Psychedelic Radial Displacement in After Effects!
Archives: Tutorials

The Movie Poster in 9 Steps!

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TipSquirrel Movie Poster Credits Block Template:
https://www.tipsquirrel.com/movie-poster-credit-template-for-photoshop/

Fonts used in this tutorial:
https://www.dafont.com/rodfat.font
https://www.dafont.com/sf-movie-poster.font

Moon Image:
https://moon.nasa.gov/resources/127/lunar-near-side/?category=images

Galaxy Image:
https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2021/hubble-watches-an-intergalactic-dance

Dragon Image:
https://stock.adobe.com/images/wyvern-or-dragon-fantasy-creature-flying-with-mouth-open-to-breath-fire-3d-illustration-isolated-on-white/416541152?prev_url=detail

Roman Warrior:
https://stock.adobe.com/images/male-athlete-in-the-armor-of-an-ancient-warrior/243869080?prev_url=detail

Masked Hero:
https://stock.adobe.com/images/shot-of-isolated-on-grey-black-woman-warrior-holding-axe-and-shield-dressed-in-ancient-armor/512256549?prev_url=detail

Helmet Warrior:
https://stock.adobe.com/images/epic-warrior-man-in-white-background-side-view/373016977?prev_url=detail

Pyramid:
https://stock.adobe.com/images/pyramids-of-giza-in-egypt/375305942?prev_url=detail

Procedural Fire in After Effects!

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PROJECT SETUP

1920×1080, 24fps, 6 Seconds

PROJECT MAP

Layers and effects are arranged as they appear in the project. I recommend building the project starting at the bottom and building to the top.

"FIRE" (Main Comp):

IF "SOURCE" LAYER IS A TEXT LAYER

1) "SOURCE DISPLACE" (Black Solid)

    Calculations Effect –

        Second Layer: "SOURCE" / Effects & Masks,

        Second Layer Opacity: 100,

        Blending Mode: Copy

    Gaussian Blur Effect –

        Blurriness: 20

    Fractal Noise Effect –

        Offset Turbulence: KEYFRAME from 960 540 to 960 0

    Levels Effect –

        Output White: 127

IF "SOURCE" LAYER IS NOT A TEXT LAYER

1) "SOURCE DISPLACE": Duplicate of LAYER 6  (your SOURCE) with Displacement Map and Compound Blur Effects

    Gaussian Blur Effect –

        Blurriness: 20

    Fractal Noise Effect –

        Offset Turbulence: KEYFRAME from 960 540 to 960 0

    Levels Effect –

        Output White: 127

2) "COLORIZE" (Adjustment Layer)

    Levels Effect –

        Gamma: .8

    Colorama Effect –

        Output Cycle: Fire Preset,

        Blend With Original: 30%

    Glow Effect –

        Glow Radius: 300,

        Glow Intensity: 2,

        Glow colors: A&B Colors,

        Color A: FF6500, Color B: A91200

    Unsharp Mask Effect –

        Amount: 100

3) "OVERLAY" (Black Solid) Overlay Blending Mode

    Gradient Ramp Effect –

        Start and End Points adjusted to match subject

    Fractal Noise Effect –

        Fractal Type: Dynamic,

        Invert: On,

        Contrast: 150,

        Scale: 200,

        Offset Turbulence: KEYFRAME from 960 540 to 960 -1250,

        Blending Mode: Multiply

    Fractal Noise Effect –

        Contrast: 50,

        Brightness: -48,

        Scale: 9,

        Offset Turbulence: KEYFRAME from 960 540 to 960 -540,

        Evolution: KEYFRAME 0 to 5.00,

        Blending Mode: Add

    Turbulent Displace Effect –

        Size: 30,

        Offset Turbulence: KEYFRAME from 960 540 to 960 -50

4) "FRACTAL FLAMES" (Instance of Precomp) Overlay Blending Mode

    Displacement Map Effect –

        Displacement Map Layer: "SOURCE DISPLACE" / Effects and Masks,

        Max Horiz: 100,

        Max Vert: 100

5) "INVERSION" (Adjustment Layer) Exclusion Blending Mode

    Gaussian Blur Effect –

        Blurriness: 50

    CC Vector Blur Effect –

        Type: Direction Fading,

        Amount: 140,

        Angle Offset: 180,

        Vector Map: "BACKGROUND"

