If you have a DSLR, you can take some interesting photographs of Christmas trees and holiday lights this year. Here are six different ways to achieve a special effects look for your Christmas photographs by adjusting the settings on your camera.
No matter how desperate they are for work, most actors will not let you crush their heads for your film. The potential for career development afterwards would be limited. This video will teach you how to crush a head with special effects for a film and then how to use three-point lighting to make your films look more professional.
This tutorial uses the Bloody Gouges kit put out by cosmetics and special effects company Cinema Secrets. Apply using spirit gum, and then use the Injury palette and stage blood to make it look like you're really and truly wounded.
This is a great horror makeup tutorial that you can use to make it look like a bolt has been shoved through your cheek. This tutorial uses the Cinema Secrets makeup, especially the Injury makeup palette and special effects blood.
In this video, Nick shows us how to use the reverse vocal effect in Ableton. This is great to use as a lead in to the beginning of a track. Start out with your vocal, take out part of it that you want to use as the effect. Copy this down and then reverse it. Run this through a reverb and then record it to another track. Then, take this audio track and then reverse it again. Once you are finished, you will get the ghostly sound for the reverse intro to the song. Save this when you're done and ...
An aurora effect or color burst effect can blend several different colors in an airy, attractive background. You can make your background reflect, as well. And a benefit of this style is that it's very lightweight and usually does not take up much memory to load.
When shooting action shots such as runners, bikers, cars, or sports shots, a cool effect that you will see in a lot of professional photography where the person is nice and clear, but the background is blurred to give the intention of being in motion and having a lot of speed. A slow shutter speed is a part of it to capture the image while still showing motion in the photo. In this video you will get tips on how to create the panning effect that will create the desired effect.
Ever wanted to replicate the effect of writing text in a circle or other shape? You can set up a path for your text to follow using the GIMP free image software. This tutorial shows you a straightforward technique to achieve this effect.
Polar panorama has images radiating out from the center of the picture. Starting with a regular panoramic image, this tutorial shows you how to use the free GIMP image editing software to create this 'polar panorama' effect for your next project.
Have you ever wondered how to create that 'whoosh' effect, created by including a set of thin, glowing parallel lines? This tutorial shows you precisely how to use anchor points and blending tools to create this 'light rib' effect.
Interested in creating a faux lens flare effect in Photoshop Elements? This clip will teach you what you need to know. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular raster graphics editing software or a seasoned professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this free video guide.
Learn how to create global illumination effects in Maya 2011. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 2011 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, and to get started creating GI effects in your own Maya 2011 projects, watch this free video guide.
In this clip, learn how to take advantage of Adobe After Effects built-in noise plug-ins to create an outer space environment. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular motion graphics and compositing software or a seasoned video professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this free video guide.
In this clip, you'll learn how to export a clip from Cinema 4D to Adobe After Effects. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and functions, you're sure to enjoy this free video software tutorial. For more information, and to get started exporting your own Cinema 4D projects to AE, watch this 3D modeler's guide.
Learn how to utilize depth-of-field camera effects in your MAXON C4D projects with this helpful guide. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and functions, you're sure to enjoy this free video software tutorial. For more information, and to get started using this trick in your own Cinema 4D projects, watch this 3D modeler's guide.
This video explains how to make a "blob" effect with Cinema 4D. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and functions, you're sure to enjoy this free video software tutorial. For more information, and to get started using this trick in your own Cinema 4D projects, watch this 3D modeler's guide.
3D particles allow you to create all sorts of cool effects in 3D Studio MAX, like 3D fire, clouds, and other visible gases. This video is an introduction to the use of particles in 3DS MAX, covering the basics of particle presets, defectors, and gravity space warps. These tips will have you well on your way to creating really cool particle effects.
In this clip, you will see how to create a cool parallax effect with some CSS and images. Whether you're using a fancy WYSIWYG (or what-you-see-is-what-you-get) page editor like Adobe Dreamweaver CS5 or a barebones text editor like Notepad, if you want to build websites, you'll need to have some understanding of HTML (for the structure of your web pages) and CSS (for their style). And this free coder's guide will get you started along that path.
Learn how to use nodes and glsl in blender to create a realtime mist effect that fades out objects in the distance to whichever colors you want. Whether you're new to the Blender Foundation's popular open-source 3D computer graphics application or are a seasoned digital artist merely on the lookout for new tips and tricks, you're sure to be well served by this free video software tutorial. For more information, including step-by-step instructions, take a look!
Muzzle flashes are basically firing and explosive effects that come out of the pistol or barrel of a gun. These firing effects can be created on Sony Vegas using a masking technique.
Stop trying to make lightsabers in your home movies using Sony Vegas - that's SO prepubescent teenage boy material. Step up your sci fi animation game by learning how to make yourself invisible (and no, by invisible we don't mean just deleting yourself out of the picture).
If you would like to set the mood of your photo with a little romantic moonlight, check out this tutorial. In this clip, you will see how to effectively turn a daytime image into a nighttime one and create a mystical, foggy moonlit effect. This tool can be used for artwork, photographs and even advertising. Good luck!
In this clip, the Achievement Hunters, Geoff and Gus, show you how to navigate the new DLC for Mass Effect 2, Kasumi - Stolen Memory. This cool level is downloadable and if you are lucky enough to get your hands on it, check out this clip for advice on reaching a bunch of important achievements. Have fun!
