Creative Instincts Search Results

How To: Make alpha channels for logos in Photoshop CS3

Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 3, or CS3, is the industry-standard application for digital photo manipulation. It is ideal for professional photographers, serious amateur photographers, and graphic designers. Having the software, however, isn't enough; you'll need to know how to use it. In this CS3 tutorial, you'll learn how to make alpha channels in Adobe Photoshop CS3. Make alpha channels for logos in Photoshop CS3.

How To: Create depth-of-field blur in Adobe Photoshop CS3

Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 3, or CS3, is the industry-standard application for digital photo manipulation. It is ideal for professional photographers, serious amateur photographers, and graphic designers. Having the software, however, isn't enough; you'll need to know how to use it. In this CS3 tutorial, you'll learn how to create depth-of-field blur in Adobe Photoshop. Create depth-of-field blur in Adobe Photoshop CS3.

How To: Stabalize video footage in Adobe Photoshop CS3

Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 3, or CS3, is the industry-standard application for digital photo manipulation. It is ideal for professional photographers, serious amateur photographers, and graphic designers. Having the software, however, isn't enough; you'll need to know how to use it. In this CS3 tutorial, you'll learn how to stabilize video footage in Adobe Photoshop. For more, including comprehensive instructions on the video stabilization process, watch this video guide. Stabalize video ...

How To: Spot color grade in Photoshop CS3

Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 3, or CS3, is the industry-standard application for digital photo manipulation. It is ideal for professional photographers, serious amateur photographers, and graphic designers. Having the software, however, isn't enough; you'll need to know how to use it. In this CS3 tutorial, you'll learn how to spot color grading in Adobe Photoshop CS3. Spot color grade in Photoshop CS3.

How To: Use virtual sets with Photomerge in Photoshop CS3

Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 3, or CS3, is the industry-standard application for digital photo manipulation. It is ideal for professional photographers, serious amateur photographers, and graphic designers. Having the software, however, isn't enough; you'll need to know how to use it. In this CS3 tutorial, you'll learn how to create virtual sets within Photoshop CS3 with the Photomerge tool. Use virtual sets with Photomerge in Photoshop CS3.

How To: Use symbols in Flash CS4

Adobe Flash Creative Suite 4, or CS4, Professional software is the industry-leading authoring environment for creating engaging interactive experiences. It is ideal for interactive designers, graphic designers, and developers. But having the program isn't enough; you need to know how to use it. In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to use symbols in Adobe Flash CS4. Use symbols in Flash CS4.

How To: Create picture in picture in Adobe Premiere Pro CS3

Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 software is the start-to-finish video production solution ideal for editors, filmmakers, cable and network broadcasters, event and corporate videographers, rich media creative professionals, and hobbyists. In this Adobe Premiere video tutorial, you'll learn how to create picture-in-picture in Premiere Pro CS3. Create picture in picture in Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 - Part 1 of 2.

How To: Unwrap or unfold geometry in 3ds Max

This 3ds Max modeling tutorial covers how to unwrap or unfold geometry. This technique is used more for texture mapping but in this tutorial we the unfolded geometry back to the view port to use for building physical models. This geometry can them be used for laser cutting. One thing to note is that since this technique is for texture mapping it can lack precision but for scaled models it works well. See how to get creative with unwrapping and modeling in 3ds Max in this software tutorial. Un...

How To: Install a chair rail

Installing a chair rail will create a dramatic addition to any room. A chair rail is basically a piece of molding that runs along the middle of your room's perimeter. Not only does a chair rail protect your walls from furniture, but it can be a creative addition to your interior design, as well.

How To: Build and light a 3D scene in After Effects

n this video tutorial, Creative Cow Contributing Editor Eran Stern shows you a how to build a 3D scene using Photoshop CS3 Vanishing Point and re-light it inside After Effects. Part two will show you how to project text on the floor using light transmission feature in After Effects. Build and light a 3D scene in After Effects - Part 1 of 2.

How To: Build a basic site using ActionScript 3 in Flash

In this video tutorial, Creative Cow leader Tony Ross revisits the tutorial how to build a basic site about Colors in Flash. This version is created using Actionscript 3. The basic principles learned from this tutorial will enable the user to create a variety of simple websites. Elements covered are basic Actionscript 3, navigation, labels, button and graphic symbols. Build a basic site using ActionScript 3 in Flash.

How To: Create advanced glitter using expressions & Particular

In this tutorial, Creative Cow leader, Michael Park, demonstrates another, more advanced method for creating shimmering glitter particles using Trapcode's Particular in After Effects. The main advancement is the implementation of 3d rotation of the glitter particles, as well as using expressions to convert the rotation of the particles in all 3 axis to drive a greyscale map, which in turn is used to color the particle using colorama and create the shimmer effect when the particles face the ca...

How To: Ignite a soccer ball in particleIllusion & AE

Creative Cow Leader Jeff Bellune demonstrates how to use the tools available in particleIllusion and After Effects to get a particle emitter source to track an element in a video clip. Part One details how to animate the Layer Offset in particleIllusion to eliminate motion in the clip that is caused by movement of the camera that filmed the scene. Part Two concerns the animation of the emitter itself so that it accurately tracks the video element. art Three shows how to mask the emitter layer...