    Displacement Map Effect –

        Displacement Map Layer: "FRACTAL FLAMES",

        Max Horiz: 15,

        Max Vert: 75

    Solid Composite Effect –

        Color: Black

    Fractal Noise Effect –

        Contrast: 75,

        Brightness: 40,

        Offset Turbulence: KEYFRAME from 960 540 to 960 100,

        Blending Mode: Color Burn

    Turbulent Displace Effect –

        Displacement: Twist Smoother,

        Amount: 20,

        Offset Turbulence: KEYFRAME from 960 540 to 960 -250,

        Complexity: 7

    Turbulent Displace Effect –

        Amount: 20,

        Evolution: KEYFRAME from 0 to 2.00

    Offset Effect –

        Shift Center To: 960 560

6) "SOURCE" (Text layer or any white shape with transparent background)

    Displacement Map Effect –

        Displacement Map Layer: "FRACTAL FLAMES",

        Max Horiz: 6,

        Max Vert: 6

    Compound Blur Effect –

        Blur Layer: "FRACTAL FLAMES",

        Max Blur: 4

7) "BACKGROUND" (Black Solid)

"FRACTAL FLAMES" (Precomp)

1) "Fractal Flames" (Black Solid)

    Fractal Noise Effect –

        Fractal Type: Dynamic,

        Invert: On,

        Sub Scaling: 60,

        Sub Offset: KEYFRAME from 960 540 to 960 -570,

        Evolution: KEYFRAME from 0 to 3.00

Comic Book FX from Photos in Photoshop!

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To download textures, scroll to the bottom!

QUICK INSTRUCTIONS (for advanced users)

Mask the subject and convert to Smart Object.
Shadows/Highlights with Shadows at 100%.
Camera Raw Filter – Noise Reduction 100, Detail 0.
Camera Raw Filter – Noise Reduction 100, Detail 0, Saturation -100.
Oil Paint – All the way up (lighting turned off).
Threshold – find darkest Shadows (about 90).
Make 2 copies – call top layer “Lines”, middle “Grey”, bottom “Black”.

“Grey” layer:
Adjust Threshold toward mid-tones (about 120).
Place Grungy Halftone texture on top set to Screen, create clipping mask.
Set “Grey” layer to Multiply.

“Lines” layer:
Trash the Oil Paint filter.
High Pass filter underneath Threshold filter set to 2 or 3.
Adjust threshold to pick up line-work (about 125).

New Group Folder on top, “Color”, set to Multiply.
Mask the Color Folder to match subject.
Solid Color layers inside the folder – invert mask, then paint in where you want color.

Drag and drop vector elements in background, grunge in foreground, etc!

DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS (for beginners)

1) Create a simple mask for your subject by tracing it with the Polygonal Lasso Tool (click and hold the lasso tool in the Tools panel to find the Polygonal Lasso Tool).

2) Use the “Create Mask” button at the bottom of the Layers panel.

3) Right click your layer in the Layers Panel and convert it to a Smart Object.

4) Use Image>Adjustments>Shadows/Highlights. Use default values, with the Shadows at 100%.

5) Use Filter>Camera RawFilter. In the Detail section, turn Noise Reduction to 100, and Detail to 0.

6) Use Filter>Camera RawFilter again. In the Detail section, turn Noise Reduction to 100, and Detail to 0. Also, in the Basic section, bring Saturation to -100.

7) Use Filter>Stylize>Oil Paint with Stylization at 10, Cleanliness at 10, and Lighting turned off.

8) Use Image>Adjustments>Threshold. Find a value that leaves only the darkest shadows (about 90).

