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Photocopy filter for FCP is exactly the same as the Photocopy filter for Photoshop, the difference is that this filter is for Video Editing rather than for image manipulation and as such it is used from within Final Cut Pro. This filter mimics cross processing effects with a twist . As taken from their website, “We have painstakingly analyzed the brightness, color, tone, detail, grain and texture of some of the world’s greatest movies, paintings, photographs and historical photographic processes”.  The filter allows user much more control over how images look visually than a ordinary action which we know can be found online everywhere.

Photocopy filter for Final Cut Pro uses cross processing from a varied clearly labeled sections such as Movies, Paintings, Film, Photographs, Processes. Further more there is a Custom section or tab which enables user to create there own custom processes. For those who have this filter for  Photoshop and Final Cut Pro added benefit is that your saved presets are available in both programs. This then enables the user to build a massive library of custom presets. In addition the Final Cut Version have a Match image well, enabling the users to match colour, tone, grain and texture from one footage to another.  Those can be created by experimenting with the presets already build in into a filter and saving a version of those. Please note that the filter contains a vast number of presets that can be used.

I loved the fact that it had it’s own GUI which was pleasantly and logically arranged. The difference between Final Cut version V Photoshop version is that once the preset is applied from it’s own GUI you then have to continue to work with this filter from a viewer window of FCP. I found that the best way is to export an still image to Photoshop and experiment there with the filter and save the presets. This method will enable you not to render your footage all the time in order to see the change. However the filter in FCP is quite responsive.

PhotoCopy video/film license will allow user to run it in Adobe After Effects, Apple Final Cut Pro and Avid Editing Systems if installed on the same machine. So, you can run in three host applications for the price of one.

The manual is written well and to the point, very often a problem in my opinion with third party plug-ins.

The price of the filter is very well placed costing around $195. Fairly cheap considering what are you getting for that price.

For more info on this filter please see my in-depth review/tutorial below.

Video Tutorial:

Please note your comments are important please take a second and leave a constructive comment..

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This filter produces a type of  Cross Processing effect to Images. What is different about this filter to other cross processing filter and effects is the fact that it does not only mimics the image colour and tone. This filter mimics quite a lot more. As taken from their website, “We have painstakingly analyzed the brightness, color, tone, detail, grain and texture of some of the world’s greatest movies, paintings, photographs and historical photographic processes”.  The filter allows user much more control than a ordinary action which we know can be found online everywhere.

I was very excited to see that this filter allows user to use a cross processing from a varied clearly labeled sections such as Movies, Paintings, Film, Photographs, Processes and the Custom section or tab which enables user to create it’s own custom processes. Those can be created by experimenting with the presets already build in into a filter and saving a version of those. Please note that the filter contains a vast number of presets that can be used.

I loved the fact that it had it’s own GUI which was pleasantly and logically arranged. I thought that even novices to Photoshop would be able to work with Photocopy filter freely and confidently, while producing exciting visual outcomes.

You can easily create presets from your own images this function is accessed by selecting Cmd-N on a Mac or Ctr-N on Windows. A separate interface opens and allows you to memorize the brightness, color, tone, detail and grain of the image as well as texture.

The manual is written well and to the point, very often a problem in my opinion with third party plug-ins.

While I was making my video tutorial I noticed that the Plug-in was very responsive to my changes even though I was working on a very high resolution images.

Overall what makes this filter very good is it’s ability to mimic different processes while retaining the grain and the texture of the applied presets. The price of the filter is very well placed costing around $95.

I have further bought a Iphone App which proved very useful, I was able to play around with the photographs on my Iphone in a exact same way that the software for Photoshop or Final Cut Pro worked. I love the fact that you can easily apply different effects and save the images on your Iphone. I lovely new App that will stay with me for a very long time…

For more info on this filter please see my in-depth review/tutorial below.

Video Tutorial:

Please note your comments are important please take a second and leave a constructive comment..

This is my recent collection of Digital Illustration based around retro feel. In the illustrations I explored different creative possibilities of Adobe Photoahop and Adobe Illustrator CS5.

Collections of experimental and 2d abstract illustrations created by using Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.

As of lately my desire to create a new set of illustrations was very overwhelming, I have not done anything for more than a year, well not experimentally. I tried to elaborate a retro style with what is currently very contemporary digital art. I hope you will like what I made. All of the illustrations where made in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.

