Sunday, July 27, 2008

3-D Objects in Photoshop Part 1 - Photoshop for Video #85

Richard Harrington | 07/27- 08:27 AM

Instructor Richard Harrington how to work with 3-D objects in Photoshop CS3. Part 1 of 2.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Animator vs. Animation

Chris and Trish Meyer | 04/02- 10:07 AM

A fun animation that shows what can happen when you tease your art a little too much…

Steve Kilisky recently wrote a thought-provoking blog about how video (and now, the web) has traditionally been initially driven by technical folks, with the artists following along. To this day, there is still often a distinction between an “artist” and an “operator,” “animator” or “developer.”

In that light, Trish recently found (on a calligraphy list, of all things) a pointer to this excellent cartoon that shows what can happen when an animator provokes his animation to revolt. It’s well worth a few minutes from your day. (Be patient through the first minute; it keeps picking up pace from there...)

Sunday, July 08, 2007

Motion 3 = 3D

Chris and Trish Meyer | 07/08- 10:49 AM

This significant update to Apple Motion includes a slick 3D implementation.

Motion 3 - part of Apple’s Final Cut Studio 2 suite - has experienced a major update, including the addition of motion tracking and stabilization, optical flow (smooth slow motion) technology, a gorgeous particle-based paint system, enhancements to their Keyframe Editor, and interesting new Audio Parameter and Retiming behaviors. But the big headliner is the addition of 3D space - including 3D animation for 2D layers, 3D cameras and lights, and 3D enhancements for their particle and text animation systems.

Saturday, January 28, 2006

Camera Control, Part 2: Graph Editor & Dolly Rigs

Chris and Trish Meyer | 01/28- 02:42 PM

Using parenting, expressions, and the new After Effects 7.0 Graph Editor to better control a 3D camera. 

In the previous column, we discussed a handful of tricks and techniques which can be used in different situations to make it easier to animate the 3D camera in After Effects, including one node cameras, two node cameras, auto-orientation, and building a special orbiting camera rig using parenting and null objects. In this column we’ll show how to build a “dolly” rig for the camera in older versions of After Effects as well as the new version 7.0, plus give a quick introduction to the new Graph Editor also introduced in After Effects 7.0.

Monday, January 09, 2006

Camera Control, Part 1: Auto-Orient & Orbit

Chris and Trish Meyer | 01/09- 03:03 PM

Some basic 3D camera control tricks in Adobe After Effects.

One of the most daunting obstacles for motion graphics artists making the transition from 2D to 3D is animating the camera. In this month’s column, we’ll give a quick review of the two basic camera types you can animate in After Effects, plus reveal the easy-to-miss Auto-Orient Along Path option. Then we’ll show you how to build a simple “camera rig” for performing perfect camera orbit and spiral moves. In the next column, we will discuss approaches to building a more complex rig that allows the user to animate each axis independently, and show how this has been made much easier in After Effects 7.0 with a special Animation Preset plus the introduction of a new Graph Editor.

Tuesday, October 17, 2000

Enter a New Dimension: Moving Into 3D

Chris Meyer | 10/17- 07:58 PM

Learning a 3D program can be an important career move for an editor or graphic artist.

In this redesign of PAX TV’s on-air look, the primetime promotional end caps are filled with light and translucent shapes. Simple flat characters and shapes were exploded and hit from a number angles with different-colored lights. Multicolored light rays add dimension and energy. (creative director: John LePrevost of LePrevost Corporation; art director/designer: Wendy Vanguard of Manna-Design; realization: Chris Meyer of CyberMotion)

Because of either lack of time, or simple Fear of the Complex and the Unknown, many editors and 2D graphic artists resist learning how to use a 3D program. And that may be unwise. More graphic design is incorporating 3D elements - from the ubiquitous extruded flying logo, to cool lighting effects, to wireframes of simple geometric shapes added as visual spice. Your clients may not even know this is “3D”, but they know it’s a look they want...and if you can’t supply it, they’ll look for an artist who can. Don’t worry - you don’t have to create Toy Story 3 single-handedly - but some basic skills will more than pay back the moderate effort invested.

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