Fun, easy Eclipse

Probably one of my favorite things about AfterEffects is that it is virtually unlimited in it's versatility and usability. There is nothing you can't do with it- it may be easier or harder than other programs, but it can be done. I've yet to have someone propose an idea to me that I couldn't find out how to do it, albeit sometimes with some major tweaking of some pretty extensive tutorials!

This is one such tutorial- right now I'm adapting it to another purpose, nothing groundbreaking (a stone burning to ash), and so far it's working pretty well- I'll post it when I'm done. For now, here's the tutorial I'm using.

Eclipse, part 1

Clash of the Titans teaser trailer!

Clash of the Titans teaser trailer!

Looks like fun! Heard some dissent about the music choice, but I like it!

Really fun compilation of special effects clips over the past 100 years. I remember most of them, too- if not from watching when it first came out, then from my parents showing me while taking their own trip down memory lane. So much more impressive when you watch our progress back to back like that. Come along away from jump cuts and smoke bombs!

Catherine and the Legend of the Useful Footage

One thing I've discovered that I think everyone should have pounded into their skull- never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER disregard, delete, dismiss any footage you may think is totally useless, no matter how unsalvagable it may seem. Save it all in a 'Blah' folder (that's what I call it, anyway). I'm so glad on of my teachers drilled this into me early on. I thought about deleting that 'Blah' folder so often, but as I've progressed it's actually become very useful multiple times. Namely, my experiments with AfterEffects. There's nothing so frustrating as wanting to try something and not having any footage to work with, and no time to go and shoot something random.

Thus, the Blah folder is my savior- I've almost always found SOMETHING that'll work with what I want to try, to practice on. If I like the results, I can always make time to go and shoot actual quality footage. Sometimes, the nature of the experiment doesn't require any reshooting at all, but fixes the original problem (bad lighting, bluescreen hiccups, etc).

Anyways, just thought I'd throw that out there. I'll post the particular project that inspired this little rant later on.

-Catherine