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Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

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It doesn’t matter whether you are a designer, a developer, an artist or an amateur learner – at some point you need to improve the quality of the original picture or video. You may want to retouch and enhance his or her photographs and videos, make it look better, more spectacular and more original. It could be for personal or commercial use. Most of us know how to edit and enhance the digital photographs using our favorite image editing software. But when it comes to videos, the techniques are completely different from that of classic image editing.

In this post we present best tutorial for visual effects in movies (with Adobe After Effects, 3DSMax etc.) that will (hopefully) teach you how to create impressive videos which can be used for your presentations or websites. Visual effects are used in post production which involves integration of live-action footage and computer generated imagery. You can use it to enhance or manipulate videos, just the way you usually do with image processing tools.

Best Tutorials For Visual Video Effects

The 007 Intro
This tutorial shows you how to achieve the classic introduction of James Bond films using only basic After Effects plug-ins.

Bond Look in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Create a MoGraph Urban Jungle
Use 3D Match moving to create stunning Urban Jungle effect where vector graphics are perfectly tracked to a city footage.

Urban Jungle in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Energy
Create a complex energy scene with CC particle world in Adobe After Effects. Also learn to animate particles in 3D with multiple instances.

Energy in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Droste Effect
This tutorial demonstrates the use of new Pixel Bender plug-in to obtain “Droste Effect”.

Droste Effect in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Light Streaks
This tutorial shows you how to create light streaks inside live action footage

Light Streaks in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Car Racing Scene
Create a scene of cars racing down a road towards camera. This can be added to your car chase footage. Although the title states the use of photographs, it can be also used with your moving footage as well. Part 1 and Part 2

Car in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

3D Shadows
Learn how cast 3D shadows onto live action footage.

Shadows in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Disintegration
Build a furious procedural disintegration effect in Adobe After Effects.

Disintegrate in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Futuristic HUD
Create 3D interface display in Adobe After Effects inspired by Iron Man’s helmet.

Futuristic Hud in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Underground Blast
Simulate a dramatic underground explosion that ripples and dislodges the ground.

Underground Blast in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Aurora Borealis
Learn how to create the Northern Lights.

Aurora in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

The Juno Opening Credit Look
Adobe After Effects tutorial to create famous handmade juno opening sequence.

Juno Opening in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Artistic Look
Creating an Artistic Look with Minimax and Overlay in After Effects .

Artistic Look in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Realistic Camera Move with Parallax
Need to add realistic camera moves? This tutorial will help you to achieve it. Also you can refer to “Virtual 3D Photos” tutorial to get more deeper into it. “Virtual 3D Photos” tutorial will teach you to create a video footage from photos with “realistic camera move” effect.

Parallax in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Historic Naval Battle Scene
This is another tutorial that will teach you how to create a VFX naval battle scene from an ordinary footage.

Naval in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

3D Crater
Create a realistic crater into a live footage. This tutorial has been divided into 3 parts – 3D Crater p1, 3D Crater p2 and 3D Crater p3.

Crater in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Creating an interior scene
This tutorial shows you how to make an interior scene using 3dsmax with realistic rendering in Vray. It could be used with your green screen video footage later.

Minterior Front in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Better Compositing with Particles
This tutorial shows you a technique for placing layers inside the middle of a particle system – crucial to truly integrating your CGI effects with your live action footage or motion graphics.

Particle in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Realistic Car Hit

Carhit in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Old Film look

Film Look in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Particle Half-tone Effect

Half Tone in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

3D Rain
This tutorial will teach you how to turn an aerial video footage into a cold nighttime storm with torrential rain and lightning.

3d Rain in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Lightsabers
Apple Motion tutorial for creating lightsabers.

Saber20 in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Healer
Adobe After Effects tutorial to create a realistic self healing effect.

Healer in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Time Freeze
Adobe After effects tutorial to a create illusion of frozen world around a person.

Time Freeze in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Breathtakingly Awesome Rain Scene
Adobe After Effects tutorial shows how to create the dramatic slow motion rain drops falling scene. Part 1 and Part 2

Rain in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Slow Motion
Create a slow motion video footage without use of high speed camera.

Slow Motion in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Car Light Trails
Create car light trail effect in Adobe After Effects with help of 3d stroke effect.

Light Trails in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Instant Freeze
Adobe After Effects tutorial will explain how to add instant freeze effect to a footage. Also shows how to add camera lens frost over and crack to give it a realistic look.

Instant Freeze in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Futuristic Floating Hologram Effect
This tutorial will show you how to make a futuristic floating hologram over a cellphone.