9) Make two duplicates of the layer. Double click the layer name in the Layers panel and rename the top one to “Lines”, the middle one to “Grey”, and the bottom one to “Black”.

10) Turn off the “Lines” layer for now.

11) On the “Grey” layer, double click the Threshold filter in the Layers panel, and move the value toward the middle (about 120).

12) Drag in the Grungy Halftone Texture, which you can download below, and scale it to fit over the entire image.

13) Move the Grungy Halftone layer to be directly above the “Grey” layer in the Layers panel, then Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac) between the two layers to create a Clipping Mask.

14) In the Layers panel, set the Grungy Halftone layer to Screen mode. Set the “Grey” layer to Multiply mode.

15) Turn on the “Lines” layer by clicking the eyeball next to it in the Layers panel. In the Layers panel, turn off the Threshold filter for now. Drag the Oil Paint filter into the trash.

16) Use Filter>Other>High Pass with a Radius of 2 (for thicker lines, use a radius of 3 or 4).

17) Drag the High Pass filer underneath the Threshold in the Layers panel.

18) Turn Threshold back on. Double click the filter and adjust the value to pick up the lines, without getting too much noise (usually about 125).

19) If the image has eyes in it, create a new layer (plus button in the Layers panel) and drag it underneath the “Lines” layer. Using the Brush Tool with the color set to white, paint in where the whites of the eyes should be. Paint black dots to fit in the irises of the eyes.

20) Shift-select all the layers in the Layers panel and drag them into a Group Folder.

21) Apply the Stroke Effect to the folder (fx at the bottom of layers panel). Set the Stroke to black, with a Size of about 4px, and the Position at Center.

22) Also apply the Drop Shadow Effect to the folder. Set the Blending Mode to Normal, color to white, Opacity to 100%, Distance to about 6, and Size to 0.

23) Create a new, separate Folder called “Color”. Set the folder to Multiply mode.

24) Ctrl-click (Windows) or Cmd-click (Mac) the “Lines” layer thumbnail  in the Layers panel to make a selection in the shape of the layer.

25) With the “Color” folder selected, use the Create Mask button (bottom of Layers panel) to add a mask to the folder.

26) Inside the “Color” folder, create a new Solid Color layer (bottom of Layers panel) with a color of your choosing.

27) Select the mask of the Solid Color layer and invert it (Image>Adjustments>Invert).

28) Using the Brush tool, paint white into the mask of the Solid Color layer to reveal color where you want it.

29) Create additional Solid Color layers with masks to add more colors.

30) Introduce any background elements – solid colors, vector elements, shape layers, gradient layers, etc.

31) Drag the additional grunge textures into the document, scale them to fit, and set them to Screen mode.

32) Adjust and refine – double click the threshold Filters on the “Black” and “Grey” layers to dial in your shadows.

Done!

Movie Trailer GFX in After Effects!

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In this tutorial, we’ll check out a surprisingly simple setup in After Effects to create cinematic typography effects, complete with studio-style dramatic lighting! With the help of an effect that’s more versatile than it sounds – CC Plastic, we’ll create a professional looking graphic in a single comp with just a few layers. For an … Continued

Hand Illustrated Effect – After Effects Tutorial

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ADJUSTMENT LAYER SETUP
(Effects and layers are listed as they appear in the project)

1) HILIGHT Adjustment Layer
Fill- Color: Black
Bevel Alpha- Edge Thickness 15, Light Angle 50, Light Intensity 1
Simple Choker: Choke Matte 7
Solid Composite: Color Black
Fractal Noise: Complexity 3, Blending Mode Overlay
Fast Box Blur: Radius 2
Threshold: Level 110
Median: Radius 3
Fast Box Blur: Radius 1
Brightness & Contrast: Contrast 80, Use Legacy On
Set Matte: Default Settings

2) SMOOTH ALPHA Adjustment Layer
Turbulent Displace: Displacement Bulge, Amount 3, Size 40, Complexity 4, Evolution Expression “time*400”
Fast Box Blur: Radius 5
CC Threshold: Threshold 110, Channel Alpha
Roughen Edges: Fractal Influence 0

