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Michael Szalapski

@thegreatszalam

Motion graphic designer and 3d animator who loves to get nerdy about C4D and AE. Available for freelance, especially if it's got particles in it! szalamproductions.com

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24.07.2023
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Latest posts by Michael Szalapski @thegreatszalam

INSTANT Radial Rig | Free After Effects Script
INSTANT Radial Rig | Free After Effects Script YouTube video by Jake In Motion

A very cool (FREE) #AfterEffects script from @jakeinmotion.bsky.social that lets you animate things into and out of a radial setup (and it works in 3D too)!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_yk...

23.12.2025 12:06 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Making of β€œShort and Sweet” Maxon's holiday animation pays tribute to vintage stop-motion.

You ever used #C4D simulation tools to model?
In the BTS video at the bottom of the article, Hashi uses soft body simulation to model the clouds and rigid body simulation for the trees.
Made me giggle.
Such a fun and smart way to get that imperfect look. maxonvfx.com/48JI9Hn

18.12.2025 08:22 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I love connections. It’s one of my favorite word games.

15.12.2025 16:07 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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πŸ†• Something big is coming to After Effects beta today: Variable Font Animation!

community.adobe.com/t5/after-eff...

20.11.2025 18:08 πŸ‘ 15 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 1
3D painting with redshift - Turn Any Scene into art!
3D painting with redshift - Turn Any Scene into art! YouTube video by You And Me Academy

VERY COOL technique in Redshift in #Cinema4D
AND
a really affordable pack if you don't want to do the work yourself.
Check it out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNoK...

21.11.2025 11:18 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Drive any parameter by another layer's luminance You know how awesome Compound Blur is? I want that power everywhere. Β  That is, it would be extremely powerful to be able to switch a parameter to be "driven by" another layer. Β  You would set your mi...

I wanna control parameters in #AfterEffects based on the luminance of another layer.
Think Mosaic sizes, Fractal Noise getting denser/smaller the further away it is, direction of a blur based on luminance.
If you like this, vote on my feature request: community.adobe.com/t5/after-eff...

12.11.2025 09:49 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
"NO CGI" is really just INVISIBLE CGI (5/5)
"NO CGI" is really just INVISIBLE CGI (5/5) Thanks to the sponsor, Double Jump Academy! Click the link to get started: β–Ί https://www.doublejumpacademy.com/movierabbithole And use the promo code INVISIBLECGI15 to get 15% off (within 3 weeks of the video's release) Click here for the Corridor Crew Mission: Impossible video with Todd Vaziri: β–Ί https://youtu.be/tyd77gKwpaw?t=685 For more VFX news: Befores & Afters β–Ί https://beforesandafters.com/magazine/ The Art of VFX β–Ί https://www.artofvfx.com/ VFX Voice β–Ί https://www.vfxvoice.com/ VFXexpress β–Ί https://vfxexpress.com/ Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:34 "Wait, that wasn't CGI?!" 06:02 Wicked 11:28 Good CGI 13:23 Double Jump Academy sponsor 14:29 Good CGI (cont'd) 22:08 Mission: Impossible 29:11 Outro Awesome VFX shopts with cool reels: ILM β–Ί https://www.youtube.com/@ILMVFX WΔ“tā FX β–Ί https://www.youtube.com/@weta-fx Framestore β–Ί https://www.youtube.com/@FramestoreOfficial BlueBolt VFX β–Ί https://www.youtube.com/@blueboltvfx CGEVVFX β–Ί https://www.youtube.com/@cgevvfx NOID β–Ί https://www.youtube.com/@NOIDVFX Miguel PΓ©rez Senent β–Ί https://www.youtube.com/@MiguelPerezSenent Alien Romulus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsz1GOXJE8s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVR8jx3uNoM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYg4twNFBnU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0LM2ZSOwrw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6qQotLG5hU Wicked: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT1UPJB1Fo8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQnoJkipgSo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Grbr1RTATOI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYnMQvzkP3g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2bgNtefDyE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCl9M_mk-Ag https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hUBvNtC-INQ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bOE0oMxwbys https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WO-5GrMWIU4 Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7bDencRrlg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kAe3GCEHDE Oscars 95th Oscar VFX showcase https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl2NqB7MjfE 95th Oscar VFX showcase https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnKSR94LQ9Q 95th Oscar VFX showcase https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlbiCW0144E

Jonas is back, and better than ever!