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In fact in this tutorial I have used a footage of Humming Bird from Artbeats which was shot against a blue sky. I would like to thank Arbeats for providing this brilliant piece of footage.

Both effects are easy to use and easy to understand, Film Look effect have quite a few different presets that can be used as a final film outcome or a starting point to what ever you want to achieve.

Further to my Podcast post I am happy to tell you that I have found a way to provide you with the 720p high resolution of my tutorial from now on via Blip TV.

In each post I will continue to provide smaller resolution of my tutorial, however if you want to see higher resolution HD720p versions of my tutorials you will have to go to my Channel http://embryo.blip.tv/ where you will be able to see all of my tutorials and animations.

Animation:

Video Tutorial:

Please note your comments are important please take a second and leave a constructive comment..

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URGENT NOTICE.  As form 10th of September 2010, I will no longer be able to provide Podcast service.

I have been privileged to offer free podcasts to all users of Embryo in the last few years. Although this was amazing FREE service that enabled you to download very high resolution of tutorials offered on Embryo, I am very sad to be telling you that this service will stop to work on the 10.09.2010.

This is simply because the cost of running the site, server, podcast etc have become to big and I have not been able to secure funding that will enable me to continue to provide this amazing service.

I have tried my best but the funding did not come, therefore with greatest of sadness I am forced to terminate this service. So please download what you can.

This does not mean that I am stopping my work at Embryo, this just means that I am not able to provide you with Podcast service unless someone helps me with the costs of Podcasts. I will try to produce HD720p tutorials via Blip TV if this is possibility from now on.

At this point I like to know what do you think about termination of Podcast service, please be constructive in posting your suggestions and your thoughts.

If you would like to subscribe to my Podcast please click on this link

P.S Please leave a comment.

See my review for latest incarnation of a very cool Boris Continuum 7 FxPlug for Apple Motion.

I have been so privileged to test-drive the new incarnation of Continuum Complete 7 FxPlug for Apple Motion. I have spent a lot of time in the last few weeks with Continuum Complete 7 FxPlug, and still feel that I have only scratched the surface of what I think is an amazingly massive collection of filters, effects and generators for Motion Graphic Artists and Editors.

The collection is so massive that it would be impossible for anyone to explore every single filter, effect or generator in such a short time. I think that to fully explore this amazing set of FxPlug filters you would need a lot of time on your hands. This, in my opinion, is a very good thing, as it is nice to have something to play with – something to discover and be creative with, without thinking I should get a new set of filters as I am bored with the plug-ins I already have. This, my friends, I promise you, will not happen with Boris Continuum Complete 7 FxPlug.

Before I even start talking about Continuum Complete 7 FxPlug I would like to say that Apple Motion is newish animation/motion graphics software made by Apple, which is gaining in popularity day by day. The vast number of websites, tutorials and resources currently available on the Internet proves this. Boris Continuum Complete 7 FxPlug is, as far as I am concerned, a very comprehensive set of plug-ins aimed to satisfy all kinds of creative needs. More impressive about BCC 7 FxPlug is that once it is installed you will be able to use same plug-ins in Apple Motion, Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express without having to buy additional licenses.

This set contains around 210 (16 bit deep colour processing) effects, generators and filters and in comparison to Boris Continuum Complete 6 FxPlug there are some very nice improvements in regards to colour correction, compositing and motion graphics that make this version an excellent upgrade. I was very interested in seeing what new filters and effects I could use in my workflow within the realm of motion graphics. The first thing I would like to mention is that the BBC 7 3D Objects set of effects can be manipulated in real 3D. If the checkbox for “Use Motion Camera” is selected, it is possible to move your camera within the scene and view created 3D objects in real 3D. This also enables users to use a vast array of camera behaviors from within Apple Motion to create creative and interesting motion graphic animations.  BCC Extrude EPS, BCC Extrude Spline, BCC Extrude Text, BCC Layer Deformer, and BCC Type on Text all support the “Use Motion Camera” option. Also, in the BCC 7 OpenGL section, there are three more filters – BBC Particle Array 3D, BCC 3D Extruded Image Shutter, and BCC Pin Art 3D – which support the same “Use Motion Camera” option. All of the filters within the OpenGL section are much faster to work with and render faster as they are using OpenGL acceleration, which in my opinion is an added benefit.

