Extrude 3d Letters

ecabrams 06.03.2012 Tutorials 4
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Make your words, letters, whatever 3d inside adobe after effects! No plugins or fancy expensive 3d programs needed! All boring vanilla after effects. All you need is a little expression and a lot of duplicating. So we can’t actually make something “really” 3d but we can make it “fake” or “imaginary” 3d using many layers like plywood or 3d printers. 3d printing is so hot right now right?

The expression used is:
value+[0,0,index*thisComp.layer(“Controls”).effect(“Slider”)(“Slider”)]
BUT the “thisComp.layer(“Controls”).effect(“Slider”)(“Slider”)” needs to be changed to whatever your slider control is… so use the pick whip to make it happen.

For those who are wondering duplicate is ctrl+d or command+d as a short cut and I use it a lot of a lot of times in this one. I really need to watch my short cut slips. How about I do a series on JUST short cuts so we can all learn them together.. as a team?

Anyway, people have been asking for more typography tutoirals so here’s one just for you… yes you. And if you have any comments or questions or suggestions for upcoming tutorials holler at me in the comments or on twitter or facebook or even my own site right here?

http://twitter.com/ecabrams
http://.facebook.com/pages/ECAbrams/193708234045591

The Wiggle Expression

ecabrams 27.02.2012 Tutorials 2
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It’s the wiggler! Not just a really greasy hairless wrestler from the 70s but a really commonly used expression in Adobe After Effects. Everyone uses it but who really understands this strange creature. You’ll learn how to wrangle the wiggler and wiggle your way around riding it like a sand worm.

Want to download the project file? Go for it!
http://www.mediafire.com/?1cswft6b4ttuxny

The expression is correctly spelled wiggle() with a comma in between it’s respective parts.

here are the expressions used:
COMPLEX FANCY PANTS WIGGLING
seedRandom(1)
x= wiggle(effect(“X – Interval”)(“Slider”),effect(“X – Amout”)(“Slider”));
y= wiggle(effect(“Y – Interval”)(“Slider”),effect(“Y – Amout”)(“Slider”));
[x[0],y[1]]

SIMPLE WIGGLING
wiggle(1,500)

If you have any questions hit me up in the comments or on twitter and facebooks
http://twitter.com/ecabrams
http://facebook.com/pages/ECAbrams/193708234045591

How to Fake Tilt Shift Photography

ecabrams 10.02.2012 Tutorials 1
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So you want to make tilt shift video but don’t own a tilt shift lens? What a coincidence neither do I but I don’t let it get to me. Here’s is how to fake it till you make it, and by make it I mean go to a thrift store and get an outdated piece of camera technology… or buy a lensbaby, that’s a thing too.

Anyway tilt shift, aka tiny town, or tiny toy effect is about messing with the focal plane for strange results. It makes a normal city look like miniatures and really robs the life and detail from a shot in ways some people find appealing. Don’t ask me who, I don’t know them.

If you have any questions leave them in the comments or tweet at me.

Follow me on twitter @ECAbrams
Check me out on the Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/ECAbrams/193708234045591
See more of my crap around here 🙂

The Time Script

ecabrams 21.01.2012 Tutorials 6
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Want to make things faster? Save time? Turn back the clock? Well it’s time for the “time” script to change your life for the better. It can’t fix things like how old you’re getting before you’re ready but it can help you beat project deadlines and make quick revisions. Also it’s just great for lazy bums like me!

Leave any questions in the comments below and I’ll help you out best I can.

Here’s the project file I promised! http://www.mediafire.com/file/1cswft6b4ttuxny/Time Tut Project Files.aep

Scripts used in order of appearance:

time

Math.round(time)

n = time;

d = 100;

Math.round(n*d)/d

time*360

time*30

wiggle(time,time)

Follow me on twitter @ECAbrams or check me out on the Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/ECAbrams/193708234045591

Sync Motion Typography to Audio

ecabrams 21.01.2012 Tutorials 5
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So you want to make some motion typography? Maybe some lyric videos? How about some fancy moving word show? Well you are in luck because it all starts right here with how to sync up animations to audio. Be it spoken word, musics, or the soft sweet sounds of two cats doing greasy adult activities to each other behind your house you’ll be syncing up things to that audio in no time.

