Advanced Tutorials

Using Expression Effects to Connect Effects in After Effects

In this After Effects CC 2017 Tutorial, learn how to use expressions to connect effects and effect parameters. By using expression linking in After Effects CC 2017, you can easily update multiple layers of animation and effects with one simple change. This technique builds on using the expresions pickwhip to enable connection of effects and parameters, as well as covers using the wiggle expression and other expression techniques.

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Want learn more about 3D animation in After Effects? Check out these other tutorials

Use Element 3D V2 in After Effects to create a 3D Logo

Create a 3D extruded logo in After Effects with Cinema 4D Lite

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

Looking for the next Tutorial to watch?

Check out the Top 5 Features of Element 3D V2 for After Effects!

Learn about the new 3D Character Creator app, Adobe Fuse!

Learn about the Top 5 new features of Cinema 4D R17!

Learn the Top 5 After Effects Expressions!

Learn how to Recreate the Agengers: Age of Ultron 3D Title Animation!

See how to Combine Element 3D with the new Saber Plug-in!

Learn about the Top 5 Hidden Features of Illustrator CC!

See how to bring Animated 3D Characters into Element 3D!

To check out new features added to Cinema 4D R16!

Check out the Top 5 Tips for Better Camera Animation in After Effects!

Recreate the 3D Movie Title seen in Star Trek Beyond with Adobe After Effects

Any time I see new movie trailers, I always have my eye on the title animation at the end, and the 3D animated title for Star Trek Beyond did not disappoint. My brother Brett alerted me to this cool trailer, and I wanted to jump into After Effects and Element 3D to take a crack at recreating it. In this tutorial I outline a lot of the steps involved in recreating every element of this logo animation with After Effects CC.

Want to get the project file for this tutorial? You can purchase it in the online store for just a couple dollars!

Don't have the patience to watch the full tutorial? Check out this time-lapse video of the title animation being created in After Effects:

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

Want to see more movie title tutorials? Check out the next one on how to recreate the Avengers: Age of Ultron title using After Effects!

How to Combine New SABER Plug-in with Element 3D V2 Text Animations

When the new After Effects plug-in "Saber" was released by Video Copilot, I was excited to immediately dive in and see what this thing could do. One of the features Andrew Kramer showed in his kickoff video was the possibility of aligning Saber with Element 3D. He didn't get into the set-up though, so I wanted to take a crack at how to set this up and share it with everyone! 

In this video I'll go over how to link up Element 3D V2 and Saber to one single text layer, and how to set everything up so it will all align together, even when you start moving a camera around. This technique is also fully non-destructive to both elements, so the great part is that you could change the text to something completely new when you're done, and both the Element 3D and Saber layers will immediately update. Neat, right?!

New to Element 3D? 

Start with How to create a 3D Logo with Shadows & Reflections!

Learn about the Top new Features of Element 3D V2!

Learn about how to use Cinema 4D Animations in Element 3D V2 in this video! 

And my shortcut tips and tricks for Element 3D V2 in this video!

Want to Motion Track a 3D Object using Element 3D? Learn how in this video!

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

How to Link Optical Flares to Element 3D Animations in After Effects

One of the major benefits to working with Element 3D in After Effects is that it works directly in the 3D Space of After Effects. This means that when you add an After Effects camera, BOOM, you can orbit around your 3D object. This also helps to be able to link up Element 3D scenes with additional plug-ins, like another Video Copilot plug-in, Optical Flares. In this video, learn how to link up Element 3D V2 with Optical Flares, and have everything move and animate together.

New to Element 3D? 

Start with How to create a 3D Logo with Shadows & Reflections!

Learn about the Top new Features of Element 3D V2!

Learn about how to use Cinema 4D Animations in Element 3D V2 in this video! 

And my shortcut tips and tricks for Element 3D V2 in this video!

Want to Motion Track a 3D Object using Element 3D? Learn how in this video!

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

How to link Optical Flares to Cinema 4D Animations in After Effects

One of the the best things about the newer integration between Cinema 4D and After Effects CC is the Cineware integration, which allows you to bring Cinema 4D or Cinema 4D Lite files into After Effects directly, without needing to render them out. Additionally, you can use Cineware to extract elements out of Cinema 4D and bring them into After Effects, and have everything perfectly line up. 