Hologram in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Track Live Video to a Postcard
This tutorial shows how to track video to a Postcard using scripts which are freely available. Also shows how to recover highlights from the tracked footage and apply them back over the moving video for a very convincing effect.

Postcard in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Compositing Fog
Daniel Broadway shows the correct way compositing fog elements in a video footage.

Fog Correct in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

War scene
This tutorial shows you how to create a realistic war movie from a video footage shot using only one actor and a camera man. This is an advance tutorial in which color correction and effects like realistic camera shake and bullets hitting the ground are used to give it a realistic look. Part 1 and Part 2

War in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Soul Removal
Create soul removal effect using particle system in Adobe After Effects. This tutorial also shows you to add facial Distortion and handy expressions to make it more realistic.

Soul Removal in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Object Removal
In this tutorial you will learn techniques for removing unwanted objects from the footage.

Object Removal in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Body Shatter Effect
This shows you how to create a body shattering effect.

Shatter in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Meteor Crash
Create ground destruction using 3D Max and Adobe After Effects. Tutorial has been divided into 2 part Meteor Crash 3D p1 and Meteor Crash AE p2.

Meteor Crash in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Simulated Lighting
Make explosions and muzzle flash.

Lightening in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

CE ColorCorrection
Adobe After Effects tutorial will teach you to change the look and feel of your footage easily with Color correction plug-in.

Cecorrection in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Kamehameha
Learn how to make a kamehameha using Adobe After Effects with Trapcode’s Shine.

Kamehameha in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Day to Night Conversion
Tutorial to transform daylight footage to night footage along with artificial lights and illuminate windows.

Night in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Bleach Bypass Effect
This tutorial shows you how to get bleach bypass look to your footage in Adobe After Effects. You can also have a look at similar tutorial which uses color correction filters available with Final Cut Pro.

Bleach Bypass in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Lava from dry field image
This tutorial shows you how to create lava from a dry lava field image.

Lava in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Sky Replacement
One of the most useful tutorial for your everyday videos, to fix blown out sky.

Sky Replacement in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

3D Eyeball
Tutorial for creating a 3D eyeball that can look around the room, using CC Sphere to create a material of the eyeball.

Eye in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Demon Face
Very useful tutorial if you want to create a horor film. You can also have a look at the similar tutorial Vampire fang growth.

Demon in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Water Drops
This tutorial will teach you to create water droplets on the camera lens with DOF.

Rain Drops in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Old TV Footage Effect

Old Tv in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Skin Displacement
Simulate the look of bugs crawling under the skin using Adobe After Effects.

Bugs in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Turning to Skittles
Tutorial is quite detail (but no explanation) which shows how to create those skittles using 3D Max and compositing it in Adobe After Effects. It makes use of many techniques like rotoscoping, tracking etc. The final output it similar to Hilarious Skittles Commercial. This tutorial is split into two parts Part 1 and Part 2

Skittles in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Sin City look
Tutorial for adding sin city look to a footage. This tutorial makes use of Silhouette Roto plug-in.

Sin City in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Blemish Removal
You must have gone through several skin enhancement Photoshop tutorials before. But when it comes to video, the technique totally differs to that used for digital photos.

Blemish Removal in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Blood Splatter
Learn how to make blood stick to things.

Blood Splatter in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Assisted Suicide
Tutorial for compositing digital blood burst and a muzzle flash.

Assisted Suicide in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

EarthQuake
Tutorial to add earthquake effect in a video footage.

Earthquake in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Flashback Effect
This tutorial shows you how to add flashback look to your footage, like in the film “The Bourne Ultimatum”.

Flash Back in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Set Extensions
This tutorial will help you to customize or extend a live action set with custom matte painting. You will also learn to link several motion trackers into one null object.

Set Extension in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Frosty Breath
Create the illusion of cold breath on a warm day.

Frosty Breath in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Orbing and Beaming Effects

Orbing in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Talking Head
The fastest way to create talking creatures without the use of keyframes.

Talking Head in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

Invisible Effect

Invisible in Best Tutorials For Cinematic Visual Effects

About the author

Vailancio Rodrigues likes to learn new things and share them with others. He likes to work in the creative field and is constantly improving his skills. You can follow Vailancio on Twitter.

Related posts

You may be interested in the following related posts:

Vailancio Rodrigues, born and currently living in scenic beauty of Goa, spent most of his childhood in art and creativity. At present a College student who likes to try and do different things at every moment. Also an webmaster and web designer – Tiny Goa and Pixel Art.

