turn to follow direction of path – select layer, go to Layer > Auto Orient. Choose ‘Along Path’
  22. #AfterEffects Tip | Isolate a property group from the Effect Control Panel in Timeline by double-clicking Property Group name in ECW
  23. #AfterEffects Tip | Do you have trouble with slow render speeds? Here’s a video workshop by Todd Kopriva to help: http://t.co/Y45ucGEl
  24. #AfterEffects Tip: Do you have trouble with slow render speeds? Here’s a video workshop by Todd Kopriva to… http://t.co/2fL7wE8l
  25. #AfterEffects Tip – Scale layers in comp without messing up composition – Select layers – Go to File > Scripts > Scale Selected Layers
  26. #AfterEffects Tip | @Doguib7 Create a Shape Layer, use Offset Paths & Trim Paths from Shape Layer ‘s “Add” menu to animate paths – lotsofun!
  27. #AfterEffects Tip | Animate property randomly – Alt-click Stopwatch to add expression. Type Wiggle(10,50) to change value 10 p/sec within 50
  28. #AfterEffects Tip | Audio file plays at different speed than recorded? Check that RAM preview settings match the frame rate of the audio.
  29. #AfterEffects TIP | Custom Shape layers – 1 Layer > New Shape Layer 2 Draw path with pen 3 Select path property – paste custom path @Doguib7
  30. #AfterEffects Tip | Drag comps directly to Adobe Media Encoder to render in background. Allows you to continue working on other comps in AE
  31. #AfterEffects Tip | Loop Footage – select clip, go to Interpret Footage > Main > Other Options > Choose how many time you want to loop 🙂
  32. #AfterEffects Tip | Quickly deselect selected items by hitting F2. On Mac make sure to use Fn key to override system shortcuts.
  33. #AfterEffects Tip | Replace layer in Timeline with footage from Project panel (retaining fx + KFs) – Select both, hit Cmmd+Alt+/ Ctrl+Alt+/
  34. #AFTEREFFECTS TIP | Rubbish at animating? Don’t worry! Use the Motion Sketch panel to record mouse or pen motion & apply it to your layer 🙂
  35. #AfterEffects Tip | Video Tutorial – how to make your own “Old Film” effect using Turbulent Noise; http://t.co/IOn0bHVPuU @AdobeAE #Mograph
  36. #AfterEffects Tip | Video tutorial – Use the Stroke effect on Illustrator paths to make handwriting animate on screen http://t.co/APabrfE9FT
  37. #AFTEREFFECTS Tip 41: RT @i2cblog: In Project panel, search ‘unused’ or ‘missing’ to see what’s not used in any comp or source is missing
  38. #AfterEffects tip; Moving project to other machine or archiving? File > Collect Files gathers all source footage & project maintaining links
  39. #AfterEffects tip; Scale layers or comps without messing up composition. Go to File > Scripts > Demo palette. Use Scale Layers
  40. #AfterEffects Tip; Use Premiere Pro to cut footage, add simple animation to layers in real time. Dynamic Link portions to AE for finessing
  41. #AfterEffects Tip: @Franckmax If you want to do that, just Toggle hold the keyframe first, then right-click and choose “Easy Ease Out/In” 🙂
  42. #AfterEffects tip: @jamesboorman To make the particles stay “alive” for longer, adjust the Lifespan property.
  43. #AfterEffects Tip: @MarkToddWagon No need for Alt, Page Up & Down on their own works. Home & End key to move to 1st & last frames of comp.
  44. #AfterEffects Tip: 3D layers have Material Options to control shadows. Cast Shadows & Accept Shadows can be switched on or off per layer.
  45. #AFTEREFFECTS tip: Animate Source Text property 2 make words change over time in text layer. Font & character panel attributes also animated
  46. #AfterEffects tip: Convert Text to Shape layers (Layer > Create shapes from Text) – Add cool Shape properties to get creative! Endless Fun!
  47. #aftereffects tip: Create a keyframe for a property on selected layers by holding alt key & tapping property shortcut. P for Position etc
  48. #AfterEffects Tip: Even out animation speed – select Keyframes in timeline (except 1st & last KF). Right-click & choose “Rove Across Time”
  49. #AfterEffects Tip: Found a camera move or lighting setup you like? Remember you can save them as Animation Presets to use in other comps.
  50. #AfterEffects Tip: Give footage instant punch & contrast – duplicate layer – make top layer Overlay Blend mode – adjust Opacity to taste 🙂
  51. #AfterEffects Tip: Have layers in comp that you don’t want to render? Select Layer, go to Layer > Guide Layer to create non-rendering layer.
  52. #AfterEffects tip: Help with custom shatter maps. Re: Is this done with shatter effect? http://cr8v.co/wCe [Like it? http://bit.ly/lRPIGH ]
  53. #aftereffects tip: Huge files? Slow render times? Select layer in Project, go 2 File > Create Proxy. Makes linked low res version of file!
  54. #AfterEffects tip: Jump back & forth between visible keyframes & layer markers by hitting J & K. Trouble remembering? Think JUMP KEYFRAMES!
  55. #AfterEffects Tip: Learn Cinema 4D – soon – you won’t regret it! 🙂 @maxon3d @AdobeAE #Mograph @c4dtips
  56. #AfterEffects Tip: Locate missing footage by typing ‘missing’ in2 search field in Project panel. Relink by double-clicking it & relocating
  57. #AfterEffects Tip: Metric Kerning looks good on well-designed, classic fonts for broadcast – it includes a little more space than Optical
  58. #AfterEffects tip: Painting in Layer panel. Go to View > New View. Place comp & layer panels side by side. Lock them for nice ETLAT workflow
  59. #AfterEffects Tip: Pt 2. Select Camera, double-hit U key to expose adjusted properties, drag select them, drop into Effects & Presets panel
  60. #aftereffects tip: Remember the shortcuts for properties with the word ‘STRAP’. (S)cale, Opaci(T)y, (R)otation, (A)nchor Point, (P)osition
  61. #AfterEffects tip: Rendering more than one format? Select Render Item, go to Composition > Add Output Module to render once & format twice
  62. #AfterEffects Tip: Rendering movie for web? Choose poster frame displayed in thumbnail – Go to Composition > Set Poster Time before render.
  63. #AFTEREFFECTS Tip: Retime animation – select keyframes – hold Alt key & drag 1st or last keyframe. Keeps relative timing intact.
  64. #AfterEffects Tip: RT @theangietaylor: Re: After Effects Key Light – Some Spilling Occuring – How Do I Get Rid of it? http://t.co/azVs5mxn
  65. #AfterEffects Tip: RT @theangietaylor: Re: Moving Layers by n Pixels http://t.co/qtde4cIk
  66. #AfterEffects Tip: Select a layer, double-hit U key to expose properties adjusted from default state. Great way to understand effect presets
  67. #aftereffects tip: To auto-animate brush strokes as they’re drawn. Choose Paint tool & select ‘Write On’ in Duration Menu in Paint panel.
  68. #AfterEffects Tip: To create a template project simply save the project with .aet instead of .aep. Prevents u from accidentally over-writing
  69. #AfterEffects tip: To reduce the amount of motion blur in a comp go 2 Composition Settings > Advanced Tab & reduce the Shutter Angle value.
  70. #AfterEffects tip: To use included scripts enable General > Preference to ‘Allow scripts . . .’ and then restart… http://fb.me/BQbXk95K
  71. #AfterEffects Tip: Use Motion Sketch panel to capture motion from Wacom tablet & apply it to layers. Good way to record gestural animation.
  72. #AfterEffects Tip: Use the J & K keys to jump between visible keyframes
  73. #AfterEffects Tip: Use the “continue” Loop expression 2 continue an existing animation, maintaining speed &… http://t.co/u21TqofD
  74. #AfterEffects Tip: When overnight rendering, render out an image sequence, at least then if it crashes you can save frames already rendered.
  75. #AfterEffects tips from @AngieTaylor – Software Tips & Tricks Newsletter – http://t.co/kEF6ry0p [Like it? http://t.co/IzVYju0W ]
Cinema 4D training