In this video, we'll talk about taking an animated logo from Cinema 4D into After Effects, and use Cineware to link up Video Copilot's Optical Flares plug-in, and have everything work in alignment. We'll also talk about using Cineware to rip out a depth pass, in order to occlude certain parts of a scene.

Want to learn more about Cinema 4D Lite to get off the ground in 3D?

Learn how to Create a 3D extruded logo in Cinema 4D or Cinema 4D Lite.

Then learn how to Work with Materials and Reflectance textures in Cinema 4D.

Next learn about 3D Lighting and HDRI Sky images in Cinema 4D.

And then learn about Creating Animation, working with Keyframes, and the Cinema 4D Timeline.

Finally, learn some Fancy post-production effects like linking Optical Flares to Cinema 4D Animations.

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

How to import 3D Characters and OBJ Sequences from Cinema 4D into Element 3D V2

So you can build out custom 3D characters in Adobe Fuse, then send them to Cinema 4D, but what if you want to bring animated characters into Element 3D? This can be done by exporting an OBJ sequence out of Cinema 4D, or your preferred 3D app, and bringing it into Element 3D. While you can now import Cinema 4D animations directly into Element 3D V2, this will only bring in Position, Scale, and Rotation animations, and not keyframes on rigged skeletons. Check out the video above to learn some fun tips on bringing 3D character animations into Element 3D V2.

Want to learn more about Element 3D?
 

Learn about the Top new Features of Element 3D V2!

New to Element 3D? Start with how to create a 3D Logo with Shadows & Reflections!

Learn about how to use Cinema 4D Animations in Element 3D V2 in this video! 

And my shortcut tips and tricks for Element 3D V2 in this video!

Want to Motion Track a 3D Object using Element 3D? Learn how in this video!

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

How to send 3D Characters from Adobe Fuse to Cinema 4D

When I first got a look at Adobe Fuse, one of my first big questions was - how do you get this into Cinema 4D or After Effects? After you've created a custom 3D character in Adobe Fuse, the other option besides adding it to your CC Library is to upload it to Mixamo.com. This process lets you add your newly minted 3D character to Mixamo's web app, where it'll auto-rig it, and let you add a variety of Motion Capture animations. Once you have a couple MoCap animations added to your character, you can download it in a variety of formats, such as .fbx or .dae. From there you can open it up in Cinema 4D, and take it from there!

Adobe Fuse is a new 3D character creator app, part of Adobe Creative Cloud. With it you can build out a custom 3D character using an intelligent UI, and then either bring your newly created character into Photoshop CC, or upload it to Mixamo's where you can add MoCap data and Download workable 3D files in a variety of formats.

Want to get a more in-depth look at Adobe Fuse? 

Learn what Adobe Fuse is, and how to bring Characters from Fuse into Photoshop CC

Learn how to bring Adobe Fuse Characters in Cinema 4D

Take a closer look at how to Assemble a Character

Learn how to Customize and Model a 3D Character in Fuse

See how you can add and Edit Clothing in Adobe Fuse

Learn about editing Textures for Fuse Characters in Photoshop

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

How to Create the MLB World Series Trophy in Cinema 4D with MoGraph Effectors

Let's face it - the Cubs are not going to win the World Series. I'm not saying the White Sox are going to do any better any time soon, just being real. Now that that is out of the way, I recently had a project where I needed to model the World Series trophy in Cinema 4D. Creating one 3D flag is simple enough, and I knew I could manually build out the ring of flags, but I wanted to see if I could come up with a smarter way to design it by using only one flag and repeating it using MoGraph Cloners. I was able to get the ring design for the World Series trophy by adjusting the cloner falloff. Learn how it is done in the video above!

