[Ray Apokal]

Hi R. Bruce,

The Meyer’s and Andrew Kramer are excellent resources.

I’d recommend lynda dot com’s After Effects 7 Essential Training by Jeff Foster (there’s probably an AE cs3 version now too). Jeff’s teaching style is awesome and I felt like I was finding out the ‘why’. A lot of times tutorials are developed to address only the ‘how’.

[Ray Apokal]

Hi tonyota,

I bought a polyester drop from J and K Group’s ebay store. The polyester is ‘wrinkle-resistant’ (still wrinkles though). The the wrinkles go away after hanging it for a minute.

Just take a look, great price and it’s keyed very well.

[Ray Apokal]

Hi Rich,

Have you set something on the layer’s blending mode?

If you’ve activated it, it might be messing with your render order.

[Ray Apokal]

Hi Billy

to be honest it’s really not that simple of an answer..but close

can you link a short clip or image of what contrast you’re fighting with, barring any wmv or qt compression issues, it would give people a better idea of what can be done.

[Ray Apokal]

no

[Ray Apokal]

Hi DavidD,

If I understand the author correctly, they used a 3d program to project the texture onto the 3d blocks with the 2d photograph.
Projection mapping is a very common technique in motion pictures to create quick footage of an aerial, or in this case a citsyscape, to give the illusion of depth. It may be ‘one simple step’ in projecting the texture. But there’s definitely diligence in the pre-process; getting the right camera settings and making sure the 3d shapes are proportionate.

Though this particular method may be more related to a 3d forum, Bill O’Neil offers an AE way to give illusion too :
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/oneil_bill/3d_world.php

hope this helps

[Ray Apokal]

Hey Bob,
If you hadn’t had a chance browse Andrew and co’s amazing resources at https://www.videocopilot.net/index.html

Check out https://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials.html?id=15 for this “controversial” Zoom Tutorial. (I joke! I kid!)

[Ray Apokal]

Hi Marco,

If it’s a perfect circular path can you move the pivot point to the target, then rotate accordingly?

[Ray Apokal]

Hi Olly,

Drop Shadow and Radial Shadow work really well. Hope this helps

[Ray Apokal]

Hey chenevert,

if youre wondering about the vector reveal there’s a very good tutorial from Jayse https://library.creativecow.net/articles/hansen_jaysen/growing.php for creating even more complicated designs.
the other live video elements look like adjusting layer properties and adding grunge mattes etc