How to Make Effects in Films

In this Episode, we will look at some very useful techniques for Trapcode Particular that will give you better control of emitter position in 2D and 3D. You will also learn how to capture the motion of your mouse (or stylus) to control emitter position. Creative Cow is a supp ...more

In this Photoshop tutorial, Richard Harrington explains how to output a DV video signal directly to a SD video monitor from Adobe Photoshop using a digital video converter via firewire and video preview controls. This is a very helpful tool for making adjustments to your color ...more

Some free tricks on how to use the color range command in Photoshop. Many people use the old method of utilizing the magic wand tool for selecting areas of color, the color range selection tool has more flexibility and control. Richard walks you through using this tool and sho ...more

In this video tutorial, Eran Stern shows you a technique to enhance your tracking and compositing results by using Mocha AE and RG Warp Corner Pin plug-in. Creative Cow is a support community for digital video, video editing, and media production professionals in broadcasting ...more

Exploring the problems associated with blending images that have square and non square pixel formats. Learn about how to fix some of the blunders of pixel aspect ratio mixing and how Photoshop CS4 is trying to help solve some of these pixel nightmares. Creative Cow is a suppo ...more

In this tutorial, Creative Cow contributing editor Carl Larsen shows you how to build an expression-based vehicle rig that automatically calculates the rotation of its wheels based on the movement of the vehicle chassis. Creative Cow is a support community for digital video, ...more

In this video tutorial, Creative Cow leader Michael Park shows you how to recreate the opening gun barrel sequence from the two newest James Bond movies in 3d Studio Max using the default scanline renderer, minimal modeling, and only standard materials. Creative Cow is a supp ...more

Native P2 Editing in Final Cut Pro with MXF4mac. Creative Cow is a support community for digital video, video editing, and media production professionals in broadcasting, motion graphics, special FX and film. Creative Cow hosts tutorials in a variety of softwares including Ad ...more

In this tutorial, Broadcast Designer Jason Brown will show you how to knock out a vector logo from Adobe Illustrator into a 3D logo in Maxons Cinema 4D. The tutorial also touches on basic texturing, lighting and animation. Creative Cow is a support community for digital video ...more

One of the best features of Apple's Final Cut Studio is the graphics interface feature Motion. With its ability to create and edit motion graphics, you can easily create title sequences for your indie film, or maybe even a professional movie, with 2D or 3D visual effects compo ...more

Check out this video to learn how to use the paste laminating system and three part mold-making techniques. This is an advanced process that is not for beginners. This process is for working on medium to large projects, this is a labor-saving process for those who need a large ...more

Check out this detailed video that covers how to mass cast an object with no flat sides. This video is only for very experienced mold makers or the particularly ambitious. When mass casting a part without a flat side, you must create a two-part mold. We create a two-part silic ...more

For a new user, Adobe Premier Pro can be overwhelming. There's just so much you can do! So, a little guidance, or shall we say "basic training," is what you'll need to get started editing your own home video or professional film. This five-part series is your basic training, t ...more

Need some cool sound effects for your next film? Kipkay's got an idea… the "Rumble Pipe". This noisemaking pipe creates a rumbling sound perfect for any drone SFX. Try it out. It's just a little sounds effects gizmo. Cheap and easy! Materials: * 2" SCH 40 PVC * Hacksaw * Rul ...more

This video tutorial will show you how to apply four styles of lighting. This video teaches you how to apply four styles of lighting, namely Rembrandt, Beauty, Cameo and filling in from the Key Side. You will learn about high contrast lighting schemes, dealing with the amount o ...more

In this four part video tutorial, Creative Cow leader Carl Larsen shows you how to create a 360 degree camera-aware environment in After Effects without the use of third-party plug-ins. In part two, build a title sequence within the 360 degree environment created in part one o ...more

Want to learn how you can make some awesome YouTube videos of your own? Maybe your own Internet show or maybe even a short indie film... well, one way to make things easy is a green screen. This two-part video tutorial will show you how to make your own green screen studio and ...more

The Black Swan hit theaters today, and everyone's raving about Natalie Portman's performance as Nina, the ballet dancer who must cope with her emerging evil side. In the film, Nina competes against Lily (Mila Kunis) to be prima ballerina in a production of Swan Lake. Whoever ...more

