• CGTalk.com
• Creative Cow Forum
• VFXTalk.com
• 3D Buzz – The Ultimate Resource – Free Tutorials, Training Information, Job Postings, & more
• DVXuser.com – The Filmmaking Community
• The Digital Video Information Network
• Adobe Forums
• Video Copilot Forum
• Digital Photography Review discussion forums (dpreview.com)
• Photo.net
• cinema5D.com (Forum for dslr filmmakers)
• CineForm Software Showcase – The Digital Video Information Network

Action Essentials 2 is a collection of stock footage elements for your compositing software. It is unmatched for visual effects & motion graphics. You can use Action Essentials 2 with your compositing software like Adobe After Effects CS4, Autodesk Combustion, Autodesk Toxik, Autodesk Inferno and other.

FEATURING:

• 500 Pre-Keyed High Definition Elements
• Available in 2 Versions: 2K and 720p
• 60 Minutes of After Effects Training
• 20 Bonus Action Sound FX
• Detailed Video Thumbnails
• Over 90% Live Action Footage
• Pre-Keyed Stock Footage
• Built-In Alpha channels for faster compositing

Action Essentials 2 is available in two versions you have the choice between a 2K Film Resolution: (2048 x 1152) and a 720p High Definition: (1280 X 720) version of the footage. The 2K Film Resolution version offers the most freedom for compositors with over 2.5X more resolution in each element. The 720p Version is ideal for SD and 720p work but many of the elements work great with 1080i projects as well.

Action Essentials 2 is comes with many elements you can use in your daily work on visual effects: Atmospheres, Blood,  Charges, Couch_Hits, Debris, Dirt_Charges,  Dust_Elements, Explosions,Fire, Glass, Muzzle_Flashes, Particle_Hits, Powder_Hits, Smoke, Smoke_Charges, Sparks, Wall_Hits, Shells, Water and Textures (Bullet_Holes, Burn_Marks, Cracks, Ground_Holes, Grunge_Texture & Windshields)

Select and buy the right version of Action Essentials 2 :

• 720p High Definition [1280 x 720] $99.95
• 2K Film Resolution [2048 x 1152 ] $249.95 (beyond 1080p)

We recommend the 2K version.

Andrew Kramer and the Video Copilot crew did release Pro Scores which features hundreds of sound design elements and over 50 music tracks for a wide variety of styles and music product effects. Pro Scores is a massive toolkit of professionally composed music and sound elements for creating powerful soundtracks and scores.

Pro Scores features:
Orchestral Music Tracks and Epic Musical Elements
Powerful Layered Music Tracks (Percussion, Choirs, Orchestra, etc.)
Tension Building Elements & Editorial Music FX
5 In-Depth Tutorials + 5 Layered Soundtrack Templates

Pro Scores can be bought in the Video Copilot store.

Andrew Kramer and the Video Copilot Team did relaunch on August, 1st the new Video Copilot web site. To celebrate the web site relaunch you can benefit from a sale which is valid on all products and bundles. The 15% Coupon valid through Tuesday August 5th, 2008 Use Coupon Code: “VC4″

Amongst many of the new features that the web site offers we really like the new look and feel. The new website is very clean and beatifull.

Andrew Kramer did release the long awaited “The Bullet” training.  Before you read on buy The Bullet right now.

This new DVD will take you from your favorite 3D program to After Effects and back, including compositing multi-pass renders and importing camera data.

“The Bullet” training is designed to show you how to create large-scale visual effects in an organized and powerful work flow.

What do you learn about After Effects:

• Creating elements from scratch
• Working between AE and 3D, integrating camera data
• Multi-Pass exporting and compositing
• Advanced color correction techniques
• File management and work flow tips such as pre-comp proxies
• Displacement effects and other creative uses for common plug-ins

What do you learn about 3D Software:

• Model a realistic bullet and shell casing
• Texturing and lighting with reflections
• Animation with Null objects and groups
• How to render multiple elements for compositing

The Bullet Video Training:
Over 5 Hours. If you continue with a single 3D program training time is about 3 hours.

01. Introduction / Organize
02. Preparing Footage and building 3D Scenery
03. Building Assets: 3D Muzzle Flash & Smoke
04. Building Assets: Perspective Slide Action
05. Work-Flow Tips & Building Proxies
06. Compositing the Elements
07. Final Compositing
08. Finishing Touches & Advanced Color

Andrew Kramer sells “The Bullet” for $49.95 available on a DVD or through download.

