
After Effects Tutorial: Essential Shortcuts for Beginners
Learn the basic keyboard shortcuts you need to start using Adobe After Effects from scratch, with Manuel Neto
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Learn the basic keyboard shortcuts you need to start using Adobe After Effects from scratch, with Manuel Neto

Discover the life and work of the award-winning director, writer, and editor of Nomadland who made history in 2021 Chloé Zhao is the name on everyone’s lips after making Oscar history as the first woman of color to take home the Best Director prize. Having already won a number of awards for Nomadland, including the top prizes at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals and both the BAFTA and Golden Globe for Best Director, the world was poised to see if her poetic drama starring Frances McDormand would triumph at the 93rd Academy Awards. It did. Not only was Zhao awarded Best Director, Nomadland also picked up Best Picture and Frances McDormand took home Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in the film.

Do you want to learn to create reference images for developing your 3D characters? Check out this guide When it comes to illustrating hand-drawn sketches to convert into playful 3D characters, animator, illustrator, and director Laurie Rowan (@laulrowan) knows the importance of searching for and learning how to use inspirational resources to guide your creative process. In 3D characters illustration, you need to learn how to turn hand-drawn sketches into 3D rendered images. Laurie shares a guide with his personal approach to character design to help you discover new sources of inspiration and explore your imagination when building your characters and sets.

Learn about the life and career of the composer and multi-instrumentalist who know teaches a course on Domestika Carlinhos Brown (@carlinhos_brown) was the first Brazilian musician to be appointed as Ibero-American Ambassador of Culture and to become a member of the Oscars Academy. He is a singer, composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist, visual artist, a judge on The Voice Brasil, and has worked on The Voice Kids. He will also soon publish a course on Domestika. In the course Introduction to Percussion: Discover the Magic of Rhythm, the artist demonstrates the power of percussion instruments, not just for music but for universal communication. In addition to shedding light on his career path and influences, Carlinhos talks about the power of percussive communication, taking us on a journey through his ancestral past in which he will present instruments from different parts of the world. The course also covers topics such as composing and arranging and include tips on recording and editing. Be sure to check out the trailer!

Learn about the inner workings of a camera and how to choose the right settings for your next video project Sensitometry is the scientific study of light-sensitive materials, such as photographic film. In digital photography, the camera sensor is the electronic equivalent to photographic film. In order to understand sensitometry in a digital context, we need to first get our heads around how a camera sensor works. We will then examine the differences between shooting RAW, LOG, and Rec709 Video before looking at dynamic range and ISO. What is a camera sensor? A camera sensor is a piece of hardware inside a camera that receives and transmits information to make an image. It is made up of millions of cavities called “photosites.” When the camera’s shutter opens, these photosites open and capture photons, which are stored as electrical signals that the camera’s processor reads and interprets. This information is then stitched together to form a grayscale image. To capture color images, a Bayer array filter has to be placed over each photosite to determine the color of the images.

Discover the equipment and materials you need to take incredible portraits, full of humanity, with Emilia Brandão

Learn this simple, marble-effect, butter cream icing technique from scratch, with Julián Ángel, aka Historias del Ciervo

We challenged artist Yolahugo to draw the New York skyline… in an unusual way

Shadow photographer Cauê Moreno to witness his busy routine and discover his inspirations and creative process

Download thousands of images of cassettes, the retro object that is making a comeback On March 11th, it felt like the death of Lou Ottens, the inventor of the cassette tape, signaled the death of his creation. However, nothing could be further from the truth: the cassette tape is back, not just as a piece of design to be admired but a tangible way for independent bands to distribute their music. This has resulted in increased interest in the way they are made. The site Tapedeck.org is a project created by German graphic designer and street artist Neck Cnse, which showcases the amazing beauty and, sometimes, usualness of the designs. Below, we share a selection of unique models and explain the story behind this revival.

Learn the basics of watercolor painting with this free e-book from Domestika experts Watercolor can be a perfect medium to awaken your creativity. You don’t need experience, and anyone who feels drawn to this technique can begin right away. Domestika’s free watercolor e-book is a beginner’s guide that can help you make the most of this medium and reach your artistic potential. Get some essential tips as you read it, and discover why this discipline attracts so many artists. It will become a valuable go-to reference for revisiting the basics and making painting an enjoyable experience.