This video will show you how to make a stop motion film using an editing program called Windows Movie Maker. Find a place to film your stop motion movie. Preferably a well lit area where the light source is constant. Set your camera on a tripod and position at the angle you pr ...more

In this two part episode, Aharon Rabinowitz shows you how to use audio to control time. You'll learn how to make your video automatically move forward in time to the beat of the music - a technique used in tons of music videos and commercials. In Part 2, Aharon continues to e ...more

This is a 3 part tutorial. Be sure to click on Chapters 2 & 3 to get the full tutorial. In Part 1 of this 3 part Adobe Illustrator tutorial series, Vincent Rosati explains how to use the free transform tool to take the first step in creating a helix with AI. In Part 2 of thi ...more

In this two part Photoshop tutorial, Richard Harrington takes a look at the camera raw files and the camera raw interface. Many video professionals do not know much about the camera raw interface because it is a technology mainly used by digital photographers. The key advantag ...more

This is a two part video tutorial. Be sure to click on Chapters 2 as well to get the full tutorial. Taking a look at the popular technique of designing lower thirds and the process it takes to design these using Photoshop. Photoshop is the perfect solution for this task with ...more

Need some smooth pan shots for your indie film? How about a cool dolly zoom effect? Well, you don't need to be a professional filmmaker to use such a device, but you do need the money for the gear. But—if you can work your way around the workshop, you can probably build your o ...more

Adopting a style that favours the body's stronger muscles is important when climbing. On steep rock, the most effective way to increase your performance may well be to change the way you climb. When climbing slabs and vertical walls it is not uncommon to be face-on much of th ...more

Using Curious Turtle's Film Wash Color Effects in After Effects create a Super 8 look to your film. In this tutorial, you will learn how to build up a color grade using several layers, then using expressions and After Effects own filters to finish the look. To learn more about ...more

How to make Jedi force jump effects as seen in the Star Wars movies for your own films using Effects Lab and Windows Movie Maker. Part 1 of 2 - How to Create force jump effects for your movies. Part 2 of 2 - How to Create force jump effects for your movies.

Create your own realistic looking custom camera shake effect! Camera shake makes the film look like the cameraman is unsteady, an effect which can be used to create a documentary or a more "in the moment" feel for your film project. Rather than using the premade node in Eyreon ...more

In this video tutorial, Creative Cow leader Aharon Rabinowitz shows you how to create the flashback look as seen in the film The Bourne Ultimatum with some extra touches and hints in Adobe after Effects. Sooner or later, you're going to need to be able to make that flashback f ...more

A breakaway chair is one of the best pranks, or one of the easiest effects for your indie film project. A breakable chair can be made out of simple household items, and is very cheap. The biggest material needed is cardboard. So basically, you'll make a cardboard chair, that b ...more

Backyard FX shows how to build a real lightsaber. Erik Beck unearths the original lightsaber blueprints from the special effects creator for Star Wars, and show you how to buy parts to a real lightsaber so you can have your own custom Star Wars weapon. In the test film you'll ...more

Marvel's recent string of wildly successful films based on its wildly successful comics have ushered in a whole new era of comic book films. All of the Marvel films have a very cool Marvel logo effect during their opening credits. This video will teach you how to create the sa ...more

In this tutorial, we learn how to break an arm in half & blow up a head in film. To do this, you will need: a tripod, after effects, and actors. First, you need to record a shot with the background and the person whose head you want to blow up. After this, put the clean plate ...more

The rain of neon-green computer code that makes up the matrix in the iconic film The Matrix is a familiar image to anyone familiar with the film. Now you can make it yourself! This two-part video will teach you how to create this awesome effect using the Adobe Premiere Pro vid ...more

In this how to video, you will learn how to create a film look to your videos in Final Cut Pro. This effect will create a light and warm tone to the clip. First, take the original clip and copy and paste it. Grab it and place it on top of the original clip. Next, make sure tha ...more

A great special effect for any film or movie is the space warp effect, like this bleach bypass effect. It's a little tricky to make, but once you know, fairly simple. Learn how to create a bleach bypass effect in Sony Vegas. ConnersTutorials is all about showing you how to ma ...more