In this all important strategy video from IGN, you will learn how to get the female characters in Mass Effect 2 to like you. Getting along with the female characters, whether they are cold, crazy or cloaked in an intergalactic hazmat suit is essential to success in this game and may just get you a little lovin' along the way. So, play your cards right and get ready for one helluva ride through space.
Been craving some epic space action lately? Well charge up the mass relays and practice your conversation skills because Mass Effect 2 is finally here. In today's episode of IGN, you will learn how to start the game off right and pick the best character for you. This video will walk you through all the different characters so you know exactly who you want to choose to embark on your journey with.
See how to create fully vector folder icons using Adobe Illustrator CS4. This tutorial is compatible with older versions of Adobe Illustrator as well. Learn about using gradients and subtle shadows to create the illusion of depth in an illustration as well as masking different effects to get both a neat little text effect and a shiny surface on the folder.
Way back when CS3 was introduced, Adobe added video editing capabilities to their flagship image editor. To say the least, people were skeptical. However, now that technology has evolved and folks have had time to see just how far you can push video inside of Photoshop, the possibilities are becoming very exciting. In this installment from his series of free Adobe Photoshop tutorials, Justin Seeley shows you how to create a vintage film effect. For detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to ...
Looking for instructions on how to create a simple glossy text effect in Adobe Photoshop? Look no further. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular image editing software or simply looking to pick up a few new tips and tricks, you're sure to benefit from this free video tutorial, which presents a complete step-by-step guide on how to create glossy text logos and headers in Photoshop.
Want to give your images a distinctly analog feel? Give this Scotch tape effect a try. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular image editing software or simply looking to pick up a few new tips and tricks, you're sure to benefit from this free video tutorial from TutVids. For more information, including step-by-step instructions on how to create a transparent tape effect in Photoshop, watch this graphic designer's guide.
This video by photoshopuniverse shows you how to make any photo seem as it was taken in a studio. Take the working photo and add a new layer over it and fill it in black as shown. Add a newer layer over that and add the filter> render> clouds effect. Increase the opacity of the cloud layer and merge it with the black layer as shown. Add the splatter effect and the sprayed stoke effect as shown onto the merged layer and add a hue and saturation adjustment layer and colorize it as desired. Go t...
This video demonstrates the split tone effect in Photoshop. A split tone effect makes a picture look more rustic by changing the tones. First, add an adjustment layer to the picture by opening the channel mixer window. Select Monochrome and adjust the RGB values to create a black and white image to your own personal preference. Next, add another layer by opening the color balance window. Here you can change the colors of the light areas by selecting Highlights and changing the color sliders, ...
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to create atmospherics using the Arpeggiator in Ableton Live. In this tutorial viewers are shown how to create useful arpeggiated effects using the Arpeggiator in Ableton Live. Ableton Live is a loop-based software music sequencer and DAW. The Atmospheric effect gives a deep, low fade out that can be used for breakdowns or a harmonic background in music tracks. This video will benefit those viewers who produce music and would like to learn new music e...
This step-by-step instructional video shows how Photoshop can be used to purposely over-process a photo and give it a more gritty effect. First, a High Pass filter is applied to give the photo a gray buzz. Next, hard light blend layers are applied to give the photo more contrast. A few approaches for applying noise filters are described next. Finally, de-saturation is applied to produce an amazing finished product. A must-see video for anybody looking to add a fantastic grunge effect to a photo!
How to Use EQ and Compression With Your Beats in FL Studio Nick from Prime Loops shows us how to use EQ and compression effects to add flair to a beat. Dovetailing off a previous tutorial that showed how to create a beat, this step-by-step instructional video shows what buttons and effects to use, what they do, and in what order they can be used. According to Nick, whether one chooses to compress first or use EQ first, is a matter of personal taste. To add an additional spark to a hip hop bea...
Learn to use Garage band like a pro in less than ten minutes with this step by step guide to the program. Create the exact sound effects and beats you've been looking for, right from the comfort of your own home without any expensive classes or equipment. Add echoes, stop sounds for a more dramatic effect or bring out hidden sounds to the forefront. Anyone can create unique music with this tutorial guide, so get ready to get up and dance to your own dance beats!
Prevent indoor lighting problems with these great tips. -When a window is behind the object, bring lights closer to object or use a reflector using the light from the window to create a 3 point lighting effect.
In this video tutorial, learn how to create a really beautiful, eye popping, neon light "magic effect". Brighten up your asthetic presentation with this cool Photoshop trick, originally found on this blog. This tutorial is constructed using Adobe Photoshop CS3, but please note: This trick does work with CS4, but yields sightly different results. One can download the font used in this tutorial, here.
For this Final Cut Studio video tutorial, Zach King will teach you how to apply a filter pack in Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express. To apply a filter pack, you'll just click on the clip with all your applied filters, go to effects tab and press Make Favorite Effect. It saves your filters in the Favorites folder with the exact same settings. Let the Final Cut King show you how!
One of the best features of Apple's Final Cut Studio is the graphics interface feature Motion. With its ability to create and edit motion graphics, you can easily create title sequences for your indie film, or maybe even a professional movie, with 2D or 3D visual effects compositing.
Developed by the same team of engineers responsible for LightWave 3D, modo, lowercase, delivers the next evolution of 3D modeling, painting and rendering in a single integrated and accelerated package for the Mac and PC. And now, modo is a true end-to-end solution that includes true 3D sculpting tools, animation and network rendering! More than just features, modo is a truly elegant integration of technology, raw horsepower and refined workflow. With such a wealth of inbuilt features, however...