The Pin Art and BCC Particle Array 3D filters are welcome additions for any Motion Graphic Designer. Both effects are lots of fun to use and I believe it is possible to make stunning visual effects very quickly. Just see the Pin Art example from the Boris FX website. As far as the Particle Array is concerned, I loved it; you are able to use different shapes and even a set of pre- built primitives (disc, cube, sphere and others) enabling you to make visually stunning animations. In my opinion, the real fun begins when you start to tweak with the Fractal Noise part of this Generator that will enable you to change quite a few settings such as XYZ Field, Opacity, Mix Colour, Dispersion Effect, Twist Effect, Shift Effect, Particle Size, and Particle Rotation.

The 3 way colour correction filter is easy to use with amazing presets for those who like to use them in their workflow as a completed applied effect. Also the same presets may be used as a starting point, which can then be developed further into the final visual look of the footage or animation you are working with. I think that this filter is going to be very popular with editors.

I also liked using the BCS Film Effect filter. Recently I have been playing with the cross processing technique on my Blog  (www.embryo.me.uk), where I have devised a way of creating different colour presets for footage, stills or animations with the use of multiple filters inside of Apple Motion. Well, all I can say is that with the BCS Film Effect filter this can be done in one single click of a button. The presets to this filter are brilliant and you can choose from a wide variety (18 presets) of different film looks that can be changed in numerous ways giving the user infinite possibilities in creating a specific visual outcome. The newly created presets can then be saved for future use.

The Chroma key filter is particularly easy to use and it produces brilliant results very easily and very accurately with a logical arrangement of tools that starts with the stage one, where the user selects the colour of the Chroma key; stage two is applying a Matte choker (enabling you to choke and feather your selection); and in stage three you can select a very important Wrap Mix which binds the keying process with the background footage or an image very well. The filter is arranged in this order from top to bottom enabling the user to logically go through the steps needed to make an excellent Key for green or blue screen. In fact when I used footage of a humming bird that was not shot on a green or blue screen, my final results where stunning to say the least.

BCC Rays are a very good set of filters enabling you to create lights, volumetric lighting effects and glows with ease with the amazing array of controls that can be animated to produce brilliant visual effects for editors and motion graphics artists alike.

Continuum Complete 7 FxPlug’s Generators are very good and there are plenty of them. I was particularly happy with the rain, clouds, caustic, snow, and stars. The stars Generator easily creates moving and flickering stars, starting with colourful galaxies, which I think, is a bonus. This generator works very well with the BCC Sphere filter, which will enable you to make very complex and realistic rotating planets with stars in the background. I also quite frequently use BCC Clouds to create mattes for my motion graphic projects.

Using generators and a few distort and colour correction filters can produce outstanding results in creating backgrounds for any Motion Graphics project.
The blurs and colour correction filters and effects are excellent and intuitive to use; this particular set of filters is very comprehensive. Just see the Boris FX website (tutorial section) and the tutorial on how to create Rack Focus with the BCC Lens Blur Filter and the use of Z Map.

The help menu is found after the filter, effect or a generator is applied. This gives users quick access to what the different functions and parameters do in a particular filter, effect or generator. Some of the filters have quite a few settings that at first look daunting. However, because of the logical and coherent structure of all filters, even a novice user can quickly learn how to manipulate an applied filter, effect or generator.

Basically, Continuum Complete 7 FxPlug for Apple Motion and Final Cut is a welcome and meaningful upgrade from version 6. Continuum Complete 7 FxPlug has really cool features for both motion graphic users and editors alike. What I like about Boris is the fact that they spend lots of time creating presets for their filters, effects and generators. This creates a pleasant experience enabling the user to see and understand first hand what a specific filter or effect does. As with anything, we all must go through a learning process through which we start to understand what a specific filter or an effect does. This is why I love the presets built in to Continuum Complete 7 FxPlug: they enable you to do just that.

Furthermore, I think it would be good to mention that the Boris FX website offers a great range of Video Tutorials in order to give you excellent visual examples of the capabilities of Continuum Complete 7 FxPlug and other software developed by Boris FX.

I could go on and on talking about how good and how comprehensive Boris Continuum Complete 7 FxPlug is, but we all know that the best way to know something is to actually do it ourselves, so on that note I urge every one of you to download it and try it yourself.

On a final note, I would like to turn my attention to the things that I would like to see included in the next version of Boris Continuum Complete. For me personally, being able to apply lights from within Apple Motion with BCC 3D Objects would be a great improvement; after all.  After Effects users can already do this.  According to Boris FX, the Motion plug-in API does not currently allow for this feature, but hopefully it will be available in subsequent releases of Motion and Continuum Complete. I would also like to see one of the Particle effects being able to produce real Z space particles rather than a Z space within a 2D image (something like Particular would be brilliant).