One thing you need to know in particular about Sony Vegas is rendering. If you don't know how to render, you're not going to make a good film or video. So watch this and see how to render video in Sony Vegas. ConnersTutorials is all about showing you how to make quality, chea ...more

What every indie filmmaker needs is a little program called After Effects. After effects does wonders for any film requiring a little special effects that would normally be too expensive to make "real". Like this glowing eye effect. See how to make an eye glowing effect in Ado ...more

Dynamite your way to movie success with an explosive bomb. A fake explosive bomb, of course. TNT on a timer is a great movie effect for you action flick. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to make a prop movie bomb. ParkersTutorials is a DIY filmmaking show for all of you ...more

Creating a curved video look, also known as the fisheye look, is one of the easiest camera tricks possible, and can also be done with your editing software. It's commonly used in skateboarding videos, but be done for any low budget indie film. See how to create a fisheye look ...more

For those who want to make zero budget films with special effects, there's only one way to go these days... with a computer. They may look like crap, but they're cheap!

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to build a green screen. The materials required for this project are: two 10 ft long PVC pipes, measuring tape, saw, duct tape and pipe elbows and couplings. Begin by marking the two PVC pipes with 6 ft on one side and 4ft on the other ...more

Into special FX? Check out this video for a lesson in green screen. Watch and learn how to use green screen in After Effects. You can use green screen to make incredible visual effects for your videos and short films.

Sin City used some of the coolest visual effects of any recent film. This two-part video uses a clip from the iconic film as an canvas to which we can apply some other editing effects using Adobe Premiere Pro. Specifically, the first part covers using color passes to absorb co ...more

We all know that movies now-a-days don't use real rocks, but fake rocks for their film sets. Why? Because it's safer, lighter, easier to movie, and you can design them exactly how you want them. So if you need a rock for your indie film project, make it yourself. There's nothi ...more

It's time to smash that iPhone, but wait… you don't really want to break your iPhone, do you? That's were a fake iPhone prop comes in, perfect for any homemade movie. Just make this, and switch it out with the real one during the anger attack. Watch this video tutorial to lear ...more

The FN P90. Everybody wants one, but more than likely, you can't get your hands on one, especially if it's illegal in your area. Designed by FN Herstal back in the 80's, the P90 personal defense weapon is the cream of the crop. It's full name, Project 90, specifies a weapon sy ...more

Bring a little bit of super technology into your indie film with a prop robot dog. This is not a real robot dog, but a fake robot dog made from foam core poster board and a few other household materials. Think Lost in Space and The Jetson, only the robot is a dog. Watch this v ...more

It's medieval mayhem and you need a sword prop. Maybe you're larping, or maybe you just need a fake, dull movie prop blade for your action epic. Either way, this is a great weapons build project for a cool replica wooden sword. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to build a ...more

Yes, a smashable board of wood. Just what the propmaster called for. A long 2x4 piece of wood prop is perfect for smashing overtop somebody's head during an action scene. The smashable board is easy to make, too. But not as easy as breaking it. Watch this video tutorial to lea ...more

A grenade is the best way to make your indie action war flick more realistic, but anyway you try it, it's not going to be completely "realistic". You need a prop grenade, and you can eerily make it yourself out of cheap household materials. Watch this video tutorial to learn h ...more

A fake brick is a great movie prop for any action film. You can break through brick walls, smash a brick in two, or throw a brick at someone without being charged with murder. The majority of this fake brick is made of foam. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to make a fak ...more

You can't have a werewolf movie without a werewolf, but how do you make one. Well, you should start of small. Try your hands at the wolf claws. To create these furry werewolf claws, you'll need a glove and some other materials. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to make a ...more

Everybody has that destructive feeling sometimes, when you just want to smash your computer to bits due to a glitch or virus or freeze up. If you're making a film, it's a little more plausible that the computer would actually get smashed, considering it would be a fake prop co ...more

An RPG is a rocket propelled grenade, which is a common tool for enemy combatants in Iraq these days. If you need to have an RPG for your action war movie, then it's best to build your own prop one, since RPG's aren't exactly legal. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to ma ...more

In this Adobe After Effects tutorial Tony Reale shows you how to create a ghost effect for your films.