Instagram posting

Want to put a video up on Instagram? Use this tut:
http://whoismatt.com/instagramexportsettings/

That CUDA error on AE

You know that error that keeps popping up on AE? Something about CUDA 5.0 and Raytraced GPU?

Use this:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/mac-driver-archive.html

And download the latest driver. Should fix the problem. The latest driver is the one on top.

Yes, I know. I love you too.

Setting up my new MBP

So today I received my new, souped-up Macbook pro in the mail. Slick, streamlined, fast as a bat out of hell, and missing TONS of stuff I'm used to.

Like:
-Firewire (an adapter at B&H)
-Ethernet (buy an adapter)
-A DVD drive! (buy an external)

But buying all this stuff takes time and a trip to the store, so I had to think fast...

First, I had to make a disc copy of each installer DVD I needed, from my old Mac.
http://www.cnet.com/news/need-a-copy-of-your-dvd-mac-os-x-does-that/

And uploaded to Dropbox online, also from my old Mac:
www.dropbox.com

And then copy back to my new MBP and run the installer. And then error! Because of my Security prefs:

How to fix:

And in this last window, click the button marked "Open Anyway."

Now what about my data? It says 10 hours on WiFi. And no Ethernet–remember, I have to buy an adapter for that.

Well if I really need to speed data transfer up between my 2 macs, I'll need a Thunderbolt-to-Thunderbolt adapter. Plug old laptop into the new & use Target Disk to transfer. (NOTE: if you're working on a dinosaur machine, you may need to plug into Ethernet on both, or prepare for 1 long night...)

Target disk?

Long-winded explanation here, or simply put, have new machine ON. Have old machine OFF. Plug both using Thunderbolt cable. On OLD machine, hold T and turn on Power button. After that a cool thunderbolt icon in a circle will float around on its screen, while it will turn into a hard-drive on your new machine. On the NEW machine, run the app "Migration Assistant." And just choose the files or apps you want to transfer from the Old Mac's icon.

Since my old Mac was a hot mess of files, I only used Migration Assistant to transfer my Apps (which transferred beautifully). Then I manually copied only the files I needed onto my new mac from Finder, while both machines were hooked into each other using Target Disk and good old Thunderbolt-to-Thunderbolt adapter.

So after already spending a boatload of money on the MBP, I have to spend MORE...about $130 more. But the speed of this thing may make these extra $$ worth it.

Installing a new printer:
http://superuser.com/questions/678095/why-dont-i-have-any-canon-printer-drivers-on-mac-os-x-10-9-mavericks

Also, if your Wacom tablet ceases to work, you may need to re-install the drivers:
http://us.wacom.com/en/support/drivers/

Or if you have a dinosaur Wacom:
http://us.wacom.com/en/support/legacy-drivers/

If you miss OS Mavericks, here's how to downgrade:
http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac-software/revert-back-mavericks-from-yosemite-3581872/

FAQ: AE error, RAM preview requires 2 or more frames, etc...

Oh man if I had a nickel for every time a student asked me about this error, I'd have a heck of a lot of nickels.

Check a couple things first:
-How long is your work area? To re-set it, go to the start of where you want to render. Hit B. Go to the end of where you want to render. Hit N.

-What's up with Preview window? That's the VCR controls–make sure it's set to play all frames.

If it's still freaking out, quit your Browsers. What? Yeah, I mean Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Explorer, Netscape, whatever whatever. Seems irrelevant but it's a Known Bug in AE that hasn't been fixed in about 2 versions. Quit your browser, and RAM preview already.

Make your AE work better/faster/stronger

Optimize your AE performance! Bam!

http://www.toolfarm.com/blog/entry/in_depth_optimizing_after_effects_for_the_best_performance#now
-Great tips on simple stuff you can do NOW to make your AE work better. Not too technical.

http://modio.tv/how-to-make-after-effects-render-faster/
-What is a disk cache? How can you make it work for you?

And from the guys at Adobe: good old help. Gotta love it.
http://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/improve-performance.html

Free & legal image/sound resources

Fonts:
Fontsquirrel
1001 Free Fonts
DaFont (check usage rights on each font prior to using commercially)
Fontspace
LostType (pay what you wish for personal use)
Free fonts for minimalist designs

https://freefontsfamily.com

https://www.wfonts.com

Music:
Adweek Article: 10 Royalty-free music sites
Youtube Royalty-Free music library
Melodyloops.com
MusOpen.org

Soundclick: Free Hip-Hop Beats

Beatstorm

Last FM

http://freemusicarchive.org/

Vector images:
Vecteezy.com
http://all-silhouettes.com/
https://thenounproject.com/ – Amazing icons!

