AE Power User Tip

I dug this one up from the old AE Freemart.

To save time when you pitch your preferences, set up your settings exactly as you like them, duplicate your preference file and store it someplace safe. Then, when things get buggy, replace the bad preferences with your good copy. Be careful to rename it exactly the same.

Labels: After Effects, Tips

posted by Michele Yamazaki @ 2/26/2007 10:40:00 AM | 0 comments links to this post  

Troubleshooting After Effects 7

Jonas Hummelstrand's great blog, General Specialist, had these excellent tips for fixing problems with After Effects.

Here is an excerpt:

Having problems with After Effects? Here's a collection of tried and true remedies:

1. Check that your system harddrive and the harddrive where you store your After Effects project and footage aren't full, and then run a disk check to make sure they aren't damaged.

2. Uninstall QuickTime, restart your computer.

3. Uninstall any third-party video and audio codecs for QuickTime and Windows Media, such as XviD, DivX, FFDShow, BlackMagic, Aja, Avid, Flip4Mac, etcetera.

4. Reinstall the latest version of QuickTime.

Lots more great tips await you.

Labels: After Effects, Tips

posted by Michele Yamazaki @ 2/13/2007 11:19:00 AM | 0 comments links to this post  

After Effects New York User Group's First meeting Feb 22

Adobe After Effects New York (AENY) first meeting is set for February 22. There is no fee for this event, thanks to sponsorship from Adobe and Pratt Manhattan. They are covering Maxon Cinema 4D 10 and After Effects Integration, as well as Mograph, Stephen Neary will present "Bigfoot's Eulogy" and Aharon Rabinowitz will be presenting some quick After Effects tips. I met Aharon at NAB NY.

They're giving away LOADS of door prizes including Red Giant Software: Magic Bullet Suite, MB Colorista and Trapcode Suite (all Trapcode Plug-ins), three Wondertouch particleIllusion licenses, GridIron Nucleo and Nucleo Pro, Cinema 4D and Mograph, Sorenson Squeeze Power Pack, Automatic Duck, Digital Anarchy PlasmaFX, Cycore FX and more. Wow.... good stuff, indeed.

Labels: Adobe, After Effects, Digital Anarchy, Maxon Cinema 4D, Red Giant Magic Bullet, Red Giant Software, Tips, Trapcode Particular

posted by Michele Yamazaki @ 2/07/2007 07:46:00 PM | 0 comments links to this post  

After Effects Tip #10: Levels Quick Reference Guide

John Dickinson, one of the Toolfarm Forum Experts, has posted a Levels reference guide at his site.

Levels is a plug-in I've never had a problem with and my students seem to grasp it really well. Curves, however, is another animal. My students sometimes have a tough time figuring out how it works. Maybe we'll see a reference guide for curves? Heck, maybe I will make one.

Update: John tells me that he IS working on a Curves reference guide. Thanks, John! I know that will certainly be used in my classroom.

Labels: Adobe, After Effects, Photoshop, Tips

posted by Michele Yamazaki @ 1/09/2007 01:55:00 PM | 0 comments links to this post  

Recharge Dried Out Markers

Okay, not a tip for After Effects, but this one is really good! You all use markers in your office or school to make lists, diagrams or storyboards and I'm sure for multiple other purposes.

How many times have you thought you've capped your dry erase or felt tip markers? How many markers have your kids left the caps off and ruined? My daughter got some dry erase markers and an easel for Christmas and left the caps off last night. I Googled "Rejuvenate Dried Markers" and found a great tip. I always tried dipping in water and that has never worked too well.

This actually works. I'm sure that Mr. Wizard probably had this on his show... or in a Heloise column somewhere. Use a 2 foot length of string and some tape. Double up the string and tape the end of the string to the marker. Tape the top end of the marker, not the writing tip. You'll have a loop. Put your finger in the loop and swing the marker over your head for 20 seconds or so, like a helicopter propellar. The centrifugal force will draw the moisture to the tip of the marker. The markers were so moist, they were drippy!

Labels: Tips

posted by Michele Yamazaki @ 12/31/2006 11:34:00 AM | 2 comments links to this post