Turn Photos Into Stars and More in Photoshop

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In this Photoshop tutorial, we’ll harness the power of blending modes to convert a photo into a multicolor star halftone! With the same principles, you’ll be able to create your own halftone patterns – especially if you have a working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator. Download the free Star Halftone Patterns below, and be sure to … Continued

Grungy Chrome in Photoshop OR After Effects

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PHOTOSHOP 16 Bit Document (Layers are listed as they appear in the document, "➔" indicates layer in Clipping Mask)

1) Curves Adjustment Layer for extra contrast

2) Texturelabs_LensFX_155: Screen mode, Opacity 50%

3) Texturelabs_LensFX_139: Screen mode, Hue/Saturation with Hue at -180

4) Texturelabs_LensFX_139: Screen mode, Hue/Saturation with Hue at -180

➔ 5) Texturelabs_Grunge_122: Overlay mode, 40% Opacity

➔ 6) Texturelabs_Sky132: Blend-if underlying layer white sliders at 16 and 84, Hue/Saturation with Saturation at -50

➔ 7) Gradient Map Adjustment Layer: Grungy Chrome preset

➔ 8) Texturelabs_Grunge_155: Overlay mode, 10% Opacity

➔ 9) Layer with Black to White Gradient: Overlay mode, 60% Opacity

10) GROUP FOLDER
10a) Text Layer: 50% Grey text, Bevel and Emboss with Depth 200% Size 10px Global Light Angle 80, Inner Shadow Effect with Opacity 50% Distance 0px Size 35px

11) Black Background Layer

AFTER EFFECTS (Layers are listed as they appear in the composition)

1) Overall Adjustment Layer: Noise Effect 7%, Gaussian Blur Effect 2, Unsharp Mask Effect Amount 100, Curves Effect for extra contrast

2) Glow Adjustment Layer: Screen mode, Levels Effect with Input Black 18500 and Input White 31500, Fast Box Blur 30, Solid Composite set to black

3) Texturelabs_LensFX_155: Screen mode, Opacity 50%

4) Texturelabs_LensFX_139: Screen mode, Hue/Saturation with Hue at -180

5) Texturelabs_LensFX_139: Screen mode, Hue/Saturation with Hue at -180

6) KNOCKOUT Solid Color Layer: Stencil Alpha Blending Mode, Set Matte Effect with Take Matte From TEXT LAYER

7) Texturelabs_Grunge_122: Overlay mode, 40% Opacity

8) SkyBlend Photoshop Layer: Exported from Photoshop with Blend-if settings listed in Photoshop instructions above, or download the PSD using the Texturelabs link above

9) Adjustment Layer: Apply Color LUT Effect with GrungyChrome LUT (download link above)

10) Texturelabs_Grunge_155: Overlay mode, 10% Opacity

11) GRADIENT Solid Color Layer: Gradient Ramp Effect with swap colors and start/end points matching top and bottom of underlying text, Turbulent Displace Effect with Amount 100 Size 50 and Evolution keyframes from 0 to 360 degrees over a few seconds

12) TEXT LAYER: 50% Grey text, Bevel and Emboss with Depth 200% Size 10px Global Light Angle keyed from 80 degrees to 40 degrees over a few seconds, Inner Shadow Effect with Opacity 50% Distance 0px Size 35px

Stencil Spray v2.0 | Photoshop Action

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Quick steps to get the action up and running:
1) Double click on the zip file, then move the SprayMap.psd file to your desired location.

2) Drag the Texturelabs_SprayAnything.atn file into Photoshop.

3) Create a temp throwaway layer.

4) In your Actions Panel, open the details of the Spray Anything action.

5) Double click on the first item – “Open”.

6) Point Photoshop to the SprayMap.psd file.

7) Close the SprayMap.psd file.

8) In the action details, scroll down about halfway to the Displace step of the action.

