Get the most from the most widely used application in the postproduction field! Gain the insider tips you need to compose eye-catching, imaginative Adobe After Effects projects quickly and effectively. In How to Cheat in After Effects, Second Edition seasoned AE expert Chad Perkins provides dozens of concise, step-by-step tutorials and lavish 4-color illustrations to get you on the fast track to producing amazing motion graphics and visual effects. Updated for CS6, this new edition has been revised to include: A brand new chapter on the most popular 3rd party effects including Trapcode Particular and Video Copilot's Element 3D New cheats on professional compositing, expressions, and high end visual effects Tons of cool light tricks and lessons on how to use Video Copilot's Optical Flares A thorough explanation of the Ray-trace 3D engine introduced in After Effects CS6 Downloadable resources with project files allowing you to work alongside the exercises in the book, as well as QuickTime movies displaying techniques There's no time to waste! Whether you are an intermediate After Effects user in need of its more advanced tools or a novice looking for techniques to up your game, this book will bring your motion graphics, visual effects, and graphic compositions to the next level. Downloadable resources project files are available at www.focalpress.com/9780415661065

Harness the full power of After Effects by mastering its native plug-in effects. Author Chad Perkins breaks down the creation and application of each native plug-in effect available in the After Effects toolset. He also shows you how each can be used optimally in your own media project, when and why it makes sense to use each, and how to "break the rules" by using effects in unconventional ways. Completely updated for CS6 and revised to include coverage of Keylight and the Cycore effects, you will learn every effect from color correction to distortion to simulation and all in between, putting the full power of After Effects in your hands. Included is instruction for using, among others: The 3D Camera Tracker The Cycore effects Matte tools, including Keylight and Refine Matte Color correction tools A wide array of pattern generating tools The downloadable resources include project files, allowing you work hand-in-hand with the lessons contained in the book. Customers who buy an electronic version of the book can contact Peter Linsley ([email protected]) with their receipt and Focal Press will grant access to the companion files.

Harness the full power of After Effects by mastering its native plug-in effects. Author Chad Perkins breaks down the creation and application of each native plug-in effect available in the After Effects toolset. He also shows you how each can be used optimally in your own media project, when and why it makes sense to use each, and how to "break the rules" by using effects in unconventional ways. Completely updated for CS6 and revised to include coverage of Keylight and the Cycore effects, you will learn every effect from color correction to distortion to simulation and all in between, putting the full power of After Effects in your hands. Included is instruction for using, among others: The 3D Camera Tracker The Cycore effects Matte tools, including Keylight and Refine Matte Color correction tools A wide array of pattern generating tools The downloadable resources include project files, allowing you work hand-in-hand with the lessons contained in the book. Customers who buy an electronic version of the book can contact Peter Linsley ([email protected]) with their receipt and Focal Press will grant access to the companion files.

Get the most from the most widely used application in the postproduction field! Gain the insider tips you need to compose eye-catching, imaginative Adobe After Effects projects quickly and effectively. In How to Cheat in After Effects, Second Edition seasoned AE expert Chad Perkins provides dozens of concise, step-by-step tutorials and lavish 4-color illustrations to get you on the fast track to producing amazing motion graphics and visual effects. Updated for CS6, this new edition has been revised to include: A brand new chapter on the most popular 3rd party effects including Trapcode Particular and Video Copilot's Element 3D New cheats on professional compositing, expressions, and high end visual effects Tons of cool light tricks and lessons on how to use Video Copilot's Optical Flares A thorough explanation of the Ray-trace 3D engine introduced in After Effects CS6 Downloadable resources with project files allowing you to work alongside the exercises in the book, as well as QuickTime movies displaying techniques There's no time to waste! Whether you are an intermediate After Effects user in need of its more advanced tools or a novice looking for techniques to up your game, this book will bring your motion graphics, visual effects, and graphic compositions to the next level. Downloadable resources project files are available at www.focalpress.com/9780415661065

Master Adobe Photoshop CS4 Filled with full-color examples, this hands-on guide explains how to use the latest release of the industry standard program for graphics professionals. How to Do Everything: Adobe Photoshop CS4 takes you step-by-step through the process of bringing your creative concepts to completion. Real-world examples reveal how cutting-edge design techniques are achieved. With this book, you'll learn how to use all the program's tools and settings to create and edit compelling images for print, the Web, and animation. Manage and customize the interface Create, manage, and blend layers and apply layer styles Work with color, brushes, painting tools, gradients, and vector shapes Pick pixels with selections Edit, repair, and enhance images and Camera Raw files Transform objects without degrading image quality Create and format text Use the 3D and video features of Photoshop Extended Apply special effects with filters, warping, and textures Optimize your work for print, the Web, and mobile devices Save time using automation tools