The Trapcode Suite is synonymous with 3D motion graphics and VFX. Trapcode Suite 15 now brings you realistic 3D particle systems within After Effects. Ahead of their annual 40% off sale for 24 hours on December 5th, Red Giant have recently announced the latest update to the Trapcode suite, which extends and enhances the existing toolset of 11 plugins with new 3D particle physics and fluid dynamics, plus ability to import and work with 3D objects using Trapcode Mir. The addition of the Dynamic Fluids physics engine is a significant step forward in providing new creative possibilities within After Effects according to Chad Bechert, CEO of Red Giant. “The introduction of our Dynamic Fluids physics engine makes it possible to create particle systems that behave as if moving through a fluid environment and that interact with each other, producing stunning, organic results. This release will completely change the range of what artists will be able to create inside of After Effects, opening the door to new and more robust particle system animation, motion graphics and VFX.” Trapcode Suite 15 Dynamic Fluids in After Effects Long time Red Giant user Territory Studio, wh0 have worked on Blade Runner 2049 and Ready Player One have created a video to show off their experimentation with the new plugin. Trapcode Suite 15 Highlights Trapcode Particular 4 Trapcode Particular 4 lets users create realistic fire, water, smoke, snow and other organic effects. Multiple particle systems can be combined into a single 3D space along with 3D objects for complex and sophisticated effects. Trapcode Form 4 Multiple Trapcode Form particle grids and objects can be combined together in a unified 3D space. Trapcode Form particles live forever, and give you precise control over behavior. Trapcode Mir 3 Trapcode Mir creates flowing surfaces, endless tunnels, terrains and 3D objects for use in your motion graphics work. Buy Red Giant Trapcode Suite Trapcode Suite 15 is available now via the Red Giant website. Trapcode Suite 15 pricing. Full: $999 Upgrade: (from previous versions of Trapcode Suite) $199 Academic: $499 Are you already a Trapcode user? We’d love to hear what you think of the new features. Let us know in the comments.

Picture Instruments, the company behind Color Cone and Image 2 LUT, just released a new plugin called LUT Mixer for Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects and Final Cut Pro X to help you with LUT stacking. Working with LUTs is pretty common nowadays. You can use a LUT directly on set, with more and more monitors and cameras supporting them, or in post-production while you’re color grading your project. The new plugin from Picture Instruments called LUT Mixer was created to help you during post-production. From Log to the Final Grade When shooting a project in any flavor of Log color space, you have to apply a LUT in post-production to convert the Log footage to some kind of Rec.709 or HDR color space. Then, your footage is in a Linear color space and you can start making basic color corrections like exposition, white balance, etc. Depending on the look that you’re after, it’s not unusual to add one (or more) “artistic LUT” on top of that previous “technical LUT” and your adjustments. The thing is that “artistic LUTs” are mostly too extreme, and you’ll need to dial them down. Adding as many LUTs as you want and playing with their opacity is a fairly easy task to do in DaVinci Resolve. Otherwise, it takes a lot of time in Premiere Pro, After Effects or Final Cut Pro X. Adding LUTs the Easy Way To solve that problem, the team at Picture Instruments has developed the LUT Mixer. With that simple plugin – compatible with Premiere Pro, After Effects and Final Cut Pro X – you’ll be able to combine up to 5 LUTs and apply them to an image simultaneously. The cool thing about the LUT Mixer is that it enables you to dial the opacity of each LUT individually. You’ll be able to see the effect of each LUT on your image directly inside one plugin only. Of course, in Premiere Pro and After Effects you could use multiple instances of Lumetri Color to apply as many LUTs as you’d like. You’ll probably lose quite a lot of time because of going back and forth in every instance of Lumetri to adjust the opacity of each LUT. It goes the same way within Final Cut Pro X. In the end, the LUT Mixer is a plugin that makes working with LUTs a more time-effective, easy and fun task, but it’s not something you can’t do without the included tools in each NLE. The LUT Mixer is already available at Picture Instruments’ store and costs $47 (plus VAT, if applicable) for an Adobe or Final Cut Pro X license, or $66 plus VAT as a bundle. Do you usually use more than one LUT for your projects? Do you think this plugin will help you save time in post-production? Let us know in the comments down below!