Do you have trouble selecting objects near Point Type in Adobe Illustrator? You’ve been there. You want to select an object. Problem is, it’s really close to piece of Point Type. All too often we try to select objects that wind up being unreachable because they lie too close to a piece of Point Type, which we wind up selecting instead. Luckily, after years of angst, I discovered a solution.
Trouble selecting and moving objects near text in Adobe Illustrator? Try this.
Posted by John
on April 21, 2012
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Stroke entire groups in Adobe Illustrator
Posted by John
on April 3, 2012
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Add Live Strokes to Entire Groups for Nice Effects in Adobe Illustrator
Normally if you had 3 bits of text with thick strokes applied to each and then pushed them this close together you wouldn’t see the same thing illustrated above. The strokes of the ‘higher’ objects would overlap onto the lower objects. Then just how was this accomplished here?
How to get the old behavior with the new Photoshop CS6 Crop Tool
Posted by John
on March 27, 2012
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QUICKIE: If you’ve been trying out the Photoshop CS6 beta preview you may have noticed the new Cropping behavior. (I won’t get into details about the new behavior as you can find that in so many other places.) If you find this new cropping behavior unwieldy you can go back to the way things were. You might have poked around in Preferences to find this feature, but it’s not there.
Spots for DramaFever.com iPad-optimized website
Posted by John
on December 2, 2011
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2 spots I made for DramaFever.com to announce the release of their iPad-Optimized website. (Editing, color, animation). This version features footage with actors shot outside their office in New York. It has a dual message. The first is simply the fact that DramaFever.com is now available as an iPad-optimized site. It briefly demonstrates the interface and also pushes the importance of this new feature by showing how you can now enjoy the site in a coffee shop, outdoor cafe or anywhere your iPad can get a signal.
This version is more ‘graphical’ with a simpler message which is very clear to current DramaFever.com subscribers. It features simply imagery of Korean TV dramas on the iPad in full screen mode. Again, this celebrates the fact that content which was previously limited to PC or laptop can now be seen on an iPad.
“Secret Garden” trailer
Posted by John
on November 18, 2011
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I’ve been trying to take breaks from motion design and do some editing. Here’s a trailer I did for Korean hit drama Secret Garden. It’s for English audiences who use the DramaFever.com streaming site. I had to sort through the first 6 hour-long episodes to get enough clips to tell the story. What a chore! Okay, it wasn’t that bad. I have a thing for Ha Ji-Won. 
Never loose your Premiere Pro CS5 project again
Posted by John
on November 13, 2011
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Premiere Pro pros already know what to do, but casual users should get prepared.
I recently tried to open a trailer I had been editing and was met with crash after crash. I put a lot of work into that and had just gotten past a tricky edit. I was preparing to get pissed. I rebooted and thankfully the project opened just fine. But that was almost a disaster. I checked to see what my previous version of the project looked like. (Every now and then I use Save As and add a new number after the file name.) When I opened my “Gumiho4.prproj” I saw that it looked nothing at all like “Gumiho5.prproj.” Apparently I had been so absorbed in a tricky edit that I just kept saving and didn’t bother to increment. I decided I never wanted to go through that again.
Using tileable web patterns in After Effects
Posted by John
on September 25, 2011
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Have you ever considered using web backgrounds in After Effects?
There are a ton of sites out there offering free tileable patterns meant for use on the internets. Many of the collections look amazing. And many of them are large enough to use in HD video projects.
And while background tiles are automatically repeated for you in your site, we have good ‘ol CC RepeTile to do the same thing in After Effects. You can use this effect with these free assets to extend and repeat your tile as big as you like. Texture text, create environments and backgrounds for a unique look in your AE projects.
Thing is… become a collector and snatch up the free files while you still can. The above video example was made using excellent patterns from a site called PatternWall.com. I liked them so much I grabbed and saved as much as I could but I eventually had to call it a day. I always thought I could go back to get more. When I tried I found the site has gone. Maybe their just late with one payment, or maybe they’re never coming back. My point is if you find something good, save it right away. Even if you don’t have an immediate use for it right now, you could start a library and get it when you need it.
PatternWall.com may be away right now you can start your tileable pattern collection at WebTreats.
Sound Effects for Motion Graphics
Posted by John
on October 22, 2010
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One of the very best sound effects collections I’ve come across is from Digital Juice. Their SoundFX Library Vols. 1 thru 4 are just kick-ass … for motion graphics. There are over 11,500 sound effects on 10 DVDs in just one box for only $124.50. That’s “half price” for this weekend only. Plus you get free shipping.
Generate interest by using unexpected colors
Posted by John
on September 17, 2010
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Here’s a trick which could increase initial interest in your print, web or motion graphics projects. Take the color rules of the real world and toss them out the window. The jack-o’-lantern is a perfect example. It’s supposed to be orange. But what happens when someone comes across something that’s just not right, like a green jack-o’-lantern?
A tease for Making It Look Great 8
Posted by John
on August 27, 2010
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Motionworks put up a ‘mysterious’ tease for the ongoing training series Making It Look Great. Looks like this one will, again, be a Cinema 4D title and judging by the little guy peering from behind the logo that it will be hosted by Rob Redman of Pariah Studios. Can’t wait!
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