Topics covered:

• compositing workflows in Supercomp (incl. automated compositing)
• compositing light wrap and atmospheric effects
• using the Haze tool to match grain across different layers
• extending heat blur outside fire elements
• combining displacement for footage and mograph elements
• managing effects in Supercomp layers
• saving and sharing Supercomp presets
• video / log / linear light workflows in Supercomp
• Optical Glow as a standalone effect (AE & Premiere Pro)
• inverse square glow falloff
• adding glows to mograph elements & footage
• 32 bpc glow options

Topics covered:

• fast keying workflows using Auto Define key
• managing comp & matte views
• matte clean-up techniques
• working with the Core Matte function (preserving semi-transparent edges whilst simultaneously managing sharp core edges)
• chroma spill techniques (incl. Spill Killer)
• techniques for keying transparent elements (clothing, glasses)
• reducing moiré and fizzing around edges
• wrapping glows around layers automatically
• Layer Glow vs Optical Glow
• different types of Light Wrap
• Primatte Keyer workflows in Premiere Pro

Topics covered:

• cloning and removing elements (incl. blemishes, logos, unwanted background details)
• using Spot Clone to remove larger objects
• easy planar tracking in After Effects (incl. corner pin and sign replacement)
• corner pinning non-rectangular items
• To Pins vs From Pins (and when to use them )
• set extension workflows
• matching footage camera movement
• techniques to increase tracking speed

Topics covered:

• Knoll Light Factory Designer (crafting custom lens flares)
• adding lens textures to flares
• saving custom graphics to flares (e.g. emblems and company logos)
• saving and sharing custom flares and flare elements
• After Effects lights as lens emitters (incl. controlling their positions with expressions)
• controlling lens flare colors with After Effects lights
• automatic Lens flare tracking without keyframes (incl. real-world obscuration techniques)
• using Edge Reaction to automatically animate scene transition effects
• setting up automatic lens behaviours (blink, flicker, pulse, strobe)
• Knoll Light Factory as a standalone effect (AE & Premiere Pro)

Topics covered:

• adding reflections to mograph objects
• adding convincing real-world elements to footage
• applying displacement effects to reflections (isolating Source Opacity)
• designing a glass prism effect
• creating a cloaked spaceship effect
• Chromatic Displacement (VFX) vs Displacement Map (AE)
• displacing multiple layers in Supercomp
• Chromatic Displacement as a standalone effect (AE & Premiere Pro)

Topics covered:

• real time workflows using the Designer
• essential shortcuts for working with the Designer
• saving and sharing custom presets
• working with multiple systems in the same 3D Space
• custom particle types & increasing render speed
• animating particles with graphs
• constraining particles with layers
• using layers to control particle colors
• using OBJs with particles (vertex, face & volume settings)
• using AE lights and shading for natural-looking particles
• animating OBJs with particles (incl. OBJ sequences)
• light Emitters in Trapcode Particular (incl. Emitter Position Subframe setting for smooth animated lines)
• controlling 3D light emitters (incl. muzzle flash techniques)

Topics covered:

• best rendering practices for CPU and GPU acceleration (point cloud vs sprite textures, dealing with Shadowlets, depth of field, motion blur, blend modes and depth/z sorting)
• Relative Emission Rate workflow for multiple systems
• custom sprite workflows (location of in-built sprites, recommended max & min size, considerations when sharing projects)
• advanced options for customising and sharing multiple system presets
• Fluid Physics simulation overview (incl. fluid interaction across multiple systems)
• creating realistic steam and cloud fly-through animations using Fluid Physics
• parenting emitters from animated nulls using Motion Sketch
• managing and adjusting aux systems for advanced designs
• optimal OBJ particle workflows (incl. sharing AE projects)
• automating sprite animation with layer maps & spherical fields
• avoiding pre-comps with the AE source drop-down
• working with Particular’s native text emitters
• setting up composition layers for correct particle obscuration
• embedding particle effects in .mogrt templates using the Essential Graphics Panel in After Effects (incl. optimal playback techniques in Premiere Pro)

Topics covered:

• real time particle workflows using Form Designer
• essential shortcuts for working with the Designer
• saving and sharing custom presets
• working with multiple systems in the same 3D Space
• using OBJs with particles (incl. vertex, face & volume settings to change the visual treatment)
• particle types & reducing render times
• fast ways to create unique seamless looping animated backgrounds
• making and animating custom sprite particles
• instant 3D visuals using layer maps to consorting particles
• dispersing/twisting/displacing particles (incl. animating these settings with graphs)
• using Text Edges and Masks emitters (Incl. easy text-to-sand effect using native text emitter
• animated TV scan lines effect (incl. X & Y looping displacement)
• animating parameters using Audio React (without keyframes)
• combining OBJs and multiple Audio React instances to create sophisticated designs

Topics covered:

• Fluid Physics simulation overview (incl. fluid interaction across multiple systems)
• displacing 3D elements using Fluid Physics
• simulating interactions in After Effects using Fluid Dynamics to build up convincing composites and designs
• using Reflection Maps in Trapcode Form to help composite particles into shots
• combining Layer Maps and the Spherical Field function to automate the movement of particles
• organic 3D kaleidoscope designs (combining the Fluids and Kaleidospace functions)
• reducing visual clutter in dense 3D objects, by limiting the visibility of particles with Opacity Curves
• using the Particle Density slider for creative flexibility to change the look of the model from within After Effects, without having to re-import an OBJ
• using multiple Audio React settings to create complex animations that are automatically controlled by the frequencies in an audio file

Topics covered:

• fill, wireframe, points and shader workflows
• different looks using triangles, quads & reduced geometry
• 8-bit visual treatments
• simulating Form style visual treatments
• creating smoke effects using different fractal algorithms
• fractal displacement using AE layers
• simple expressions for animating geometry
• creating seamless fractal animation loops
• making animated tunnels (incl. formula for perfectly bended meshes)
• controlling geometry meshes with texture layers
• creating audio driver particle animations
• animating virtual landscapes
• working with OBJ files in Mir
• wrapping textures around 3D objects
• creating 3D scenes in Mir by combining camera-aware image mapping in Trapcode Horizon
• using the Material Surface Presets to quickly experiment with different types of reflective treatments for 3D objects in Mir
• using custom HDRI images as reflection maps in Mir
• combining Mir with Particular, working with depth buffer layers

Topics covered:

• designing & repeating geometric shapes
• animating motion with offset controls
• creating organic vs structured materials
• animating geometry with masks
• creating geometry from text
• fractal displacement, seamless loops
• controlling segments with nulls & lights
• modifying geometry using After Effects lights
• animated textures from pre comps
• image-based lighting environments
• geometry based shaders & textures
• creating seamless loops
• making custom looped particles (for use with Form & Particular)

Topics covered:

• 8-bit vs 32-bit visual treatments (Shine)
• automatic color change treatments (Shine)
• logo flourishes (Shine)
• making new styles of light ray effects (Shine)
• adding texture and drama to light rays with the built-in Fractal Noise setting (Shine)
• 3D light rays (Shine)
• mimicking hand-held flashlight effects (Lux, Shine(
• automatically replicating elements (Echospace, 3D Stroke)
• designing cascading animated backgrounds (Echospace)
• animating parameters with audio (SoundKeys)
• interpolating audio keyframes for realistic animation (SoundKeys)