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JMDesign compatability site updates

Saturday, August 21st, 2010

Category: Articles

Over time your website runs the risk of having out dated technologies and may lack features that allow it to play well with new technologies. When I created the JMDesign website a year ago Flash videos players were all the rage. I decided to use JW Player as my Flash video player because of its rock solid platform, options and support. Times have changed and as Apple steadily becomes a force in the web standards industry, HTML 5 is in and Flash is being phased out to play video on the web. As you probably know any iOS device such as the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch cannot play Flash natively. I looked for alternatives, but none presented themselves until last week. Vimeo announced an embed code that detected device connectivity and delivered content accordingly. This was huge because I could now create a site that would work across any platform.

Over the past week I have made these updates to my site

  • Changed all the video embed code (JW Player and Vimeo) on my website to Vimeo’s new embed code.
  • Uploaded all the videos my website to Vimeo that were being played from my server as MP4 and FLV files.
  • Added a Twitter feed to the Pro Blog and a Follow us on Twitter link to all site footers.
  • Added social media links to every post on the Pro Blog.
  • Added social media links to the player page.


Top 5 Sites for AE Scripting Resources

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Category: Tutorials, Web links

1. After Effects Scripts

2.Dan Ebbert’s Resource for AE scripting and expressions

3. Creative Cow After Effects Scripting

4. XScriptorium

5. AE Enhancers

Honorable mention
Greymachine’s 5 Favorite Expressions



10 Inspiring Motion Graphics Blogs

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Category: Tutorials, Web links

1. Video Copilot Blog

2. Motionworks

3. Aetuts+

4. Grayscalegorilla

5. VisualFXtuts

6. Maltaannon

7. Graymachine

8. Amateur Media

9. AE Portal News

10. Maxafter



Xbreaker for Cinema 4D

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Category: Free downloads, Web links

XBreaker is a fantastic plug-in for fracturing geometry by Nitroman. It works with primitives, nurbs objects, splines and polygons. Integrating seamlessly with mograph and modynamics, it takes just a few quick clicks to set up an entire scene. Integrating seamlessly with mograph and modynamics, it takes just a few quick clicks to set up an entire scene. (Requires Cinema4D 11.5 and Mograph)

Download: XBreaker ver. 1.71 (Put the file in maxon/library/scripts)
Nitroman’s official website: Cinema4D Plugins
Pariah Studios: XBreaker updates
Version history: XBreaker forum thread
Tutorial videos: Nitroman’s YouTube



Optical Flares by Video Copilot

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Category: Useful tools, Web links

I just bought the newest After Effects plug-in by Video Copilot called Optical Flares. This powerhouse of a plug-in does way more than the out-dated Knoll Light Factory and at $124.95 what is there not to like?



How to be a Motion Designer and get paid

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

Category: Articles, Web links

Nick Campbell from Greyscale Gorilla made a great presentation at MGFest titled “How to be a Motion Designer and get paid“. He covers such topics as:

  • What classes should I take?
  • How do I market myself?
  • I’m about to graduate. How do I get my first job?
  • Do I need school?
  • I’m the best at my job… Now what?
  • How do I learn the skills necessary to become an artist?

How to Be A Motion Designer and GET PAID from Nick Campbell on Vimeo.



Unplugged by Motionworks

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Category: Web links

John Dickinson has been producing a great online video series called Unplugged. His 30 minute webisodes are casual interviews with leading motion graphic designers in the industry such as Andrew Kramer from Video Copilot, Peder Norrby from Trapcode, Aharon Rabinowitz from All Bets Are Off and Nick Campbell from Greyscale Gorilla to name a few. John has produced 13 outstanding episodes so far and all his fans are looking forward to watching many more.



Light Streaker

Monday, November 9th, 2009

Category: Free downloads

I made this fun light streak animation using Trapcode 2 and Knoll Light Factory. The clip is in full 720p and is 15 seconds in length.

Picture 1

Download file



AV3 Software Affiliation

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Category: Web links

I am pleased to announce that I am now an official AV3 Software affiliate. They are an online motion graphics and VFX plug-in retailer who sells all my favorite third party After Effects plug-ins such as Red Giants Trapcode Suite, Zaxwerks, and DigiEffects to name a few.

I will be producing short sample video clips showcasing the creative power of all their After Effects plug-ins. Stay tuned for more great discussion on AV3 Software.



Digieffects Camera Mapper

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Category: Articles

I used this new plug-in called Digieffects Camera Mapper on my latest motion graphics project. “The Camera Mapper plugin allows you to isolate one or several objects in your footage, project these objects on a separate layer and pull that layer out of the background, creating the visual illusion of the object floating in front of the original footage.”

Key Features:

  • Realistically create the illusion that a still image is fully dimensional moving footage.
  • Subtly change the perspective of a shot, or animate it over time.
  • Can be combined with 3D tracking to add or alter elements in a scene.
  • Now you can step back in time and get another chance to move the camera.
  • Allows you to stay in After Effects when working with fully dimensional models

I know it sounds complicated, but once you check out this tutorial it should become straight forward.  If you have any questions please leave a comment below.