Filmstrip animations in After Effects

@AdobeAE noted a Roland Kahlenberg tutorial that shows the use of Digieffects FreeForm to create a filmstrip. It's a new text tutorial on a Toolfarm database that teaches how to make the filmstrip and much more along the way.

There are several more filmstrip tutorials, mostly with different looks, and a free Mac plug-in:

• There's a more recent movie tutorial by Chris Heuer (part embedded below) on Mettle (QT), Toolfarm, and Digieffects -- FreeForm Filmstrip Part 1 of 2. This one uses the Mesh Warp feature in FreeForm.

• A nice use of the CC Page Turn filter by Fabio Cunha in Splice Together A Quick Filmstrip Animation (video) for AEtuts

• Creating a 3D Filmstrip or Flowing Ribbon with Zaxwerks Invigorator (older text) by Serge Hamad

• While not a filmstrip Hypoly shows you an effect that might be handy, how to create a 3D Ribbon / Wire in AE with Trapcode Particular and a few expressions.

• Filmstrip: Creating Film Loops with ForgeFreeForm (older text) by Chris Bobotis

• Image Filmstrip is free in the After Effects version of ImageFlow (Mac OS X only) by CoreMelt

• AE Freemart noted a New Video Tutorial by Rob Birnholz using CC Repetile to make a film strip and Twirl to give the film movement

FreeForm Filmstrip Part 1 of 2 Tutorial 1/3 from Chris Huer on Vimeo.

Ellipse Tool Plus from Hypoly

James Chiny's Hypoly has another free download, Ellipse Tool Plus:

"This is a custom preset that takes the basic after effects ellipse tool a step further. With a wide variety of possible set ups this custom preset can be very useful for HUD's and other on screen graphics. Designs such as the one in the image can be achieved with just a few clicks. The file also comes with a help file and source file for you to have a look at. I would be nice to turn this into a plugin one day rather then a custom preset but only time will tell."

AE Ellipse Tool Plus from Hypoly on Vimeo.

Note: You may remember Hypoly from such free downloads as a 3D Ribbon/Wire in AE with Trapcode Particular and a Simple Camera Rig Script that will set up a simple camera rig with rotation and position controls located in one Control Null.

Card Dance transition, Camera Rig script, & Particular 3D Ribbon

Via Lester Banks, Chris Hodgson of syrup syrup has an After Effects tutorial on Motion Design Love that demonstrates how to create a transition using the built-in filter Card Dance. AE Help has more on Card Dance, which only works in 8-bit/pixel mode but is able to use the AE camera and lights in the same composition.


MDL - Create a cool logo transition using card particle from Motion Design Love on Vimeo.

And, via Motion Design Love's This week in Motion Design series, Hypoly posted his Simple Camera Rig Script that will set up a simple camera rig with rotation and position controls located in one Control Null. He says it's easier to use than the Simple Camera Rig by Maltaannon, and explains how to make his work with Videocopilot's Sure Target 2.

Hypoly also shows you how to create a 3D Ribbon / Wire in AE with Trapcode Particular and a few expressions.




3D Ribbon / Wire in After Effects from Hypoly on Vimeo.

Fake 3D for St Patrick's Day & beyond

Dean Velez posted some ideas for St Patrick's Day on Motion Graphics Lab. Dean found the sweet spot using the After Effects CS3 Echo filter to build 3D-ish ribbon-like things and other cartoons. The customizable AE projects are free up until March 17th . You have to register and add them to a shopping cart individually, but you can preview the renders at the website.

Also, Steve Whatley did a introductory-level video for Terry White's Creative Suite Podcast 3D layers, light and Cameras in After Effects, and Alan Shisko posted an interesting fake 3D video tutorial several months ago in Creating Trees in After Effects.