Want to learn more about Cinema 4D R17? Be sure to check out these videos:
• Rebuilt Pen Tool for R17
• NEW Variation Shader
• Working with the New Takes System
• Updates to the MetaBall Object
• 3D Motion Tracking Updates for R17
• New Lens Distortion Tools
• Easier SketchUp Import
• Updated Color Chooser
• NEW Book Generator

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

Cinema 4D R17 - Using the Motion Tracker for 3D Tracking & Compositing

The Motion Tracking tools were added to Cinema 4D in R16, and now in R17 they get some really great updates and enhancements. With the new enhancements, you can now motion track and composite 3d models into live action footage using the Cinema 4D R17 Camera Tracker along with the new Graph view, a new feature to C4D R17. This video includes an overview on the Camera Tracker in Cinema 4D as well as a step by step tutorial on how to motion track a scene and composite 3D objects into live action footage. This also covers the Lens Distortion Tool, another new feature of Cinema 4D R17.

There are so many new features in Cinema 4D R17, I put together several more videos taking a deeper look at new features. Check out these additional topics for more coverage of Cinema 4D R17!

• Rebuilt Pen Tool for R17
• NEW Variation Shader
• Working with the New Takes System
• Updates to the MetaBall Object
• 3D Motion Tracking Updates for R17
• New Lens Distortion Tools
• Easier SketchUp Import
• Updated Color Chooser
• NEW Book Generator

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

How to recreate the Avengers Title Animation using After Effects & Element 3D, Part 2

To recreate the Avengers Title animation in After Effects, it really took some thought on how to pull it off and get everything working how it is in the real thing. In part 2 of my series on how to recreate it in After Effects CC using Element 3D, I get into some of the advanced techniques, such as using 3D stroke to reveal the 3D text, setting up the Trapcode Particular particle simulation, and more.

Want to get the project file for this tutorial? You can purchase it in the online store for just a couple dollars!

In Part 1 of the Avengers Age of Ultron Tutorial, I went over how to create the 3D elements using Element 3D, animating the logo, and adding Optical Flares to create the lens flares. Watch part 1 here.

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

How to recreate the Avengers Title Animation using After Effects & Element 3D

The Avengers title animation used in the film has it all: Optical Flares, 3D letters, lines animating in, lights, cameras, particles, and more. After seeing it in ads and trailers, I wanted to take a crack at trying to recreate it in After Effects using all the tools in the toolbox. To get all the details, I used Element 3D, 3D stroke, Trapcode Particular, Optical Flares, and more After Effects CC techniques. Check out part 1 in the video above to learn about getting started on the animation.

Want to get the project file for this tutorial? You can purchase it in the online store for just a couple dollars!

Be sure to check out Part 2 of the Avengers Title Recreation Series here.

Want a quick idea of what this After Effects tutorial is all about? Check out the time lapse for this one:
 

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

Recreate the "Call of Duty: Black Ops III" Logo in After Effects, Part 2

In Part 2 of my two-part tutorial on how to recreate the Call of Duty: Black Ops III logo in After Effects CC, I get into the fine details of how to use Trapcode Particular to create the fiery effect. Usually you'd thing of using Trapcode Particular to have particles bouncing all of the place, but by adjusting a couple switches, you can have the stick to a moving animation, and have some subtle movement that will glow like fire. Check it out in the video to learn how to do it!

Want to get the project file for this tutorial? You can purchase it in the online store for just a couple dollars!

Be sure to check out Part 1 where we'll talk about creating the base Logo Animation.

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

How to use Expression Effects in After Effects to create Number Counters, control a Wiggle, and MORE!

Whenever I first teach about expressions like the Wiggle Expression in Adobe After Effects, one of the first questions I always seem to get is "ok that's great, but how the hell do you shut it off?" Animating the strength of a wiggle expression can be done using expression effects, and some expression-parenting trickery. This technique can also be used to create number counts in After Effects, and more.

In this After Effects Expressions tutorial, learn to use expression effects such as slider controls to create counters, and automate other animations. Also included is using other expressions with expression control effects, such as the wiggle expression, time expression, rounding, and random seed expressions.

Want to learn the basics of After Effects Expressions? Check out my Top 5 Expressions of Adobe After Effects.

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

How to make a Brick Wall Explode using MoGraph and Dynamics in Cinema 4D

In Cinema 4D, you can create 3D animation using Mograph, or you can add dynamics tags and let the simulations do the work. But how do you combine the two? In this video, I dig into exactly that topic, by going over how I created an animation where a brick wall stacks up using MoGraph techniques, and then explodes with realistic physic and gravity using Dynamics Tags! 