I believe this is a brilliant and comprehensive set of filters, effects and generators from Boris and as such it should be a part of anyone’s workflow within the Apple platform.  So download a trial version and give it a go. I think you will be impressed.

If you would like to subscribe to my Podcast please click on this link

P.S Please leave a comment.

Further to my yesterdays post about Cross Processing I have now compiled four Free Cross Processing Presets that can be used in Apple Motion 3 or 4. Enjoy…

I set down yesterday all day trying to create a meaningful and visually interesting Presets for Cross Processing within Apple Motion. I have then thought about how can this process be automated in a sense that it is very easy for users to work with.

I then worked with Creating a Presets for the FAVORITE folder within Library of Apple Motion. In addition to this I then discovered  a location in which those presets can be found. This gave me an idea to share my hard work with all of you by giving you my Presets for FREE.

To install the presets you must do the following:

• Open the Presets folder you have downloaded from my site (Use this link to download the files). Then open the folder and locate folder Presets To Use.
• Then select all four .molo files within this folder, right click on them and use COPY option, (this is important as it will allow you to copy rather than move the files).
• Then go to the following location: Your Hard Disk (What ever it is Called)/Home User/library/Application Support/Final Cut Studio/Motion/Library/Favorites. When you open this folder paste the copied files from folder Presets to use.
• Then launch Apple Motion, place an asset to your canvas, then use one of the presets from the FAVORITE Menu, select the Group or an Asset you want this to be applied and then click APPLY.

Important Notice:

After you have applied the Preset you will see few filters applied to your Group or an Asset, it is important to select the group to which Cross processing has been applied, then go to INSPECTOR find GROUP tab and tick Fixed Resolution.

Above all,  please say thank you by donating to my site in appreciation to my hard work. And as always please leave a constructive comment.

Here are the visual examples to my Cross Processing Presets:

Cross Processing bleach setup:

Cross Processing Intense setup:

Cross Processing Muted Dark Green and Yellow:

Cross Processing Muted Strong Red:

Video Tutorial:

P.S Please leave a comment.

I have been exploring this amazing but old traditional technique for photographers called Cross Processing, I am sure it has not been done with Apple Motion as yet.

In the process of making this tutorial I did quite a bit of research, Cross Processing is nothing that has not been done in Adobe Photoshop, in fact all you have to do is type in Goggle Cross Processing and you will find quite a few results and ways to accomplish this technique. I have found that most of the techniques with creating Cross Processing where done by using Curves filter as a starting point. We all know that curves are not available from within Apple Motion, I wonder why? I think it is one of the filters Motion should have by default. So Apple people can we have this in the next version of Apple Motion please.

In addition of using levels I have used few other filters that I think contribute to a very interesting and visually beautiful outcome. This technique can also be applied to After Effects I am sure. Although There are plenty of tutorials covering this from within After Effects anyway.

So I am just going to give you few links that I think could serve you well:

Cross Processing Actions for Photoshop

Cross Processing animation:
Cross Processing Explained
Cross Processing Video Tutorial:

P.S Please leave a comment.

In this post I look into Stephen Smith’s Moving With Motion Master Series DVD. See what I have to say about this Instructional DVD for Apple Motion 3 and 4.

I have been fortunate enough to get the newest Creative Cow Master Series Instructional Apple Motion Video Tutorial DVD (Moving With Motion) created by Stephen Smith.

Moving With Motion is a fully loaded DVD with Instructional video tutorials looking into creative techniques and capabilities of Apple Motion 3 and 4 alike.

When I opened first page Start_Here.html I was presently surprised to see that the content is cleverly divided into chapters enabling user to quickly browse and open individual video tutorials.  Each of the chapters was labelled with its length as well as what will be covered in each chapter.

