November 2006 Newsletter
In this Issue
New Free Video Tutorial!
Harry Frank has put together a very cool video tutorial for Toolfarm called Rippling Circles. He makes an interesting effect which could be used as a transition, background interest, or just eye candy. He uses a multitude of effects built into After Effects 7 Production Bundle, but users of the Standard Bundle can also follow the tutorial with a free demo of Cycore FX HD (or maybe you already own Cycore FX HD, in which, hey, you're good to go!
Get up to Speed fast with DVCreators Training, now at Toolfarm.com!
The ultimate learning experience for beginners and intermediate users.
The DVCreators training is taught by top artists in their field. The effectiveness of the training is only matched by the quality of the production… unparalleled in my (biased) opinion!
- DVCreators After Effects 7 PowerStart
A collaboration with Stephen Schleicher on the world’s finest After Effects hands-on course! - DV Creators LiveType PowerStart
Unlock the hidden potential of LiveType. Truly comprehend how the software works, discover secret shortcuts and time savers, and absorb a stream of awesome looking techniques, tips and tricks for creating mind-blowing eye candy. - DV Creators Motion PowerStart
A comprehensive training course for Motion containing three clear, fun, and practical hands-on tutorials plus a section on integrating Motion with other Apple programs. It was written by Michael Wohl, a member of the official Motion documentation team, along with Josh Mellicker of DVcreators.net. - DV Creators DV Enlightenment
A brilliant and highly enlightening course in Hollywood lighting for DV for anyone wanting to shoot stunningly beautiful, cinematic quality footage—for filmmaking, marketing projects, broadcast, special interest video, education, etc.
Get After Effects 7.0
Adobe After Effects 7.0 Professional
New Products & Updates
Noise Industries FxFactory for Final Cut Pro & Motion is now available
Based on Apple's FxPlug plug-in architecture, FxFactory is the first expandable effects package for Final Cut Studio, including Final Cut Pro and Motion. Over 100 GPU-accelerated plug-ins based on OpenGL, Core Image and Quartz Composer.
Plug-in Finder Info | Download a Demo | More on FxPlug Technology
Boris Continuum Complete 4.1 Supports Apple Final Cut Pro on Intel Macs
Continuum Complete is an expansive plug-in filter set that lets you create effects from the practical to the inspired directly in your native host interface for unprecedented workflow
Plug-in Finder Info | Press Release
Creative Background Design for After Effects 05: Molten Cells
John Dickinson's new release from the Toolfarm Expert Series. Make an undulating molten lava background. He employs Cell Pattern, Fractal Noise, Colorama and Trapcode Shine to create this unique, realistic background and shows you ways to improve your workflow with simple expressions and seamless looping techniques. Only $5!
Check it Out!
Synthetic Aperture Colorociter Colorist's Workstation
Colorociter CS-1 augments the usual keyboard/mouse interface with a traditional colorist's control surface. Four flavors to choose from.
More information
3D Garage.com Signature Courseware
One complete learning package. You do not need to purchase dozens of discs - the Signature Courseware is designed to give you an A to Z comprehensive learning course, not offered by anyone else.
LightWave v9 Signature Courseware | MODO 201 Signature Courseware
Toolfarm News
Toolfarm keeps track of AE 7 compatible, Intel Updates and FxPlug plug-ins
We want to be your go-to place for the latest information about plug-in technologies, so we've been keeping track of the latest information on what's new. Plus, we educate you on what it all means. Toolfarm is the only place on the web where you can find this information (pats self on back.)
After Effects 7 Compatibility | Intel Updates (Mac Universal Binary) | FxPlug
The Great Toolfarm Plug-in Hunt
We're giving away our awesomely cool Toolfarm t-shirts to anyone who can find an After Effects plug-in that is not listed in our Plug-in Finder. e-mail Michele Yamazaki if you have a AE plug-in not listed in our Plug-in Finder! Help us out. Win a shirt.
Toolfarm's Michele Yamazaki featured on NAB NY Podcast
Michele was interviewed by Keith Larsen and Alan Spaulding of the Connecticut Product Scene at NAB NY. Toolfarm was at the Moving Pictures Collective booth. Jim Geduldick, one of our fabulous Forum Experts presented for us at their first meeting as the MPC (formally the NYCFCUG).
Listen to the Podcast
Toolfarm Pro Tips
What is FxPlug?
By Niclas Bahn of Noise Industries
FxPlug is an image processing plug-in architecture developed by Apple’s Professional Applications group. With FxPlug, developers can create real-time, GPU-accelerated, 32-bit float plug-ins for Apple’s professional applications Final Cut Pro and Motion.
Designed by Apple for Apple Pro Applications
FxPlug offers unprecedented fast rendering, high color depth, and seamless integration with Final Cut Studio. It can leverage technologies such as OpenGL, Quartz, and Core Image to create unique effects that include on-screen controls and custom UI elements. FxPlug offers three types of plug-ins: Generators, Filters, and Transitions. Transitions, however, are only supported by FCP and not Motion.
Speed is what matters
FxPlug was designed with GPU acceleration in mind. Other plug-in interfaces were originally designed at a time when GPU acceleration was not available. Meanwhile, graphics cards have evolved to have immense processing power, but currently most plug-ins for Final Cut Pro still leave the GPU idle: as the CPU struggles to render the images, the entire system slows down. With FxPlug, plug-ins can utilize all the power available to them in the Mac Hardware.
FxPlug allows for
- Real-time effects by leveraging the GPU
- 32 bit high-precision YUV rendering in FCP, to preserve super-blacks
- 32 bit float RGB rendering in Motion
Officially, FxPlug is the future
As the Final Cut Pro 5.1.2 release notes indicate:
“Final Cut Pro 5.1.2 supports two plug-in interfaces: FxPlug and FXScript (the original Final Cut Pro plug-in format). Third-party After Effects filters do not function in Final Cut Pro on Intel-based Macintosh systems because Adobe does not officially support this format.”
If you have any suggestions, tips or questions for Toolfarm, you can contact us at 415-462-1982, or email us. Ask us anything you like...
Colin Sharp
VP Sales, Toolfarm, Inc.
www.toolfarm.com
415-462-1982