The world’s largest tropical wetlands are home to spectacular nature that the Brazilian photographer has spent 7 years exploring

Discover the origin and features of naturalist illustration, as well as the steps involved in drawing flora and fauna The natural sciences have gone hand-in-hand with art for centuries, thanks to naturalist illustration. Since the 16th century, naturalists have taken part in scientific expeditions or investigated nature of their own accord. The preservation of their drawings of their discoveries resulted in the knowledge they obtained becoming the foundations of modern science. If you like to observe and draw nature, then this article is for you. Discover the characteristics of this discipline and the steps you should follow to create your own naturalist illustration. You will also learn the subtle differences between this discipline and scientific illustration, such as their objectives.

Five young wordsmiths use poetry to reflect and inspire change Today is Earth Day, an annual event that sets out to educate individuals on different issues affecting the environment, raise awareness of climate change, and encourage people to live more sustainable lifestyles that protect natural resources. It also celebrates the achievements of climate activists around the world. Nature has always provided wordsmiths with an infinite source of inspiration. However, while the Romantic poets wrote about nature’s beauty, today’s ecopoets call out the destruction caused by poor choices and poor policy, while inspiring listeners to do their part.

Creatives from a range of disciplines share their best tutorials for unblocking your creativity

Discover these essential creative terms that are sure to come in useful for your projects To broaden your vision of the artistic world, it is important to get to grips with the concepts that are currently making an impact. Not only will doing so turn you into an expert in your field and expand your vocabulary, but it will also improve your understanding of different disciplines and the work of other experts in a more precise way. The following list features 20 concepts that will help you to perfect your knowledge of creativity. You will find definitions of documents such as a brief or a portfolio and discover what makes sketchbooks and mood boards such valuable tools. You will also explore color theory, learn why NFTs are taking the digital art world by storm, and find out about professions such as art directing. If you want more information, you can read the articles in full by clicking on the red titles. What Are NFTs, and How Are They Transforming Digital Art? On March 1st, visual artist and musician Grimes sold some videos for $6 million. And on March 11th, a single jpeg file sold for $69 million. What do all of these works have in common? Well, they don't exist in the physical world. In short, an NFT (non-fungible token) is a unit of data that functions as a unique signature, a digital certificate that certifies the authenticity of a creation. In this post, we reflect on how NFTs benefit the art world, the risks they pose, and why people are concerned about their environmental impact.

Learn about the oddly satisfying 3D animation videos that are fetching high prices in the NFT market Thanks to the fascinating universe of NFTs, the option to tokenize digital artworks, as well as the sudden emergence of a marketplace where you can trade them, have opened up new possibilities for artists. Two of the factors that have brought about this transformation of the digital art world are the global economic crisis and the subsequent need to generate new sources of income. Many digital artists have already dived straight into exploring the market, taking a practical approach–in other words, looking at supply and demand–and have found themselves drawn in by the substantial (or not quite so substantial) figures that sales are fetching every day at auctions held by new galleries. Within this arena, a genre of animation known as oddly satisfying videos has stood out as one of the most highly valued forms of digital art. In this post, we explain exactly what oddly satisfying videos are and share examples of works currently on sale.

Learn how to draw and color a hummingbird with this annotated sketch, packed with tips, from Marco Mazzoni Artist and illustrator Marco Mazzoni (@marcomazzoniart) uses colored pencils to illustrate animals and natural elements with mood and symbolism. The animal kingdom has always been a strong source of inspiration for artists, with surprisingly accurate metaphors of human emotions found in each animal’s characteristics. Marco is fascinated by flora and fauna. His illustration work is filled with depictions of human emotions inspired by nature. Have a go at creating your own colorful hummingbird using his annotated step-by-step drawings to guide you.

Learn the differences between bitmap and vector graphics, and discover how to use vectors in Adobe Illustrator, with Marmota vs Milky

Discover the creative history that our furniture has to share with Curious Minds, an original podcast by Domestika Curious Minds is an original podcast by Domestika that explores the curiosities and untold histories of the creative world. Each week we’ll bring you a new episode, interviewing experts and creatives as we dive into the unusual origins of the images, patterns, and designs we take for granted. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app to never miss an episode.

