Product Review: Monsters GT v7

GenArts has released an update to their Monsters GT v7 - which includes some new effects like Sky, Starfield, Water, Roman Tile and Candle. This brings the Monsters GT suite to 55 effects plug-ins ranging from physics-based particles, fluids, fire, smoke and time-based feedback and artistic effects.

Simulated Rack Focus for Believable Composites

If you’re looking to give your green screen composites another step of realism or to simulate the look of a shallow DOF with a DSLR, then this video tutorial will show you how! Using Adobe After Effects, I show you first how to get a great green screen composite with Keylight and then alter both the foreground and background plates along the Timeline to give a simulated rack focus pull. Check out this step-by-step video tutorial and feel free to leave comments and questions below.

HPA Tech Retreat, Day One

Welcome to Indian Wells, an offshoot of Palm Springs, CA. So why is the first day’s “Super Session” titled “Snowflakes with an Increasing Chance of Clouds”? As moderator Leon Silverman said, modern post workflows are like snowflakes because no two are alike, and they change as soon as they hit the ground.

2D Footage with a Stereo 3D Rig in After Effects CS5.5

Adobe included a 1-step option to create a 3D Stereo Camera Rig in After Effects CS5.5, to everyone’s enthusiasm for a simpler workflow in 3D space. Great if you are working in 3D space in After Effects, but what about an easy option for 3D Stereo pairs captured by a 3D camera or twin cameras on a rig? In this tutorial I’ll show you how to quickly modify the Stereo 3D Rig in After Effects to quickly mux your L&R video files and adjust the convergence for anaglyph, interlaced or stereo pairs output.

If You Make Your Living In Post, Don’t Miss The HPA Tech Retreat

The Hollywood Post Alliance is a trade association that promotes the exchange of information between post production professionals. They host several events throughout the year that help us stay on top of our game. The biggie is the annual “Tech Retreat” February 14 - 17, 2012 in Indian Wells, California (near Palm Springs). Unlike NAB which is the grandaddy of all things film, television and radio, this event focuses on the issues and technology that we face in post. For an example of the rundown this year, check out their extensive program.

This is a great event for finding out where we are at, and where we are heading in our industry. At past events many new technologies have been “previewed”. Sony’s F65 camera and OLED monitors are a good example of this. Since this event is attended by many of the luminaries of our industry, manufacturers also use it to fine tune their products based on feedback they receive here. (Check out Adam Wilt HPA Tech Retreat at last year’s event)

I will be attending this year and posting updates here to the “Editing Post” blog. If you can swing it, you should be there also.

Disclaimer: I’m attending the HPA Tech Retreat on a press pass, which saves me the registration fee. I’m paying for my own transport, meals, and hotel. No material connection exists between myself and the Hollywood Post Alliance; aside from the press pass, HPA has not influenced me with any compensation to encourage favorable coverage.

The HPA logo and motto were borrowed from the HPA website. The HPA is not responsible for my graphical additions.

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