If you’ve ever dipped your toes into character animation, you know that rigging is where the magic really begins. Animating characters in After Effects can be powerful, but it’s not always intuitive. One of the core decisions you’ll face is whether to use forward kinematics (FK) or inverse kinematics (IK) to control your rigs. Each […]

Designers know that sometimes the smallest detail makes the biggest difference. Shadows, for example, are one of those subtle touches that can completely transform a flat graphic into something with depth, dimension, and personality. But here’s the catch – creating precise and customizable long shadows in Photoshop isn’t exactly quick or intuitive. That’s where the […]

When it comes to exploring creative boundaries in Photoshop, most designers are familiar with brushes, filters, and layer effects. But what happens when you want to step beyond traditional tools and dive into something that feels futuristic – something rooted in complexity, randomness, and organic beauty? That’s where Lattice, the advanced generative design Photoshop plugin, […]

If you’ve ever tried to add lens flares in Photoshop, you already know the built-in effects can feel a little… limited. They’re fine for quick mockups, but when it comes to professional work – especially anything cinematic – they just don’t cut it. That’s where Ultraflares comes in. It’s widely considered the most advanced lens […]

If you’ve ever tried working with paths inside After Effects, you’ve probably realized pretty quickly that animating along a path isn’t always as smooth as it should be. The software has tools for path animation, but they often come with workarounds, extra keyframes, and limitations that can slow down the creative process. That’s where a […]

Character animation is one of the most exciting yet challenging areas of motion design. Whether you’re working on a quirky explainer video, a cinematic short, or a polished advertisement, animating characters can bring projects to life in ways no static design ever could. But if you’ve ever tried animating characters in After Effects, you already […]

If you’ve ever tried to animate a layer or a sprite along a curve or motion path in Adobe After Effects, you know how painstaking it can be. Before you start, you’re already battling dozens of keyframes just to approximate motion. That’s why traditional After Effects path animation can feel outdated compared to modern tools. […]

When it comes to animating characters in After Effects, things can get messy fast. Character rigging, especially when inverse kinematics (IK) are involved, can be time-consuming, unintuitive, and downright frustrating with native tools. That’s where an After Effects rigging plugin like IK Studio from Richard Rosenman Advertising & Design completely changes the game. IK Studio […]

If you’ve spent any time animating in Adobe After Effects, you know that while it’s incredibly powerful, it doesn’t always do everything you need right out of the box. That’s where After Effects plugins come in. These tools extend the software’s core functionality, making it faster, smarter, and far more capable. Especially when you’re diving […]

If you’re deep into the world of animation, motion graphics, or visual effects, chances are you already know how powerful Adobe After Effects can be. It’s practically the go-to software for professionals working in everything from explainer videos to full-on cinematic intros. But if you’re not tapping into the world of After Effects plugins, you’re […]

If you’ve spent any time in the world of motion graphics, you already know that Adobe After Effects is one of the most powerful tools out there. But let’s be honest: what really takes it from great to exceptional are the After Effects plugins. These plugins not only streamline your workflow but also unlock creative […]

If you’ve ever tried your hand at animating characters, you already know that rigging can be one of the trickiest parts of the process. Whether you’re working on a short film, a YouTube animation, or even a commercial project, getting your characters to move naturally is key. And when it comes to rigging in After […]

The Best Lens Flare Photoshop Plugins If you’ve ever looked at a high-end movie scene or a sleek digital ad and thought, “Wow, that lighting looks epic,” chances are, lens flares played a big part. These striking bursts of light are everywhere in visual media – from sci-fi blockbusters to glossy magazine covers. They add […]

If you work in motion graphics, visual effects, or video editing, you already know that After Effects is one of the most powerful tools out there. But even this creative powerhouse has its limits until you unlock its full potential with third-party After Effects plugins. These add-ons supercharge your workflow, adding everything from advanced motion […]

If you’ve ever found yourself buried in keyframes, yearning for that one missing feature in Adobe After Effects, you’re not alone. That’s where After Effects plugins come into play. Within the first few months of diving into After Effects, most motion designers and video editors discover these powerful add-ons that completely transform the way you […]

If you’ve ever tried to replicate cinematic depth of field in your motion graphics or compositing work, you know how challenging it can be. While After Effects offers some basic built-in tools, achieving photorealistic results often requires more advanced solutions. Enter DOF PRO (Depth Of Field Generator PRO), a professional-grade After Effects depth of field […]

Generative design is changing the way artists and designers create stunning visuals, and with the right tools, the possibilities are nearly limitless. Whether you’re working in motion graphics, digital art, or visual effects, leveraging generative design techniques can open up new creative frontiers. The best part? You don’t need to code from scratch—After Effects plugins […]

Adobe After Effects is a powerful tool for video editors, motion designers, and visual effects artists. While it comes packed with incredible features, sometimes you need extra tools to push your creativity further. That’s where After Effects plugins come in. These plugins extend the software’s capabilities, offering advanced effects, automation, and improved workflow efficiency. Whether […]

Depth of field (DOF) refers to the range within a photograph or video where objects appear acceptably sharp and in focus. It is a critical aspect of visual storytelling, guiding the viewer’s attention to specific elements within a scene while creating a sense of depth and realism. In Adobe After Effects, achieving precise and photorealistic […]