How To: Create a digits man in After Effects

In this video tutorial, Creative Cow contributing editor Eran Stern will show you a cool technique for filling an image of a human head with animated numbers using After Effects CS3's Text tool. The second video will continue to finesse the design of the Digits Man promo. Learn how to create a subtle background using the Shape Tool and spice it further with additional effects and Text animations Create a digits man in After Effects - Part 1 of 2.

How To: Create "horror movie" text in After Effects

Aharon Rabinowitz shows you how to make ''Horror Movie'' style text appear on a wall in part one of this After Effect tutorial. In part two you'll make it actually run down the wall and look like it's really on the wall, not just over it. Take this bloody text idea and get creative with your own rendition! Create "horror movie" text in After Effects - Part 1 of 2.

How To: Use displacement maps in After Effects

In this 3-part series on Displacement Mapping, Creative Cow Leader Aharon Rabinowitz covers the basics of using this effect in both After Effects 6.5 and 7. This highly detailed tutorial will get you started on distorting your footage with displacement maps. Please note, you must have After Effects PRO to do these effects. Use displacement maps in After Effects - Part 1 of 3.

How To: Force motion blur on objects in After Effects

In this After Effects tutorial Creative Cow leader Aharon rabinowitz shows you how to add a motion blur to effects that don't support this feature. Motion blur is key for any fast moving objects or effects and it can often cover up imperfections, so it's an important skill to learn. Also covered is adding blur to video footage that has been sped up, and an introduction to CyCore's updated Effects: CyCore FX HD. Force motion blur on objects in After Effects.

How To: Eat Fire (And Look Damn Good Doin' It)

Eating fire is a guaranteed method of not only impressing an entire room, but also instantly settling any questions as to whether or not you're a complete and total stone cold BAD ASS. When you can casually whip this trick out in a bar, you're not only going to get your drinks bought for you for the rest of the night, but at least three phone numbers scrawled on the backs of napkins.

News: Rock-paper-scissors

I've been having this idea to build a redstone-version of rock-paper-scissors but never got around to do it. Building big redstone-contraptions on survival-servers isn't easy and single-player creative mode is a bit silly if you want to build a 2-player redstone-game. :)

News: Toy Challenge- Battle of the Brave

No filters, just my 3G. This isn't really toys, but I think it counts. I love to paint these. The people are 15mm tall and are from WW2- hard to paint! I have a ton more- I just set this one up. I buy them and make them. For instance, the V1 rocket in the upper right is homemade, while the artillery in the lower right is bought.

News: A Computer Game Inside Minecraft

Check out this truly incredible redstone mechanism by Users Rezz and Psycho_ewt! It's an automated redstone game with a twist. You control the interactive screen using a retro NES controller. Let us know what you think or if you'd like to see us reverse engineer it. This build contains:

Camera Phone Photo Challenge: Firecracker Buried Underground

While running through a bag miscellaneous leftovers from the 4th of July, I came up upon a stash of firecrackers that had eluded me every previous time I had gone through the bag. I started setting them off and grew tired of them quite quickly, so I thought of creative ways of setting them off. I decided to bury one underground with only the fuse exposed and set it off. It blew all the dirt on top away, but for some strange reason, all the smoke stayed. I quickly pulled out my camera and took...

News: F.A.T. Lab (Free Art and Technology)

F.A.T. Lab (Free Art and Technology) is a network of artists, engineers, scientists, lawyers, and musicians dedicated to the research and development of new technologies and creative media. They are "committed to supporting open values and the public domain through the use of emerging open licenses, support for open entrepreneurship and the admonishment of secrecy, copyright monopolies and patents."

How To: 8 Ways to Get Started as a Guerrilla Street Artist

Contrary to popular belief, you don't need a gallery space or expensive art education to share your art with the rest of the world. Take a cue from today's innovative artists who share their creative experiments directly out on the streets and in public spaces for the everyday pedestrian in unique and quirky ways. And no, you don't have to be a skilled graffiti tagger, either. Just some yarn, random knick-knacks, photos, and Post-it notes as well as other basic office supplies.

News: Tweet for free tickets to see Fast Five

So...I really liked the original Fast and the Furious movie, because I think Vin Diesel is awesome. (How could the voice of the Iron Giant not be?) But I hated the subsequent sequels, because he wasn't in them. But in this latest version, Fast Five, Vin Diesel is back! If you live in Los Angeles, follow the hilarious blog YouOffendMeYouOffendMyFamily on Twitter and tell them why you want to see the movie. The most interesting reason wins, so be creative!

News: Chinese New Year Celebration

One of my favorite sites to go to for inspiration is The Party Dress, featuring the Well-Heeled Hostess. She is so talented and creative I always look forward to perusing her latest project postings. In one of her recent party features, she shared this fabulous Chinese New Year celebration for one lucky 1 year-old. What makes this party extra special? The special birthday boy is son to one of my other favorite design goddesses, Melissa from Project Nursery.