On the Fast Track with Apple's Motion 5 - Chapter 1, Lesson 1: Getting Started

One for the archive:

On the Fast Track with Apple's Motion 5 - Chapter 1, Lesson 1: Getting Started

Apple's Motion is one of the best compositing applications on the market today, the problem is it is easily the most misunderstood as well. In the first chapter of our "Fast Track" with Apple's Motion 5, we're going to look at creating a lower third animation, that will give you all the basics you need to move onto more complex projects. In Lesson 1, Kevin P McAuliffe is going to walk you though launching the application, what you need to understand in the project window, and importing your footage to work with. Most of what you are going to learn in Chapter 1 can be applied to Motion 4 as well.

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Kevin McAuliffe's Review Series: GenArts Sapphire Edge

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Kevin McAuliffe's Review Series: GenArts Sapphire Edge

Color grading is something that editors do on a daily basis, and there are a few third party plug-in packs out there to address just this need. In this video review, Kevin P McAuliffe gives you an overview of GenArts new Sapphire Edge plug-in pack, and breaks down his likes and dislikes of this new entry into the Color Grading world.

Remember, you can follow me on Twitter @kpmcauliffe

After Effects From The Ground Up: Chapter 1 Lesson 5 - Text

 One for the archive:

After Effects From The Ground Up: Chapter 1 Lesson 5

In many cases, the first time someone new to Motion Graphics opens Adobe's After Effects, it's to do something with text, and although it might be simple to put letters on the screen, you always find yourself needing to do more. In this lesson we look at text, and examine all the parameters in the "Character" tab, and even look at some presets that you might not have even realized were there.

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After Effects From The Ground Up: Chapter 1 Lesson 3 - Keyframing

 One for the archive:

After Effects From The Ground Up: Chapter 1 Lesson 3

In this lesson of a continuing training series for AE, Kevin P. McAuliffe introduces the most important concept when using After Effects. Keyframing. Not only does he show the basics of keyframing, but he also gets in and shows come common techniques that are normally held back until more advanced tutorials. He also shows how to preview your composition to make sure you're happy with what you created before you render.

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After Effects From The Ground Up: Chapter 1 Lesson 2 - Navigation & Clip Based Effects

 One for the archive:

After Effects From The Ground Up: Chapter 1 Lesson 2

In this second lesson of a complete training series for Adobe After Effects, we look at working with clips in your composition, as well as learning about clip based effects, and how you will build on these "basic" effects into more complex animations in AE.

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After Effects From The Ground Up: Chapter 1 Lesson 1 - Getting Started and Interpreting Footage

 One for the archive:

After Effects From The Ground Up: Chapter 1 Lesson 1

 This is the beginning of a complete training series for Adobe's After Effects. In Chapter 1, we cover the basics of learning how to create a lower third, but also build a foundation for new users to advance their skills quickly to move onto more intermediate projects.

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Avid Media Composer Quick Tip - Nesting Effects

One for the archive:

Avid Media Composer Quick Tip 1 - Nesting Effects
Nesting effects in Avid's Media Composer is not as easy as it is in other applications, but with this quick tip, you'll be compositing in your favorite NLE in no time flat.

Remember, you can follow me on Twitter @kpmcauliffe

Avid Media Composer Quick Tip - Importing Image Sequences

Another one for the archive:

Avid Media Composer Quick Tip 2 - Importing Image Sequences
Importing clips into Avid's Media Composer might seem straight forward, but what if a client has sent you a Targa sequence? Don't over think the import process, as importing Targa sequences is just as easy as regular clips.

Remember, you can follow me on Twitter @kpmcauliffe

Wanna Switch? - Lesson 6 - Outputting

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Wanna Switch? - Lesson 6 - Outputting
To finish off our introductory look at Avid's Media Composer, Kevin P McAuliffe takes a look at outputting both to tape, and to a file. This way, whether you need to output your final show for a client, or get a file ready to work with in After Effects, you're going to be covered!

Remember, you can follow me on Twitter @kpmcauliffe

AVID Media Composer Quick Tip - Creating the Rocky effect

Another one for the Archive:


AVID Media Composer Quick Tip - Creating the Rocky effect
People immediately dismiss doing effects in Avid Media Composer, as they think that a compositing application can do a better job. Well, as you will see in this Quick Tip, Media Composer can create some very complex animations very quick, very easy, and in some cases, just as good as After Effects.

Remember, you can follow me on Twitter @kpmcauliffe

Avid Media Composer Quick Tip - Assigning Menu commands to buttons

Another one for the Archive:


Avid Media Composer Quick Tip 3 - Assigning Menu commands to buttons
In many cases, having to stop editing to find something in a drop down menu can be time consuming, and can break your work flow. In this Avid Media Composer Quick Tip, see how to quickly assign menu commands to buttons to help speed up your overall workflow.