The shortcuts mentioned are:
the “.” on the number pad – preview just audio
the “0” on the number pad – RAM preview
the “space bar” – preview without audio (and therefore not helpful)
the “command(MAC)” or “ctrl(PC)” + drag through timeline – scrub through with live audio (Very important and used often)

I hope you enjoy this presentation of a semi intoxicated motion graphics man talking at his computer.

If you want to connect more with ECAbrams check out:

https://twitter.com/ECAbrams

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ECAbrams/193708234045591

Thanks and I’ll see you around the Internets.

Paint Out Tracking Markers

ecabrams 01.12.2011 Tutorials 0
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n a rare keeping of promises today I actually talk about a subject referenced in an earlier tutorial. The natural followup to using tracking markers in a scene is how to remove those tracking markers when you don’t want to see them. That’s what this is all about. A process once called “painting” for the hours of painful frame drawing to remove markers is now super easy! Let’s learn.

And when you’re done Connect with me on the Internets!
http://www.twitter.com/ecabrams
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ECAbrams/193708234045591

Thanks for watching!

Stabilize Shaky Footage

ecabrams 26.11.2011 Tutorials 0
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Feeling unstable? Shaky? unsure of your self and your camera skills? Well than don’t worry because your crappy footage can be saved with the adobe after effects image stabilization tool. Just get two decent tracking points and get ready for a long wait. Then once you’ve watered the cat and taken the plants outside your footage is fixed and you don’t looks like a dummy any more… or you look less like a dummy at least.

Those links I talked about?
Movember – http://mobro.co/ecabrams
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/ecabrams
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/ECAbrams/193708234045591

Thanks for watching and hit me up if you have any questions about mustaches or after effects. As you can see i know a thing or two about both.

Get Loopy wit LoopOut

ecabrams 06.11.2011 Tutorials 1
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Let’s get loopy with the loopOut. A simple script with many possibilities. Also it’s a good way to ease yourself into scripting things to save time, which is the first step to making the computer do all your work for you. And when you figure that out I’ll be out of a job and go back to living in my mom’s basement.

The correct spelling of loopOut is just like that and it should look like:
loopOut(“cycle”)
loopOut(“pingpong”)
loopOut(“continue”)
loopOut(“offset”)
and that’s about it. If you have trouble just let me know and I’ll do my best to helo you out in the comments below!

And you can see the loop out hard at work in my cat keyboard animation *plug* here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhE0XFlNQtM

Chroma Key

ecabrams 10.10.2011 Tutorials 13
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Here are the keys to successful chroma keying… and terrible pun making. All you need is one chromatic green bed sheet. Which you can get at most swedish bedding stores. And then someone to stand infront of it while you point a camera at them!

Tips for actual success:
1. Evenly light your green scree! The fewer wrinkles, shadows, and etc it has on it the better things will be later.
2. Make small changes in the number. Fine tuning makes the best matte, you want to be just at the limit that makes the image good.
3. Have fun. It might seem like a stupid step but after 5 hours of looking at the same dude in front of that screen you better be having fun or getting paid a whole lot of moneys!

If you have any questions leave them in the old comments section below and have fun!

Vignettes

ecabrams 01.10.2011 Tutorials 0
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Vignettes are those fancy pants gradients around the edges of the frame in hipsters photographs. They make you look cool and like you know what you’re doing. So let’s fake that in post! There are 3 simple Vignette methods:
1. Using a solid layer and mask
2. Using a Shape layer and a fill
2.a. Calling someone else to do it for you
3. Using a solid layer and the circle effect

I’m sure there are other less simple ways but I think you’ll like these ones. I know I sure do because I use them all the time. I hope you enjoy my terrible instructions on how to make these things happen and if you have any questions just leave them in the comments and I would love to help you out!