When it comes to rigging characters in After Effects, there’s certainly no shortage of available options. Depending on what the character animation requirements are, there are different tools offering different capabilities and some may be more suitable than others. Some of these tools come in the form of scripts while others come as native plugins […]

What are Photoshop Plugins? Adobe Photoshop is arguably the undisputed champion when it comes to image editing software. There is no app more powerful, flexible and recognizable than Photoshop, and with the reputation of over three decades of production-proven experience. Although Photoshop can cover just about any area of digital image editing, its true power […]

Top 10 After Effects Plugins to Enhance Your Creativity Adobe After Effects is an industry-standard tool for motion graphics, visual effects, and compositing. However, its real power lies in its ability to integrate with third-party plugins. These plugins can supercharge your workflow and expand the creative possibilities at your disposal. After Effects plugins are especially […]

Do you have an After Effects plugin idea you’d like to get developed? Check out the custom plugin development services as well as existing freeware and commercial plugins. After Effects has revolutionized the motion graphics and visual effects industry by offering unparalleled tools for animation and compositing. However, the true potential of this software is […]

As an animation professional, creative director and studio owner with over 25 years in the industry, one of the top requests I’ve always received over the years is for tutoring. So after a considerable amount of setup, I’ve put together a tutoring service that I think will be greatly appealing to many people. There is […]

All After Affects plugins for Mac have been updated to support M1 Silicon compatibility. Enjoy!

A breathtakingly-beautiful short CGI film developed by the uber-talented Aris Michailidis has just been released. The meticulous attention to detail, cinematic lighting and beautiful camera work is something to marvel at. Aris pointed out that many of the shots were developed using DOF PRO. Check out the gorgeous short film here.

Another absolutely killer generative design find by Christoph Bader & Dominik Kolb, over at deskriptiv.de. Beautiful structures oozing with organic flow as well as available 3D prints. Be sure to explore all the different gallery sites for some truly stunning work!

There’s been some silence on the home front but that’s due to several new plugins that are currently being updated / developed and will be made available soon. Needless to say, there is some awesome technology coming out soon that will be of great interest to artists, designers and photographers. While there is no specific […]

I’ve just released the Image Light Leaks Vol. 2 – a massive collection of 150 4K professional image light leaks for digital artists, designers, photographers and retouchers! Check it out here!

I’ve just come across the work of Leonardo Solaas who was commissioned to produce some stunning generative art pieces for a book called Propagaciones in Chile. You can check out the entire collection on his Flickr page. Additionally, you can see some of Leonardo’s other work on his website.

A stylish, fun and very well crafted short film called Romeo Reboot by Rafael Grampá. You can see it in full, along with a making of featurette, here.

A pretty interesting and well executed short film called Traveler written and directed by Simon Brown. See it here.

It’s been quiet around here as of late and it’s because I’ve been working hard finishing one of my latest projects. Today, CGPlugins.com was officially launched! CGPlugins.com (Computer Graphics Plugins) is a website designed for developers to promote their computer-graphics related plugins & scripts, for free, so as to draw attention, improve product visibility and […]

Beeple is the work of Mike Winkelmann and undoubtedly one of the most original artists out there today. His work is cutting-edge CGI and a lot of it consists of VJ clips – which he even gives away for free! I’ve been following Mike’s VJ work for some time (I have many favorite links on […]

In case you’ve been living under a very large rock for the past few years, you’ve been aware of the discovery of the plotting of the famous Mandelblot fractal in three dimensions, called the Mandelbulb, developed by Daniel White and Paul Nylander. Skytopia showcases some of these stunning 3d Mandelbulb projections and discusses the algorithmic […]

One of my favorite CG fractal artist is Tom Beddard over at his (recently revamped) website Sub.Blue. Tom has been developing some of the coolest CG generate art experiments I’ve ever seen, all custom written with various scripts, including a powerful Mandelbulb explorer complete with ambient occlusion coded using Adobe’s now-defunct Pixel Bender. A while […]

I’ve been a long-time fan of the super-talented Jared Tarbell’s Complexification site: a gorgeous display of computer algorithms developed for generative art creation. Jared has a jaw-dropping number of striking pieces all developed with processing.org, the open-source flexible software sketchbook and language for learning how to code within the context of the visual arts. Among […]

Another gorgeous fractal / generate art experiment created by Lee Griggs using XGen cubes rendered with Arnold. He uses a texture map to drive the length and color of an XGen primitive. While I haven’t personally used Arnold yet, it is claimed to be able to render millions of instances of geometry without any problems. […]

A gem of a find: Novastructura is maintained by Giuseppe Randazzo, a designer from Turin (Italy). Some absolutely stunning fractal experiments created with custom written scripts / software and then 3D printed. In particular, check out the Stone Fields section.

It’s no surprise I have an admiration for CFD solvers and the other day I came across this experiment which floored me – a fully GPU-accelerated computation fluid dynamics system working within a browser developed by George Corney. If you have a modern video card, this baby flies! You can check it out here: GPU […]

I just watched the first trailer for the Gooseberry Open Movie Project created with Blender and rendered with Cycles called Cosmos Laundromat. Not only are the visuals kick-ass but the story is wonderfully captivating. Congratulations to everyone who participated for doing such a great job! Read about more of the project here!

Absolutely stunning film by Erik Wernquist called Wanderers, a vision of our humanity’s future expansion into the Solar System. Erik is an insanely talented digital artist and animator from Stockholm, Sweden.