Remember, you can follow me on Twitter @kpmcauliffe

Avid Media Composer Quick Tip 4: Too Many Bins

One for the archive:

Avid Media Composer Quick Tip 4: Too Many Bins
Ever have the problem of opening a project, just to realize that hundreds of bins have been left open, and it takes forever for a project to open? Well, you'll never have that problem again with this great quick tip for AVID Media Composer.

Remember, you can follow me on Twitter @kpmcauliffe

Wanna Switch? - Lesson 5 - Effects & Titling

Another one for the archive:


Wanna Switch? - Lesson 5 - Effects & Titling
In this lesson, Kevin P McAuliffe shows you Media Composer's "Go To" effect, the 3D Warp, and how easy it is to create basic titles for your sequence. Then, to wrap it all up, he shows a great and often overlooked feature of the basic title tool, that will have you staying in your NLE to do most of your titling effects.

Remember, you can follow me on Twitter @kpmcauliffe

Wanna Switch? - Lesson 4 - Editing

Another one for the archive:

Wanna Switch? - Lesson 4 - Editing

In this lesson, Kevin P McAuliffe shows you the basics of editing, and throws in a few bells and whistles to help speed up your overall workflow.

Remember, you can follow me on Twitter @kpmcauliffe

Wanna Switch? - Lesson 3 - Bins and Project Organization

Another one for the archive:

Wanna Switch? - Lesson 3 - Bins and Project Organization
The focal point of your Media Composer project is your bins, and in this tutorial, Kevin P McAuliffe talks about bins, setting up different bin views, and the different layouts you can use to organize your footage.

Remember, you can follow me on Twitter @kpmcauliffe

Wanna Switch? - Lesson 2 - Digitizing & Importing

For the Archive:


Wanna Switch? - Lesson 2 - Digitizing & Importing

Every project starts with acquiring footage and in this tutorial, Kevin P McAuliffe looks at not only digitizing footage, but importing and the new Avid "AMA Link to" feature as well.

 

Remember, you can follow me on Twitter @kpmcauliffe

FCPX: Kicking the Tires - Lesson 2

Another one for the archive:

FCPX - Kicking the Tires - Lesson 2

In Lesson 2 of this Final Cut Pro X video tutorial series, Kevin P McAuliffe takes a look at more importing features, and the most important part of FCPX.....editing clips in your timeline.  

 Remember, you can always follow me on Twitter @kpmcauliffe 

FCPX Quick Tip - Previewing Effects

Another one for the archive:

FCPX Quick Tip - Previewing Effects


Sometimes deciding on the right look for a shot can be time consuming. Adding effects, rendering, then deciding to check out another effect can take minutes, or even hours.....well, not in FCPX. You can quickly and easily preview effects before you even apply them with the instructions in this Final Cut Pro X video tutorial. 

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FCPX Quick Tip - Working In The Timeline

Another one for the archive:

FCPX - Quick Tip -Working In The Timeline

When you are just starting out, navigating through your timeline in a new NLE can be tricky enough. Let these two Final Cut Pro X Quick Tips (also see Previewing Effects FCPX Quick Tips) help you speed up your workflow, so you're cuttin' like a pro in FCPX in no time flat.  

Remember, you can follow me on Twitter @kpmcauliffe 

After Effects Quick Tip - Brainstorm

Another one for the archive

After Effects Quick Tip - Brainstorm

Have you ever been stuck coming up with an idea when working in After Effects? Ever had a picky producer, who has no idea what they want? Brainstorm is the perfect tool to use, to help get your creativity flowing, no matter what the situation.

Remember, you can follow me on Twitter @kpmcauliffe

After Effects Quick Tip - Set First Vertex

One for the archives

After Effects Quick Tip - Set First Vertex


Have you ever wanted to change the point where an animated mask starts, or where something animating along a path begins? Don't settle for where After Effects wants to start it, tell it where to start by setting the first vertex.

remember to follow me on Twitter @kpmcauliffe

Wanna Switch? - Lesson 1 - Projects & User Settings

Here's one for the archive:

Wanna Switch? - Lesson 1 - Projects & User Settings



If you aren't happy with the direction that Apple has decided to go, and want to switch NLE's, this in-depth look at Avid's Media Composer is for you. Looking at FCP7 and Media Composer side by side, in lesson one, we start by looking at the differences between how projects are handled, and how to set up your user settings in Media Composer.

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After Effects From The Ground Up - Chapter 1 Lesson 4: Masking

New tutorial today over at Creative Cow

After Effects From The Ground Up - Chapter 1 Lesson 4: Masking

Another After Effects fundamental is Masking, but masking is something that in most training is quickly covered, and only shows you the absolute basics, and leaves you not only wanting, but needing more direction.. In this lesson, Kevin P McAuliffe covers not only the basics, but also some intermediate techniques as well, and shows how simple masks can create realistic, real-world situations to amaze your clients.












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