Discover this Danish design trend based on comfort, which is applied to fashion, crochet, and interiors If you have your finger on the pulse of what's happening on social media, you'll probably have already spotted the word “hygge” everywhere, especially hashtags related to design, style, and decoration. The term is often associated with fluffy carpets and soft fabrics; warm atmospheres filled with flowers, flooded with beautiful light, and serving up delicious and nutritious dishes. It is also associated with clothing, furniture, and even certain practices. If it encompasses so many different things, what exactly is hygge?

Discover what a growth marketer does and why it is a critical figure in the development of a company All businesses worldwide want to grow, but not many know how to do it, as strange as it may seem. This explains why growth marketing strategies have become increasingly popular recently. Following scientific methods, developing growth strategies, and relying on growth marketers, are fundamental elements to help companies achieve results. What are the skills required to pursue a growth marketing career? How do companies regard the role of a growth marketer? How will this figure evolve over the next few years? We will answer these questions with the help of a marketing expert with ten years of experience as a startup consultant who supports the idea to include growth marketing in your business.

We bid farewell to the Adobe co-founder and creator of the PDF format The Adobe story began in December 1982, when Charles Geschke joined John Warnock in founding the company which would make design software like Acrobat, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and Photoshop a reality. Last Friday, on April 17, Geschke passed away at the age of 81.

Learn how to create print-ready final graphic artworks in Adobe Illustrator, with this step-by-step tutorial from Love Street Studio

One of our 2018 winners tells us how the 50 free courses influenced her work Ana Porta (@anaporta_) is a Spanish graphic designer and 3D illustrator who specializes in branding. Thanks to the striking personality of her work, which has led her to collaborate on brilliant projects and having work published in The Washington Post, she was one of the winners of our Domestika Scholarships in 2018. She was granted access to 50 courses to develop her skills and train in creative areas of her choosing. We talked to her about how she used her prize and how it helped her evolve her career since then. Find out what benefits the opportunity to win a Domestika Scholarship—now in its third edition—can bring to a creative’s work.

Discover which basic materials you need to create your own macramé pieces Do you know much about macramé? This technique consists of making types of knots using a crochet needle to create unique textile pieces. The name of the technique, macramé, has two possible origins: the majority of people say it derives from the Arabic term "migramah" (ornamental fringe). However, it could also come from the Turkish word "makrama," meaning napkin or towel.

Do you want to know how to hand-build pots at home? Check out this guide shared by Lilly Maetzig Ceramist Lilly Maetzig (@mae_ceramics) talks about her craft as a sacred and ancient activity that we seem to understand innately. We’ve been molding clay by hand for thousands of years. The slow pace of hand-building ceramic objects brings her a meditative peace and calm, as she creates simple yet refined pieces with a limited color palette and playful touches. Set up your home as a workspace by using everyday objects and understand how pots are made by making a basic pinch pot, a coil pot, and a slab pot.

Discover the basic steps you need to start using a sewing machine, with Maria Mandea

Learn artisanal techniques to design and create furniture at home and renew your spaces Furniture design, and the ability to build unique pieces is an attractive field for a lot of creatives. Although many different decorative styles exist, designer carpentry can help you move away from generic furniture and allow you to add style to your abode. For this, you will need to learn the appropriate techniques and make use of all your creativity. Whether you want to restore or upholster chairs, design your own cement tiles, weave your own furniture with PVC cord, or create origami lamps, our expert teachers can direct you to the right courses to learn how to design, plan, and build furniture. All ten courses listed below will help you achieve beautiful pieces and professional finishes. Professional Woodworking for Beginners, a course by Patricio Ortega Discover designer carpentry with Patricio Ortega, architect, carpenter, and co-founder of workshop Maderística. In his course, you will learn about the furniture making process, from start to finish, and learn to work wood like a professional. You will also learn to use a router, a coping saw, and a circular saw safely. After creating your first reinforced wooden stool, you’ll be hooked to the magic of this craft.

Simplify your 2D and 3D Toon Boom Harmony animated projects with these basic shortcuts for Windows and macOS Toon Boom Harmony is a 2D animation tool that has become essential in television and film productions. You can make characters look realistic in a couple of clicks. The tool offers a wide range of possibilities and resources. Advanced versions also have 3D options. Several Disney movies and famous series, such as The Simpsons, are created using Toon Boom Harmony. Highly intuitive, it is the leading software to create animations and bring stories to life.