Chapters on DVD are as follows:

Chapter 1: Design Concepts (9:12)
Chapter 2: Getting Started (7:55)
Chapter 3.1: Behaviours (16:52)
Chapter 3.2: Behaviours, Logo Animation (26:13)
Chapter 4: Content (8:16)
Chapter 5: Retiming (21:29)
Chapter 6: Motion Tracking (18:48)
Chapter 7: Shapes, Masks, and Track Points (30:34)
Chapter 8.1: Paint (16:12)
Chapter 8.2: Paint – Write on Behaviour(20:23)
Chapter 8.3: Paint – Writing on Objects Created Outside of Motion (14:39)
Chapter 9.1: Particles for Motion 3 (23:25)
Chapter 9.2: Particles for Motion 4 (29:12)
Chapter 10.1: Camera for Motion 3 (24:34)
Chapter 10.2: Camera for Motion 4 (33:45)
Chapter 11: Lights (9:28)
Chapter 12.1: Camera and Lights in a Real World Project, for Motion 3 (31:03)
Chapter 12.2: Camera and Lights in a Real World Project, for Motion 4 (36:25)

Each chapter deals with different aspects of motion graphics/animating and compositing with Apple Motion 3 and 4. Wherever possible I found that Stephen went out of his way to demonstrate a difference between Apple Motion 3 and Apple Motion 4. Consequently, some of the chapters are done twice showing how to composite and animate in both versions of Apple Motion. I have to say that Stephen spent a lot of time to create what I think is a must have Instructional DVD for Apple Motion.

Stephen’s approach to this DVD lies in his ability to keep us engaged from the start in a witty but to the point manner of delivering each of the video tutorials.

Even more intriguing was that Stephen placed as much emphasis on creativity (which is something that a lot of instructional DVD are lacking) as much as he has on teaching us the techniques of Apple Motion. I do not consider my self a novice to Apple Motion, nor I am all knowing about Apple Motion. I simply believe that different people have different approaches to producing motion graphics and animations.  What I mean by this is that I have learned quite a few new tricks and tips by watching this DVD. I watched the chapters in order as is suggested on the DVD. This actually helped me build assets and animations I needed later on when putting projects together. I think if you are someone who is a novice to Apple Motion you will not find yourself out of depth in following Stephen’s instructions to build amazing projects.

Stephen’s approach to spending his first chapter on teaching people about colour and colour theories is something I wholeheartedly endorse. My belief is that using colour and understanding how to use colour is as important as knowing all the techniques and tricks within Apple Motion.

This DVD is packed with excellent tutorials that you will find relate very much to your day-to-day working with Apple Motion.  Not only that, you will also learn how to use behaviours, particles, paint, tracking, camera moves, lights, masking, key-framing, retiming, tracking points and more. What you will learn is far more than a series of instructions; you will learn to become a better motion graphic/animation artist.

If you are interested in creating visually stunning animations and in the process you are interested in using Apple Motion like a pro than this is surely a DVD for you.Just for your info, assets needed to build your projects together with Stephen are included with Moving With Motion.

I love this DVD, I love its simplicity and Stephen’s ability to put his point across to those who are just beginning to use Apple Motion, as much to those who consider themselves pro users of Apple Motion.

People, buy it, watch it, do it, then come back to my site and show me what wonderful motion graphics/animations you have created.

YOU CAN BUY MOVING WITH MOTION DVD HERE.

Yanobox Nodes is a Generator for Apple Motion, Final Cut Pro, After Effects that enables you to animate shapes via relationship of nodes and lines…

Nodes by Yanobox is a Generator with unbelievable possibilities. Lets start with saying that I have never seen such a complex but simplistic generator. What I mean by complex is that this generator have so much depth that it would be impossible to get to the bottom of quickly. This in turn means that there are so many different ways you can apply this generator.  When I saw how many different settings this Generator have my head started to spin. This was only until I discoverd that you have ability to set the menu to different parts (UI Display) of the generator making this generator very easy to navigate.

See may image below…

The generator can be used in 2d as much as 3d giving the user ability to fly through via Nodes Z Position, Rotation etc. There are so many controls that it would take me lots of time to mention them all. Also it would be good to mention that you can set the Background to transparent so that you can continue to composit your animations with other elements you have built in either Apple Motion, Final Cut Pro or After Effects.

The magic of this Generator also lays in using and modifying presets built into a generator. If anything they should be always seen so that you can get an idea of what this generator is capable of producing.

By no means I mastered Nodes in a day I used it with limited creativity,  I can honestly say that I am very excited about it’s potential in using it in my future work. What is also amazing about nodes is attention to detail that has gone in by the developer to produce a smooth and very versatile Generator.

You can download Nodes at Yanobox and at Noise industries FX .

Please see my examples of Nodes below. Above all let me know what do you think about Nodes.

Please take a second and consider how much time I have spent to bring you all of the video tutorials for free.

Be kind and reward me by donating:

If you would like to subscribe to my Podcast please click on this link