Andrew Kramer from videcopilot.net did release another great After Effects Video Tutorial. This time he is guiding you through the creation of smoke on a footage and how to stabilize it. Andrew was inspired by the book Adobe After Effects CS3 Professional Studio Techniques (Author Mark Christiansen) that we at StrongMocha.com recommend as well.  I did buy the book myself some weeks ago and learned a lot from Mark Christiansen’s book, of course not as much I learned from Andrew Video Tutorials or products videcopilot.net sells.

From Andrew’s announcement at videocopilot.net:

“In this new 2-part tutorial you will learn a great method for stabilizing footage in After Effects that smooths the result rather than freezes the tracking center. We will also create smoke flying behind a police car, which is as fun as it sounds.

This one tutorial has many great tips and techniques including, rotoscoping, expressions and matte blending.”

“I’d also like to thank Mark Christiansen for allowing me to demonstrate his stabilize technique in this tutorial. For more information about his great After Effects book” Click the book below

Some day’s earlier the same week videocopilot.net did release another useful Video Tutorial. The After Effects Video Tutorial “Smoke Screen” which teaches you how to use various compositig techniques to create these smoke designs in After Effects.

Please do not forget to support the work Andrew is doing. One great way to support videocopilot.net is to buy their products like Twitch. Twitch is available as a download version, buy Twitch here. Twitch from Videocopilot is a awesome After Effects plug-in. StrongMocha highly recommends this great plug-in.To learn more on Twitch you can read more here:

New Twitch (Vines) Tutorial @ videocopilot.net

Twitch – a “must have” After Effects Plug-in

Twitch After Effects Plug-in promotion video

Alternative you could start to stabilize and/or track footage with monet or mokey both from Imagineer Systems, however these products come with additional costs you may do not want to spend. View the product overview chart to see how Imagineer Systems products compare and what you are missing in your toolbox: Chart

Andrew Kramer did release a new Video Tutorial show how to create 3D Vines in max and finishing it up in After Effects.

You may have seen this vines in the Twitch promo video.

Twitch is available as a download version, buy Twitch here.Twitch from Videocopilot is a awesome After Effects plug-in. StrongMocha highly recommends this great plug-in.

Read our Full Twitch coverage: Twitch – a “must have” After Effects Plug-in or watch the video here: Twitch After Effects Plug-in promotion video

Twitch features:

• 6 Built-in Operators
• 7 Video Tutorials
• 10 Free Twitch Sound Effects
• 25 Effects PresetsTwitch is available as a download version, buy Twitch here.Twitch from Videocopilot is a awesome After Effects plug-in. StrongMocha highly recommends this great plug-in.

Read our Full Twitch coverage: Twitch – a “must have” After Effects Plug-in

Videocopilot.net is releasing on March, 10th the long awaited Twitch a Plug-in for After Effects which allows you to create stylistic video effects for motion graphics and visual effects. Watch the Twitch Introduction on videocopilot.net.

Twitch features:

• 6 Built-in Operators
• 7 Video Tutorials
• 10 Free Twitch Sound Effects
• 25 Effects Presets

Twitch Operator, allows you to control the effect you desire.

• Blur Operator:The blur function contains some of the most advanced features including a threshold slider, transfer modes, and aspect control.

• Color Operator:One of the most fun and useful functions allows you to colorize your twitches as well as randomize color for exciting situations.

• Light Operator:Similar to an exposure function, this operator allows you to choose from adding brightness or darkness to your Twitches or even both.

• Scale Operator:With built in Motion Blur and random anchor selection the Scale operator will give you endless possibilities.

• Slide Operator:One of the most fun to use, the Slide operator has many controls over slide, motion blur, tendency and the advanced RGB Split.

• Time Operator:You can even randomly offset footage forward or backwards with this handy operator control.

Twitch Plug-in is compatible with 7.0 (windows and mac), CS3 (Windows and mac) and Premiere Pro CS3 (Windows and mac). Some Twitch features are not supported with Premiere Pro CS3.

Twitch is available as a download version, buy Twitch here.

Twitch from Videocopilot is a awesome After Effects plug-in. StrongMocha highly recommends this great plug-in.

Adobe After Effects CS3 Professional – Upgrade Adobe After Effects CS3 Professional

Sam got seriously damaged this time. In this tutorial you learn how to apply a “fake” wound to a person in this case Sam (using After Effect) and slowly heal the wound.

To keep videocopilot rocking purchase some of their powerful DVDs from the Online Store. Videocopilot  also has several bundles that are worth checking out.