Make Gradient Backgrounds

ecabrams 02.04.2012 Tutorials 1
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Ah gradients, they beat the pants off flat colours any day of the week. Do you spell it colors or colours? I’m Canadian so I say the “u” when I speak it.

There are many ways to make gradients but this is by far the best way. It’s way better than that silly way you were making them before, believe me… I know.

These are great for adding a nice subtle and classy background to things and after you get used to the technique you can crank them out in no time at all! Or take your time and do a good job, that’s an option too but it’s not for everyone.

Want to make things look good in other ways?
Learn about Layer Styles?

Learn about Textures?

Connect with me on the Internets?
http://twitter.com/ecabrams
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Working With Textures

ecabrams 02.04.2012 Tutorials 0
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Ah textures. Sometimes I just like to go rub my face in them… usually after I’ve had some “candy” at a “candy party”. If you get why those are in quotes… good for us. If not that’s cool too.

Textures are just high res photos of something that has a nice real world, non specific, even surface that you can re-purpose to make things interesting. Kind of like how I re-purpose lamp shades to make myself look more interesting at candy parties.

Want to make things look cool another way?
Learn about gradients?

Learn about Layer Styles?

Connect with me on the Internets?
http://twitter.com/ecabrams
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ECAbrams/193708234045591

After Effects Layer Styles

ecabrams 02.04.2012 Tutorials 0
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If you’re a stylish person like me you already know it’s better to look good than it is to feel good. And after effects knows it too. That’s why it has no feelings and layer styles. these things are awesome and you will love using them if you have cs4 or later. If you don’t… then you will love wishing you could use them.

Learn more about making cool things look cooler!
Learn about gradients?

Learn about Textures?

Connect with me on the Internets?
http://twitter.com/ecabrams
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ECAbrams/193708234045591

How To Make Things Look “good” In After Effects

ecabrams 02.04.2012 Blog 0
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Today I talk at you from my living room about making things look “good” and though that’s a matter of taste it won’t get me down! Certainly there are many things you could do and I’ve thought of only three because I have a lot of other things going on in my day to worry about. So check out those tutorials and I’ll see you around the Internet.

Tutorials:
Learn about gradients?

Learn about Layer Styles?

Learn about Textures?

Connect with me on the Internets?
http://evanabrams.com
http://twitter.com/ecabrams
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ECAbrams/193708234045591

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 🙂

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.