7 Free Cloud Based Apps Every Designer Needs to Use

Tuesday, July 12th, 2011

Category: Articles, Useful tools

Everyday is a battle to get your work done on time, on budget and to the highest standards possible. To increase your productivity you need to inlist the help of other applications and services to fight beside you on the front lines. Here is a list of resources we use on a daily basis that keeps our team on target.

1. Dropbox - Dropbox allows you to easily transfer files between you and your clients, sync files between your different workstations, backup important files and create public links to share with the world. Go get your free 2GB account today and start integrating cloud based storage into your workflow. You will soon wonder how you lived without it.
2. Skype - Forget MSN and ICQ! Skype is the leading tool to interact with your clients, associates and friends. With features like video calling, screen sharing and group calling, this is way better than what any landline could ever offer.
3. Evernote – Gone are the days of scrapbooks full of clippings, print outs and notes. Evernote is your digital scrapbook and filing cabinet that captures anything you want and keeps it organized using notebooks, notes, titles, tags and web links. Start storing your text, images, webpages, audio recordings and video clips with a free account.
4. CloudApp - Quickly share images, links, music, videos and files with a drag and drop of a mouse click. This small application will take your piece of media, upload it to the web and create a shortened URL that points directly to it. Plus it keeps track of clicks! Could we ask for anything easier?
5. Wunderlist - Life is a list and Wunderlist keeps them up to date across platforms and devices. You will not be disappointed with the rich features this simple application possesses.
6. MailChimp - This is your one stop shop for all of your mailing list needs. It has every feature you would ever want in a mailing list service and a ton of extras. Don’t bother trying the other services out there because this one is the best!
7. Twitter - As the online world becomes more social, so must you! Start building a social network using Twitter and get immersed into this new form of communication. Feel free to add us now! @jmdesign

The applications we are gravitating towards are those that sync with the cloud. To stay nibble and mobile we need tools that are accesible from any Internet enabled device so our data, networks and communites go where we go.

Top 7 Motion Graphic Design Demo Reel Mistakes

Monday, July 4th, 2011

Category: Articles

We see a lot of demo reels roll through our doors and we see the same mistakes happen over and over again. Here are the top 7 mistakes we see regularly.

1. Using template material – Come on designers! Stop using material in your reels that is not your own. If you can buy it, download it or learn it in a tutorial it should not go into your reel, no matter how cool that sparkly lens flare looks. You may fool the average consumer, but any design firm or agency can sniff someone else’s design work in your reel from a mile away.
2. It is so long we fell asleep - Your reel should be no longer than a minute. Only put work in your reel that shows that you have the skills and the experience to get the job done right. If it is outdated, poorly designed or doesn’t show well than don’t put it in your reel. The purpose of your demo reel is to get more work, not deter it.
3. Poor render quality – You could have the best work in the business, but if it doesn’t show well than you will have a hard time landing that big contract. If you work in HD then render in HD! Who doesn’t love watching great reels in 720 HD at fullscreen? When you output your reel at standard def or lower it demonstrates that you lack the care for quality and preservation of detail.
4. Who made this? - We hate coming across great reels and having to hunt and peck to determine who made it. Open or close your reel with your contact information. This could include your name, email, website and phone number.
5. Lacks presentation skills – When we look at reels we look at everything and take it into consideration when we hire. This includes your website design, branding, video quality, typography, color theory, communication and overall professionalism. We also snoop past your reel if it is linked to a Vimeo account, Twitter feed, YouTube account, website or blog. Make sure your links, sites and accounts are squeaky clean. The more professional you look, the more likely we will trust you with our cherished clients.
6. Stale hard bread – Just the other day we were sent a reel with a date that was four years old! In the design industry four years is like four decades. Especially when it comes to motion graphics. As times passes, design style change and your level of craftsmanship should be improved . Your reel should be updated yearly and only contain your most current and best looking work.
7. Flat out lying - Not too long ago we received a resume from a designer who stated they had twenty years of experience in motion graphics and After Effects. We found this hard to believe because the most early seedlings of After Effects weren’t born more than 18 years ago. Nonetheless we gave the designer the benefit of the doubt and let his reel do the talking. If his reel could speak it would say, “I’m an average designer that lacks creativity, style and experience.” Let’s just say they never got a call back from us. In short don’t lie. It will be obvious your a fake when we watch your reel or past work examples.

For more tips on creating a better motion design reel check out “Five Steps to a Better Motion Demo Reel” by GSG.

JMDesign compatability site updates

Saturday, August 21st, 2010

Category: Articles

Over time your website runs the risk of having out dated technologies and may lack features that allow it to play well with new technologies. When I created the JMDesign website a year ago Flash videos players were all the rage. I decided to use JW Player as my Flash video player because of its rock solid platform, options and support. Times have changed and as Apple steadily becomes a force in the web standards industry, HTML 5 is in and Flash is being phased out to play video on the web. As you probably know any iOS device such as the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch cannot play Flash natively. I looked for alternatives, but none presented themselves until last week. Vimeo announced an embed code that detected device connectivity and delivered content accordingly. This was huge because I could now create a site that would work across any platform.

Over the past week I have made these updates to my site

• Changed all the video embed code (JW Player and Vimeo) on my website to Vimeo’s new embed code.
• Uploaded all the videos my website to Vimeo that were being played from my server as MP4 and FLV files.
• Added a Twitter feed to the Pro Blog and a Follow us on Twitter link to all site footers.
• Added social media links to every post on the Pro Blog.
• Added social media links to the player page.

Top 5 Sites for AE Scripting Resources

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Category: Tutorials, Web links

1. After Effects Scripts

2.Dan Ebbert’s Resource for AE scripting and expressions

3. Creative Cow After Effects Scripting

4. XScriptorium

5. AE Enhancers

Honorable mention
Greymachine’s 5 Favorite Expressions

10 Inspiring Motion Graphics Blogs

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Category: Tutorials, Web links

1. Video Copilot Blog

2. Motionworks

3. Aetuts+

4. Grayscalegorilla

5. VisualFXtuts

6. Maltaannon

7. Graymachine

8. Amateur Media

9. AE Portal News

10. Maxafter

Xbreaker for Cinema 4D

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Category: Free downloads, Web links

Optical Flares by Video Copilot

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Category: Useful tools, Web links

I just bought the newest After Effects plug-in by Video Copilot called Optical Flares. This powerhouse of a plug-in does way more than the out-dated Knoll Light Factory and at $124.95 what is there not to like?

How to be a Motion Designer and get paid

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

Category: Articles, Web links

Nick Campbell from Greyscale Gorilla made a great presentation at MGFest titled “How to be a Motion Designer and get paid“. He covers such topics as:

• What classes should I take?
• How do I market myself?
• I’m about to graduate. How do I get my first job?
• Do I need school?
• I’m the best at my job… Now what?
• How do I learn the skills necessary to become an artist?

How to Be A Motion Designer and GET PAID from Nick Campbell on Vimeo.

Unplugged by Motionworks

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Category: Web links

John Dickinson has been producing a great online video series called Unplugged. His 30 minute webisodes are casual interviews with leading motion graphic designers in the industry such as Andrew Kramer from Video Copilot, Peder Norrby from Trapcode, Aharon Rabinowitz from All Bets Are Off and Nick Campbell from Greyscale Gorilla to name a few. John has produced 13 outstanding episodes so far and all his fans are looking forward to watching many more.

Light Streaker

Monday, November 9th, 2009

Category: Free downloads

I made this fun light streak animation using Trapcode 2 and Knoll Light Factory. The clip is in full 720p and is 15 seconds in length.

Download file