"NO CGI" is really just INVISIBLE CGI (5/5)
https://youtu.be/hniWOH_zwh8?si=sVEv_UukBiD8jCwP

02.06.2025 21:05 πŸ‘ 115 πŸ” 22 πŸ’¬ 9 πŸ“Œ 4
CC Ball Action - Official Music Video
CC Ball Action - Official Music Video YouTube video by VFX and Chill

If you love CC Ball Action: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceqS...

02.06.2025 18:26 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1

My website is currently down because I'm rebuilding it, and it's taking a really long time. In the meantime, you can download my Cinema 4D Python Effectors from here: aturtur.com/files/c4d/ef... #c4d #python

11.04.2025 21:18 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

What are your motion blur settings?

24.04.2025 22:07 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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I xpresso'd my own Morph Cam in #C4D with individual controls.

I found the morph cam's lack of finesse frustrating. On a job where flexibility was critical, I spent the time to make it happen.

Grab it from my website if you want it! jctecklenburg.com/dlc

24.04.2025 14:33 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 2
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πŸ†• in After Effects beta: Spot and Parallel light shadows in Advanced 3D!

They're fast to render and fun to play with, especially mixed with shadow color. You can do everything from super-stylized sharp shadows to realistic multi-light scenes.

More details:
community.adobe.com/t5/after-eff...

23.04.2025 19:36 πŸ‘ 14 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0

What if he fried pixels?

24.04.2025 15:00 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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πŸ– Yes; SKETCH has a release date!
Can you spot the #TrapcodeParticular shot right in the middle of our favorite trailer of the year?
🧡 See it in 4K in the thread

21.04.2025 14:29 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I don’t know if there are files based off the new functionality.

21.04.2025 19:41 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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In the Asset Browser, there’s this

21.04.2025 19:40 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A still of William Shatner as Captain Kirk yelling β€œKhan!”, but instead, it’s the word β€œTron” in the upcoming movie’s logo style.

A still of William Shatner as Captain Kirk yelling β€œKhan!”, but instead, it’s the word β€œTron” in the upcoming movie’s logo style.

Yup

07.04.2025 17:22 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

After Effects 25.2 is live! This is a big one:

High Performance Preview Playback
HDR Preview
Animated Environment Lights
3D Quick Actions
FBX Import
Enhanced Null Workflows
Keep your workspace when opening a project
Customize your comp viewer colors
and more!

helpx.adobe.com/after-effect...

02.04.2025 14:07 πŸ‘ 22 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0
Sketch | Official Trailer | Angel
Sketch | Official Trailer | Angel YouTube video by Angel

It’s so good! Make sure you see this one.
youtu.be/G62s3J9LNkM

02.04.2025 19:22 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

Think you know the effects in #AfterEffects?
Prove it with this game: www.keyframes.fun/apps/oh-no-m...

21.03.2025 22:46 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
a woman sitting at a table with a sign that says tyler perry 's house of payne in the background ALT: a woman sitting at a table with a sign that says tyler perry 's house of payne in the background
20.03.2025 22:02 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I’m so sorry, @friedpixels.bsky.social

17.03.2025 23:10 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

The article has been edited. That line no longer appears.

14.03.2025 23:48 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

This was one on the best episodes.
So many great #AfterEffects tips and #Cinema4D workflow tricks plus amazing results at the end.

10.03.2025 20:29 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

But, but, but…it’s so fun!
You know what?!? Just for that, I’m gonna do a Tip Tuesday post about how easy it is to do it with Real Lens Flares’ schmutz feature.

04.02.2025 21:59 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

It’s a big deal. I made two threads with four videos total about different ways to use it see them at @maxonredgiant.bsky.social

04.02.2025 21:48 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
a man wearing sunglasses says " at last " in a dark room Alt: Morpheus from the Matrix wearing sunglasses says " at last " in a dark room

The latest #AfterEffects public beta has a preference for keeping your current workspace when opening projects.

28.01.2025 13:33 πŸ‘ 17 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0

If you think I’m not easily distracted, you should see me demoing on the show floor at NAB, Adobe MAX, or Siggraph.

17.01.2025 17:35 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

No kidding.
They’re different tools built for different tasks.
CapCut is built to run on phones and do a limited number of tasks to a certain quality level.
After Effects is built to do a nearly infinite number of tasks (including rigging and coding) to a feature film quality level.

16.01.2025 22:55 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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What if I told you After Effects was getting rid of RAM preview?

It's true. Preview your whole sequence directly from disk with Improved Caching For Longer Playback.

Now live in public beta.

Lots more info here: community.adobe.com/t5/after-eff...

15.01.2025 21:32 πŸ‘ 70 πŸ” 10 πŸ’¬ 7 πŸ“Œ 6