Does anyone have tips on creating CORPORATE work?

[Justin Productions]

Well, you know, plug-ins help.

Trapcode stuff (Shine, Particular, 3D Stroke) are seen often in the commercials (especially Shine).

Magic Bullet Suite v2.0, Zaxwerks, DigiEffects, Twixtor, CinePack, etc. are very good plug-ins that helps you do things that you wouldn’t think of creating in AE.

But if you really know what you want, and how you want it, you won’t need plug-ins and you’ll probably find your way out, on your own, inside of AE. Using the custom effects.

Good luck and sorry for the english,

Justin Productions
Tangerin01@hotmail.com
Adobe After Effects 6.5 Professional

[Michael Duff]

coming up with a design and look that suits the company and products is probably more important than what effects you can use. If it is for medical products, maybe they don’t necessarily want something full of lens flares/shine and particals – come up with a nice clean look and then maybe use plug-ins or effects to boost that design. Don’t just put shine on something because that’s what everyone does.

[Mylenium]

[DanielHaskett] “Like you know, stuff always seems to glow, and there is generally alot of overlaying of images…..and bringing stings/logos onto the screen…..any good ways?”

I think that is largely a misconception on your part – maybe you simply only have attended the wrong shows. All corporate stuff is very specific to the business area your client is operating in. It is much more important to focus on the specific needs than using every single effect in your arsenal.

Doctors and surgeons can only be convinced with facts, not by bombarding them with flashiness. A well thought out text overlay can yield considerable more feedback and generate buyer interest than some naked dolls, if you know what I mean. You should spend some time researching how and by whom the product will be used and how they possibly may respond. Of course also study waht your client’s competitors have on offer and learn from them or their mistakes.

Mylenium

[Pour Myl

[Steve Roberts]

Indeed.

You’re making the leap from operator to designer. Operators take storyboards, animate things and apply effects, but you now have to create the storyboards.

Get pen and paper.
In this stage, only use the computer for web research.
Resarch the company, customers, competition and product (call it CCCP) as Mylenium suggested.
Take notes.
Write down impressions you get from these notes in a separate column.
Come up with words to describe CCCP. I recommend you meet with the marketing team and ask them what they can come up with, as well as leverage any work they’ve already done.
The solution will come from a study of the problem.
For visual ideas, go to the motionographer site and look at the designers’ web pages. Be selective, based on your research — some ideas (concepts, looks, treatments) seen there will not work. Eliminate those, and your job will be easier. The thing will start to come into focus.
Go back to your notes and write some more.
Sketch up some simple ideas.
Turn them into rough storyboards.
When you’re done there, then turn on After Effects.