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  1. 1
    Meach
    May 4th, 2009 6:20 am

    Tuts form videocopilot are still one of the best, we all love Andrew :)

  2. 2
    Jesse
    May 4th, 2009 6:28 am

    Great links. Although I don’t do video, mainly web + print; I’m sure if I do in the future, these will come in handy!

  3. 3
    Nemo
    May 4th, 2009 6:30 am

    Dude that “flock of birds” final video looks soooo bad and unrealistic it has to be a joke, right?

  4. 4
    Carlos
    May 4th, 2009 6:49 am

    Awesome! Thanks.

  5. 5
    LazyAdmin
    May 4th, 2009 6:54 am

    Great list! When I have some time I will defenetly try some of these

  6. 6
    DKumar M.
    May 4th, 2009 7:28 am

    Some Nice Stuff!!

    DKumar M.
    @instantshift

  7. 7
    xea
    May 4th, 2009 8:00 am

    Stunning! Thanks

  8. 8
    Andrew
    May 4th, 2009 8:14 am

    I’m not a video guy, but I love watching these tutorials, especially the videocopilot ones. They’re surprisingly witty, plus the end results are really cool looking. I’ve always wondered how some special effects were done, these take the mystery out of it.

  9. 9
    DyNamicLinQ
    May 4th, 2009 8:28 am

    OMG This is the best compilation ever! Thanks a lot guys :)

  10. 10
    Sebyrar
    May 4th, 2009 9:29 am

    Great compilation, my fav is Learn how cast 3D shadows onto live action footage. I’m trying to do the same ! Thxs

  11. 11
    Heather
    May 4th, 2009 10:36 am

    There’s a reason most of these are from Video Copilot – Andrew Kramer is the best.

  12. 12
    Damonstration
    May 4th, 2009 12:50 pm

    Hey my kamehameha tutorial! :D I’m flattered to be even remotely associated with Andrew Kramer haha.

    By the way, here is a better image if you would rather use it:

    http://i43.tinypic.com/2mrdwli.jpg

  13. 13
    Vinícius Alencar
    May 4th, 2009 1:35 pm

    Videocopilot is really the best…

    All are very good, but the Andrew…

    No Comments…!!!

    Amazing
    Cool

    Vinícius Alencar
    From Redenção – Pará – Brazil

  14. 14
    sherwin (www.sherwinjupiter.com
    May 4th, 2009 2:57 pm

    Videocopilot is the best online visual effect tutorial it got on this planet.. Andrew is de man for the job.. he is funny. intelligent. hats off to him… great guy

  15. 15
    Alexis
    May 4th, 2009 3:19 pm

    I agree, I think Videocopilot is really amazing!! I think visual effects are difficult no matter what the medium or technology. You have to strike a good balance between what is believable and what is amazing! I can say that I’m no expert but the few visual effects I’ve done have always been fun to pull off.

    Alex – Professional Cutie
    MioAmoreDesign

  16. 16
    Darwin Santos
    May 4th, 2009 4:00 pm

    Awesome tutorials. thanks.

  17. 17
    mike
    May 4th, 2009 5:16 pm

    so awesome!

  18. 18
    Therapix
    May 4th, 2009 5:31 pm

    Great selection!

  19. 19
    house
    May 4th, 2009 8:01 pm

    really good, thanks!

  20. 20
    Neeraj Kumar
    May 4th, 2009 8:01 pm

    This is something which is called Seriously Smashing!!!

    I would like SmashingMagazine to post some animation tutorials as well, like ones that you see in movies like wall-e and up or vodafone’s Zoozoos

    This post has gained entry to my Vault!

  21. 21
    kanchan
    May 4th, 2009 8:25 pm

    Videocopilot is really the best.

  22. 22
    [Angelik]
    May 5th, 2009 12:03 am

    Thanks! great tutorials and great effects!

  23. 23
    Russ
    May 5th, 2009 12:29 am

    You might aswell just put a link or videocopoilot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  24. 24
    justastranger
    May 5th, 2009 1:06 am

    Wahahaha damn theres a lot of videocopilot in this collection! Andrew Kramer FTW!!!

  25. 25
    Dread
    May 5th, 2009 2:37 am

    Videocopoilot is great. Support Andrew, buy the essential DVD or twitch. Its worth!

  26. 26
    Víctor
    May 5th, 2009 2:59 am

    Amazing Tutorials!!! I´m going to learn a lot today!!

    ;)

  27. 27
    Yosh
    May 5th, 2009 3:32 am

    Thanks! great post ^^

  28. 28
    bs.kishore
    May 5th, 2009 3:46 am

    Breathtaking……..!