Videos:

All Free Download Footage
Archive.org

Beachfront B-Roll

Coverr
Clipcanvas
cutestockfootage.com

Detonation Films
Distill

EditLw
Flickr Creative Commons
Free HD footage – make sure AdBlock is on.

Free Video Footage

Footage Crate
HD Trainings--it's German, but Google can translate it.
Ignite Motion

Library of Congress
Life of Vids

Mazwai

Motion Elements

Movie Tools
Newsmarket -  news clips
OpenFootage
OpenImages (footage too, Dutch website)

OrangeHD

Pexels

Pixabay
Plixs

Pond5 Public Domain

Prelinger Archive
Reddit Footage
Reddit Stock Footage
Splashbase
Splasheo Free
Stock Footage 4 Free
Videezy

Videvo

Vidsplay

vimeo free channels: stock footage, VFX footage free, Vimeo Creative Commons, freeHD
Wikimedia Video

Xstock video

Greenscreen footage, tracking footage to practice on
http://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com/

Brushes
brusheezy.com
Deviant Art (check usage rights on each brush set before using commercially)
http://www.graphicsfuel.com/2013/10/10-grunge-texture-brushes-photoshop/
http://all-free-download.com/photoshop-brushes/photoshop-brushes.html

Still images:
http://pexels.com
http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/
http://www.gratisography.com
https://picjumbo.com/
https://pixabay.com/
http://www.morguefile.com/archive
http://www.freeimages.com/
http://littlevisuals.co/
http://getrefe.tumblr.com/
http://picography.co/
http://jaymantri.com/
http://publicdomainarchive.com/
https://stocksnap.io/
http://negativespace.co/
http://www.splitshire.com/
http://www.lifeofpix.com/
http://deathtothestockphoto.com/
http://lockandstockphotos.com/
http://www.public-domain-photos.com/
https://www.flickr.com/groups/freeuse/
http://www.imageafter.com/index.php
http://www.dreamstime.com/free-photos
http://www.turbophoto.com/Free-Stock-Images/
http://4freephotos.com/
http://www.freepixels.com/
http://www.freeimages.co.uk/
http://www.freefoto.com/index.jsp
http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/
https://pixnio.com
https://mavl.io/

https://unsplash.com/

Textures:
mayang.com/textures
cgtextures.com
http://lostandtaken.com/
http://www.ucreative.com/resources/40-plus-various-high-quality-free-paper-patterns-and-textures/
http://www.wildtextures.com/
https://filtergrade.com/free-vintage-grunge-textures-for-photographers/
http://www.ispsd.com/05/35-free-high-resolution-marble-textures-collections/

Sound Effects:
http://sweetsoundeffects.com/
http://soundbible.com/
https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/soundeffects
https://offers.adobe.com/en/na/audition/offers/audition_dlc/AdobeAuditionDLCSFX.htmlmore to come...

FAQ: What is a Square keyframe shape?

Question: What is that square keyframe icon and how do I apply it?

I know it will appear automatically after the Toggle Hold is applied but I can't seem to get it without it.

You're on the right track. A square keyframe or house-on-its side is called a Hold keyframe. The only way to get it is to select a linear keyframe and go to "Animation menu/Toggle Hold keyframe." This command means "change the currently selected keyframe to or from (toggle means to-or-from) a Hold keyframe." Then all keyframes created after this will become holds as well. To have a keyframe turn back to a linear (diamond shaped keyframe), simply select that Hold keyframe and choose "Animation menu/Toggle Hold keyframe" again.

Some animators I know don't use Hold keyframes at all. Instead, they'll create a regular (linear) keyframe at 1 value, and 1 frame later change the value to a different number. For instance, to turn a layer off really quick at 1 second in the timeline, at 29 frames they'd create a keyframe at 100% opacity and at 1:00 (30 frames) they'd create a keyframe at 0% opacity. To change it back to 100% at 2 seconds, they'd create a keyframe at 0% opacity at 1:29 (1 second 29 frames) and then a 100% keyframe at 2:00 (2 seconds). I don't usually do this (because I dislike extra keyframes: 4 keyframes instead of 3 in this case), but some animators prefer this method of 1-frame-apart keyframes to have something "pop" to a new value.

For more nerdy info on keyframe shapes and what they mean, check out Adobe's AE help page on "Keyframe Interpolation Methods."