Cinema 4D training

Cinema 4D

Our Cinema 4D training courses are taught by motion graphics expert, Angie Taylor – a motion graphic designer, author and illustrator with 25 years industry experience.

Choose from our standard two-day Cinema 4D training courses – all taught on a 1-2-1 basis. Or pick and mix modules from below to make up your own bespoke course.

Customer Reviews

Want to hear what our customers think of our courses? You can read reviews about our training courses here.

What we cover in our Cinema 4D training

There are two levels of Cinema 4D training available as well as custom courses. You can find example outlines of these courses by clicking on these links.

Each of these is a 2 day course

How does the training work?

Angie will send you an evaluation form that takes a few minutes to complete. This will give Angie an indication of the level of Cinema 4D training you require. She will customise the course to fit your own personal needs.

Evaluation form example

Your Instructor - Angie Taylor

All courses are taught by artist, Angie Taylor. Angie worked as a motion graphic designer for over 25 years.

She was a demo artist for Adobe and is an Adobe Community Professional. You can see examples of Angie's work here on her portfolio.

Angie is a lecturer at the Univeristy of Brighton. She has taught children and adults at several colleges, schools and universities.

Angie has several books & courses  published on design & animation.

Course outline

Motion graphics designer Angie Taylor shows you how to build a complete sequence in C4D Lite, progressing from initial object modeling, to animation, lighting, camera rigging, texturing, and final render.

Learn to animate text, create random movement with wiggle expressions, track cameras in live-action footage to add new 3D elements, and light your scene.

We can also customise the course to suit your own specific needs covering other aspects of the Cinema 4D software like character rigging and animation, cloth dynamics, mograph features and more.

 

Cinema 4D & After Effects

 Angie also round-trips the project files to After Effects for visual effects and color correction. With over 100 videos, this course allows you to explore almost every aspect of 3D motion graphics creation, within this accessible introductory tool.