  29. 29
    Quakeulf >:3
    May 5th, 2009 4:57 am

    Taking a stab at CGSociety, are we? >:3

    Nice list, even though it’s of limited usability for me as of now.

  30. 30
    Kasper
    May 5th, 2009 5:44 am

    For all the (potential) AE ppl out there, here are some ressources:

    VideoCopilot (Andrew Cramer)
    AE tuts+ (Daily tuts – also for other Adobe products)
    Creative Cow (Mother of all)
    Red Giant TV (Trapcode is a must have plugin as well as other of their ressources)
    Mark Christiansen (Guru)
    Malt Annon (Tuts & scripts)
    Dan Eberts (Script father of all – redifinery)
    GrayMachine (Tuts & articles)
    FXPhd (A PHD in FX…? worth an article in its own…)
    MotionWorks (com.au)
    AEenhancers (script forum)

    Sry I didn’t provide links, should be easy to Google, but wrote these from the top of my head…

    Also remeber the Adobe forums and different Adobe developers blogs.

    Nice article, nothing groundbraking new, but nice to see that you Smashing people are looking at motion graphics as well.

  31. 31
    Therapix
    May 5th, 2009 8:57 am

    @20

    Vodafone’s Zoozoos are real actors.
    You, above all, should know that they’re women from Mumbai with foam costumes.

  32. 32
    Siah
    May 5th, 2009 9:57 am

    wow some really good stuff here, danke.

  33. 33
    ATGP
    May 5th, 2009 12:09 pm

    @30

    thanx kasper. you posted some useful ressource.

  34. 34
    Bemoi
    May 5th, 2009 12:58 pm

    Greaaat Tuts, Thanks Mate, They Are Just What I Was Looking For…

  35. 35
    Matt F
    May 5th, 2009 8:42 pm

    Not too sure why Smashing just didn’t save some space and put two links for Videocopilot and AETuts+ . . .

  36. 36
    Simpson
    May 6th, 2009 1:50 am

    OMG Very good for me! Thanks! Support!

  37. 37
    купить бассейн
    May 6th, 2009 3:56 am

    Realistic Car Hit – very nice)
    Almost the most viewed Tutorial.

  38. 38
    Chris
    May 6th, 2009 12:12 pm

    What a great tutorial! Thanks for this effort.
    I still have a question. I’m a beginner in filming but trying to learn as much as possible. I’m wondering how to turn my movies into a real film look effect. You can always recognize professional movies. I hope you know what I mean.
    Anyone know a good tutorial how to get this effect?

  39. 39
    Matt F
    May 6th, 2009 3:32 pm

    @38 – Chris.

    Unfortunately it is usually not an “effect”, it’s good lighting and cinematography. There are technical limitations to video: frame rate, dynamic range, focus etc that cannot match film, but a lot of it is *how* you shoot. Study some movies you really like the look of and take note of how the camera moves and how the sets and actors are lit.

  40. 40
    Dan
    May 6th, 2009 8:18 pm

    I feel like every time I see posts like this it is mostly all Andrew Kramer when I know for a fact there are plenty of great people doing tutorials with a style different from Mr. Kremer. Don’t get me wrong he’s incredible, but find some others!

  41. 41
    Kevin
    May 8th, 2009 4:33 am

    “I feel like every time I see posts like this it is mostly all Andrew Kramer when I know for a fact there are plenty of great people doing tutorials with a style different from Mr. Kremer. Don’t get me wrong he’s incredible, but find some others!”

    I agree.


    Kevin

  42. 42
    DDB
    May 8th, 2009 9:25 pm

    LOL looks like the author finally discovered Video Copilot…

  43. 43
    sama creation
    May 10th, 2009 7:50 am

    What a great tutorial! Thanks for this effort.

  44. 44
    arun
    May 17th, 2009 10:24 pm

    i wnat to know that which is the best visul effect instituets in delhi ?

  45. 45
    Jason Saggers
    May 19th, 2009 3:38 am

    Adobe after affects is a nice program that I would love to try if it didn’t cost so much.
    I have used other software before but it is simple compared to most adobe products.

  46. 46
    Bilal Ghouri
    May 21st, 2009 3:30 am

    Great ! I’ve always wanted to know how do they create light streaks in movies.

  47. 47
    petesangyal2
    June 1st, 2009 9:12 pm

    man i have been looking for a site like this for a looooooong time!tnx to the author(s)….VERY MUCH!!!!

  48. 48
    Qwojfgdm
    June 22nd, 2009 4:58 am

    fGTW8P comment6 ,

  1. 00

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