Brian Maffitt baffles NYC After Effects Meetup…

iPhone Photo taken by Bendrix

On Thursday September 27th, the New York City After Effects (AE) meet-up group was treated to a master session from the master of motion graphics. The legendary Brian Maffitt graced the stage and presented a 45 minute demo on a filter called “Vanishing Point.” For those of you that don’t know, Brian is a pioneer and the original trainer for the AE Total Training DVDs and since the mid-90s he’s been one of the leading world authorities. His alpha tests and contributions over the years have helped to make the AE environment a powerful and more easily understood application for the rest of us mere mortals.

More on Brian in a bit… SO!!! Back to this demo… Vanishing Point is a filter found in Photoshop that maps out a perspective grid within a the selected Photoshop window. An example would be a newly opened file like a PSD, TIFF, JPG, or PICT. Basically the key or ideal photo should be high resolution with lots of pixel information and there should be some kind of perspective object relationship between the foreground and its background. Once this photo is selected >>> go to the filter section and select “Vanishing Point” >>> it will bring up a special window pane that provides tools to map out a grid on this flat surface plane. Once a perspective grid is mapped out on the various foreground and background planes within this photograph >>> “export for After Effects CS” and it will create a series of PNG files, where ever its chosen to export.

Next open After Effects and import this series of multiple PNG files >>> Create a Composition window. When the imported PNGs recompile in this composition window a 3 dimensional texture map is generated onto a 3D plane allowing for each of the elements to be operated within the various x, y, z axis. For the astute pixel pusher and effects whiz, its absolute eye candy. It tricks the eye into believing that one is navigating within a 3D space. Due to the mathematical averages of this filter effect, there is a limit to the distance the image position can be zoomed into before the background pixels start to wash out and loose their resolution. The ultimate goal is to subtly create a 3D experience using a mere photograph. Brian then went a step further to show us how to animate text on a 3D path. That was a killer tip that everyone was also fawning over. Yes there were lots of “I can’t believe its!!!” and people doing Lord of the Rings jigs in the lobby afterwards.

I cannot stress how meaningful it is to witness Brian’s mastery of AE. His value to the motion graphics community is immeasurable. If I were to equate his parallel I would say that Brian is to AE what Jonathan Ives and his engineering teem is to Apple. The whole look and interfacing of an iPod, iPhone, and many other product innovations from Apple in the past 11 years are all Johnathans doing… Actually this is how I equate Brian in the realm of AE. If you are into motion graphics and want learn more about After Effects, go to the totaltraining website, do a tour, check out the online demos. From novices to intermediates to the pros everyone that uses or wants to learn AE can benefit from these tutorials.

Even though I generally do not post tutorial segments, I think this demo was so enchanting and inspirational, that I had to write about it. I did ask Brian to see if he could release an example or two for my blog so I could post it up and show these undisclosed demo’s to the rest of you. To be honest I totally did not do it any justice with this post. This is something you just have to see in motion. Whenever I get these samples I will be sure to post them up on the blog. Till soon…

- bendrix

Bendrix is the founder and Digital Media (Brand) Strategist for Codedsignal; a portable media network featuring; 1. Beneath the Beat: Hip Hop, 2. Beneath the Beat: Electronica, 3. Digital Media Tips N Tricks.

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My Podcast Developer Bill Bercik passed away

I am in deep mourning because my RSS and Web Stats provider Bill Bercik died on May 2, 2007. I never met Bill face to face, I purchased his webpasties.com service back in September 2005. Bill and I have been working together since then to make his service a viable alternative for podcasters and video bloggers. Webpasties is the best RSS and statistic analysis application that I’ve located since I began podcasting.

I called Bill several times a month, soon our tech talk evolved into a friendship. I really enjoyed his gentle nature and I admired his innovative ideas. Bill was a MAJOR influence in my career, because it was his service that enabled me to podcast and he mentored me on several career altering pursuits. I am deeply saddened by his passing and offer his family and friends my condolences.

“Bill” was born on April 14, 1964 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and passed away on May 2, 2007 at the age of 43.

Bill graduated from Spartanburg S.C. High School. He received a B.S. degree from Clemson University and attended graduate school at California State University in Chico, Ca.

He was employed for 20 years as a computer programmer at the U.S. Navel Air Station in Patuxent, MD., the Navy Post Graduate School in Monterey, Borland, Corp in Scotts Valley and was presently working as a consultant Bercik Software. He published 2 books on computer languages and was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity.

Bill is survived by his parents Robert and Mildred Bercik of Stuart, Fl and Dulthe, Ga., a sister Mary Bercik and two brothers, John and Jim Bercik and his two beloved nieces, Bailey and Samantha Bercik.

Bill was an adventurer. He loved to travel and biked throughout Europe, North America and Central America. He loved sailing, wind surfing and hiking. He was happy in California and loved his friends, family and 2 birds “Gus and “Greta”, and his beloved companion April Hyder.

A Memorial Service will be held on May 8, 2007 beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St Santa Cruz, Ca.

He was dearly loved and will be missed. In lieu of flowers, friends may donate in his memory to their favorite charity.

- Bendrix

Bendrix is the founder and Digital Media (Brand) Strategist for Codedsignal; a portable media network featuring; 1. Beneath the Beat: Hip Hop, 2. Beneath the Beat: Electronica, 3. Digital Media Tips N Tricks.

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Beneath the Beat joins forces with Chuck D

Our show Beneath the Beat: hip hop joins forces with Rapstation, founded by Chuck D (frontman of legendary rap group Public Enemy). Rapstation.com has become one of the leading entertainment sites on the net, partnering with, RealNetworks, House of Blues Digital and TWOCOWS. Our team is honored to be part of this growing media network… come check out rapstation.com and be part of the movement.

- Bendrix

Bendrix is the founder and Digital Media (Brand) Strategist for Codedsignal; a portable media network featuring; 1. Beneath the Beat: Hip Hop, 2. Beneath the Beat: Electronica, 3. Digital Media Tips N Tricks.

Subscribe to our: Podcasts | Google Videos | Youtubes | del.icio.us