Topics include:

  • What is CINEMA 4D Lite?
  • Understanding the CINEMA 4D Lite and After Effects CC workflow
  • Editing primitive objects
  • Spline modeling with NURBS
  • Animating with keyframes
  • Using Xpresso to link properties
  • Importing music and soundtracks
  • Creating and animating cameras
  • Working with text
  • Scripting
  • Creating and applying materials and textures
  • 3D camera tracking
  • Compositing layers
  • Lighting with visible lights and ambient occlusion
  • Adding visual effects in After Effects
  • Rendering in After Effects and the Adobe Media Encode

 

Cinema 4D Fundamentals

What is CINEMA 4D?

  • What CINEMA 4D can do
  • Opening CINEMA 4D files in After Effects
  • Quick interface tour
  • Navigation tips for CINEMA 4D

CINEMA 4D Lite preferences and settings

  • Checking out the new CINEWARE features with After Effects CC
  • CINEMA 4D Lite and After Effects CC Workflow
  •  Importing CINEMA 4D files in After Effects
  • The CINEWARE plugin settings
  • CINEMA 4D Lite render settings
  • After Effects project settings
  • After Effects previewing tips
  • Using the Picture Viewer in CINEMA 4D

Modeling in CINEMA 4D

  • Editing primitive objects
  • The Move and Scale tools
  • The Rotate tool
  • Axis limitations
  • Working cylinders
  • Linking body parts using object hierarchy
  • Adjusting NURBS settings
  • Using nulls as controllers
  • Creating copies with the Instance array
  • Carving shapes with the Boole array
  • Reshaping objects with deformers
  • Adding surface detail with a Relief object

Animating in CINEMA 4D

  • Understanding coordinates
  • Understanding rotation
  • Timeline shortcuts
  • Basic keyframing of properties
  • Keyframe interpolation
  • Adjusting F-Curves
  • Holding values
  • Using XPresso to link properties: Part one
  • Using XPresso to link properties: Part two
  • Importing existing animations into CINEMA 4D Lite
  • Animating cameras in CINEMA 4D Lite
  • Animating using presets

Cinema 4D Advanced

Working with Cameras in After Effects CC and CINEMA 4D

  • Importing music and soundtracks
  • Customizing commands and shortcuts
  • Adding markers
  • Creating multiple cameras in CINEMA 4D Lite
  • Cutting between CINEMA 4D cameras with CINEWARE
  • Creating cameras in After Effects
  • Merging 3D camera data into CINEMA 4D Lite
  • Animating cameras with Stage objects
  • Extracting cameras from CINEMA 4D files

Working with Text in After Effects CC and CINEMA 4D

  • Adding CINEMA 4D text to After Effects comps
  • Formatting text in CINEMA 4D
  • Creating CINEMA 4D text or logos in Illustrator
  • Importing Illustrator text into CINEMA 4D Lite
  • Applying material presets to text
  • Merging CINEMA 4D files
  • Registering CINEMA 4D Lite for MoGraph features
  • Using MoGraph Fracture on text
  • The MoGraph Random Effector

Scripting and Expressions in CINEMA 4D

  • Creating a wiggle expression
  • The Reset Position script

Materials and Textures in CINEMA 4D

  • Applying a custom material
  • Making a metallic material
  • Adding an environment channel
  • Adding texture with shaders
  • Built-in material presets
  • Combining materials
  • Using selection sets to isolate surfaces

Creating Environments in After Effects CC

  • 3D camera tracking in After Effects
  • Creating nulls from tracking points
  • Adjusting the Shadow Catcher for CINEMA 4D
  • Importing a CINEMA 4D file into a scene
  • Exporting CINEMA 4D files from After Effects comps
  • Merging objects from CINEMA 4D files
  • Manually adjusting scenes between apps

Layer-Based Compositing with CINEWARE

  • Setting up layers in CINEMA 4D
  • Compositing CINEMA 4D layers in After Effects
  • Casting shadows on layers in CINEWARE
  • Adding reflections in CINEMA 4D

Lighting Your Scene with CINEMA 4D

  • Using preset lighting setups
  • Light types in CINEMA 4D Lite
  • Creating visible lights
  • Adding ambient occlusion effects
  • Optimizing your CINEMA 4D scenes

Multipass Compositing with CINEWARE

  • Multipass compositing explained
  • Adding passes to render settings
  • Viewing passes in the Picture Viewer
  • Adding object buffers
  • External compositing tags in CINEMA 4D Lite
  • Previewing and experimenting with passes
  • CINEWARE multipass options
  • Adjusting reflections
  • Isolating elements with object buffers

Visual Effects with After Effects CC

  • Extracting 3D scene data
  • Adding video elements to a CINEMA 4D scene
  • Working with proxies
  • Color correction of shadows
  • Layer styles
  • Adjustment layers
  • Setting up depth of field in CINEMA 4D Lite
  • Adding depth of field with camera lens blur
  • Speed ramps with time remapping
  • Motion blur with the Pixel Motion Blur effect

Rendering in After Effects CC and Media Encoder