Topics include MoGraph animation, working with effectors such as plane and random, animating effector falloff, creating and extruding text, and additional Cinema 4D MoGraph Animation Tips and Tricks.

Want to get the project file for this tutorial? You can purchase it in the online store for just a couple dollars!

Check out Part 2 of the tutorial - adding motion blur to 3D animations here.

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

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How to Track & Composite 3D Models into Live Action Footage using Cinema 4D & After Effects - Part 2

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In Part 2 of this Cinema 4D Lite Motion Tracking Tutorial, learn how to 3D motion track a moving camera shot, send tracking information to Cinema 4D for 3D tracking, composite any 3D model or element into the shot, combine the footage and C4D file in After Effects CC using Cineware, light and texture the 3D model, and add final compositing techniques including color correction, environment reflections, and a shadow pass to create realistic shadows and lighting.

Watch Part 1 of this tutorial on tackling the Tracking in After Effects Here

Looking for more After Effects Tracking, Compositing, and Visual Effects Tutorials?

Start with Part 1, working with the After Effects 2D Tracker

Check out Part 2, Matte Painting using the 3D Camera Tracker

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

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How to Track & Composite 3D Models into Live Action Footage using Cinema 4D & After Effects

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Compositing 3D models into live action footage is when things get really serious in the world of Visual Effects. Using Cinema 4D Lite and the Cineware connection in After Effects CC, you can now track and composite 3D models into footage much more easier than ever! In this tutorial I cover how to do the camera tracking in After Effects, send that to Cinema 4D, and then how to light and composite any 3D model into footage, including getting the shadows right! 

Be sure to check our Part 2 of this Tutorial on 3D Compositing Here!

Looking for more After Effects Tracking, Compositing, and Visual Effects Tutorials?

Start with Part 1, working with the After Effects 2D Tracker

Check out Part 2, Matte Painting using the 3D Camera Tracker

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

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Switch between multiple Cinema 4D Cameras in After Effects using Cineware

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Switching between multiple 3D cameras in Cinema 4D or other 3D apps can get tricky. Previously you would need to take the editor approach, either by rendering out all frames of multiple cuts and editing back together, or by exporting an After Effects CC project file. Now with the Cineware Connection in After Effects CC, you can cut between multiple cameras in the same project file quickly and easily. This is one of my favorite features and techniques of using Cineware, and in this Cinema 4D & After Effects CC tutorial video I'll show you how I do it.

Looking for more Tips on Cinema 4D Camera Animation?

Check out Part 1, Cinema 4D Camera Animation Tips, Tricks, and Tags

Check out Part 2 on Cinema 4D Camera Properties

Don't forget Part 3 on Cinema 4D Camera Rigs

And Watch Part 4 on Setting up a Cinema 4D MultiCam Workflow

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

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How to use 3D Stroke to Generate particles using Trapcode Particular

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In this After Effects and Trapcode Particular tutorial, learn how to use Trapcode 3D Stroke to emit particles from Trapcode Particular, as well as combining other Red Giant Trapcode plug-ins in Adobe After Effects. This Trapcode Particular tutorial also includes a general overview of Trapcode 3D Stroke, Particular, Shine, and Starglow effects for After Effects CC.

You can do a lot with Trapcode Particular, whether it is emitting custom particle shapes, images, or videos, or emitting particles from custom shapes, objects, or videos. I had the question of how to emit particles from another Red Giant plug-in - 3D Stroke - and have the particles animating while the 3D stroke is animating. This one stumped me for a bit, so I got to work to try to figure out how it could be done. This tutorial goes over my technique for solving this problem of how to emit particles from animating 3D stroke lines.

In this After Effects and Trapcode Particular tutorial, learn how to use Trapcode 3D Stroke to emit particles from Trapcode Particular, as well as combining other Red Giant Trapcode plug-ins in Adobe After Effects.

This Trapcode Particular tutorial also includes a general overview of Trapcode 3D Stroke, Particular, Shine, and Starglow effects for After Effects CC. I also cover basic expressions and After Effects animation tips.

Like this tutorial? Consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/SeanFrangella to get additional benefits such as project files and more! 

To get weekly Motion Graphics, VFX, and 3D animation tutorials be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube!

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