9) Double click on each instance of Displace – used six times.

10) Leave all values as they appear, click OK, then point Photoshop to the SprayMap.psd file.

11) Optional – double click on the Action and assign a keyboard shortcut.

12) All set! Apply the action to any layer.

Burn Transition | After Effects Tutorial

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In this tutorial, we’ll check out an After effects setup for a high quality burning transition effect. Using only native effects in the program, we’ll generate glowing embers, trailing smoke, heat distortion, and more. For an easy-to-use template with custom effect controls and a ton of extra features, check out the “Burnout” Template below! Also … Continued

Animated Spiral Effect | Photoshop Tutorial

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In this tutorial, we’ll check out a clever technique for creating a perfect spiral in Photoshop. Then we’ll apply it as a retro-style optical illusion and create a looping animated graphic! This project makes a nice introduction animation – in fact, the “Video Timeline” in Photoshop uses many of the same principles as Adobe After … Continued

Toy Camera Photos | Photoshop Tutorial

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In this tutorial, we’ll check out a few techniques for creating the artistic look of a simple plastic analogue camera. Vignetting, light leaks, distortion and chromatic abberation – all the things which modern high end cameras have tried to minimize – will become our tools for creating unexpected, playful images. There’s nothing more fun than … Continued

Retro Halftone Effects | Photoshop Tutorial

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In this tutorial, I’ll run through a setup I use to create halftone effects in Photoshop. Great for posters, apparel, stickers, or just creating cool retro-lookin stuff! This approach will bypass the halftone filters and create the effect from scratch, with the added benefit of being live and adjustable. In the second half of the … Continued

Art History Brush | Photoshop Tutorial

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In this photoshop tutorial, we’ll check out a fast, fun, and easy way to create digital oil paintings! We’ll focus on one specific tool – the art history brush. Once you’re up and running, this tool unlocks all kind of awesome possibilities…. but first, it does help to get a basic sense of how the … Continued

Weathered Live Type | Photoshop Tutorial

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This is one of my favorite techniques in Photoshop. In this tutorial, we’ll check out a method for distressing typography and shapes that is totally adjustable and non-destructive. You can weather any font or single-color logo in real time… awesome for apparel, print design, and more!

Stipple Illustration Effect | Photoshop Tutorial

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BONUS: to create the Sun Rays at 01:05:
1) Create a new image, 2000px by 2000px, with a white background.
2) Use Filter Gallery→Halftone Pattern, with size set to 12, contrast set to 50, and pattern type set to Line.
3) Rotate the layer 90 degrees.
4) Use Filter – Distort→Polar Coordinates set to “Rectangular to Polar”.

Engraved Money Effect | Photoshop Tutorial

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Create this strange and simple texture in Photoshop to apply an engraved Illustrated look to your photos and artwork. In this tutorial, we’ll run through the basics of getting it set up, then take a look at a few techniques to give your image a more authentic dollar-bill style treatment. BONUS: to create the Sun … Continued

Color Bleed Watercolor Effect | Photoshop Tutorial

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Learn to create an ultra-realistic bleeding ink or watercolor effect in Adobe Photoshop! In this tutorial, we’ll harness the power of Photoshop Actions to build a one-button effect that can be applied to photos, text, artwork and more. For an updated, ready-to-go action to create this effect, check out the “Ink Bleed” Photoshop Action below! … Continued

80s Ultra Chrome Effect | Photoshop Tutorial

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Create hyper-stylized 1980’s chrome text and logos with a few versatile techniques in Adobe Photoshop! In this tutorial, we’ll cover the basic process of how to set up a chrome reflection that can be customized for infinite different looks, plus a few extra details to give the image some hyper-realistic radness.

Cinematic Light Rays | Photoshop Tutorial

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Create advanced looking light beams or sun rays for text, artwork, and photography using a few simple steps in Adobe Photoshop. In this tutorial, we’ll use a free Photoshop action combined with a few techniques for a dramatic final look.

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