I have been in the media industry for about 5 years. When I was just an undergraduate in Nanjing Normal University (NJNU)in China majoring in News reporting & TV Broadcast, I was so
interested in motion design and 3D animation that I bought lots of
books and began to learn some software myself (for example: 3DMAX &
FLASH). In 1999, I found a part-time job to work for an Ad Agency as a
copywriter. There I happened to get to know many professionals in this
area who really taught me lot. Then I was more interested in it and
decided to become not a reporter but a designer after graduation.
In 2001, I graduated from the university with a bachelor degree in News
report & TV broadcast. After that, I found a job in a large TV
Station (Jiang Su TV Station) working as an Editor & Animator
there. I edited programs, made title heads, added special visual
effects for videos. I worked madly there for about 4 years. Almost
everyday I worked for more than 12 hours. Though I made a hard life at
that time, I still thought it as my most important and rewarding time.
Four years' hard working improved my skills greatly and brought me with
some success in motion design in the city.
In 2005, I moved with my family to a small city in the north of Jiangsu
and found a job in a local TV station. Working in this TV station I got
only a little money every month. Since the TV station is not too large
it gave me little work to do. Thus I have much more leisure time than
before, so I ran a little studio on motion design. I made title heads
& advertisements for some corporations in Shanghai, Beijing,
Hongkong and some other cities in China.
Now, when I am free, I spend much time studying, playing and making
some animations I like. The relaxing life here gives me many ideas on
designing. During my spare time, I happened to find the web site of www.creativecow.net,
where I met many interesting and friendly persons. I learned a lot from
them. One day I got an idea that I might write some tutorials about my
experience which could be helpful for some other people and I could
exchange ideas and experience with them. So I contacted with Kathlyn
via E-mail to ask if I could be an editor for Creative Cow.
Fortunately, she agreed and now I have a chance to share my knowledge
with others. I enjoy making and discussing all kinds of "Cool" effects
in AE.
Since I am Chinese, I'm not very good at
English. When I write tutorials I often make mistakes in spelling and
grammar. But I will try my best to avoid them. That's why I like to add
screen shoots in my tutorials. That will be more clear and easy to
follow. If there is anyone who still has questions about my articles,
he can send an E-mail to me, I will answer it as soon as I can. By the
way, I know that there are some other Chinese designers in this forum,
and please write the email in Chinese.
My English name is Joe Chao, and all my foreign friends call me "Joe".
In this tutorial, CreativeCOW Contributing Editor Joe Chao finishes up his Genie in a lamp series by adding a light stream and a few other final lighting effects.
In this tutorial, CreativeCOW Contributing Editor Joe Chao demonstrates a few useful tips for AE beginners by creating a genie in a lamp. Joe will take what seems like a complex project and will break it down into 'bite-sized, easy to manage' concepts.
In this tutorial CreativeCOW's Joe Chao demonstrates using expressions to create a text stream wrapping around a pillar. The pillar and its background are all completely made in AfterEffects.
Often for festivals and celebrations, we are asked to create animations involving colorful ribbons and confetti. In this tutorial, Joe Chao creates the ribbons and confetti and then demonstrates a couple of ways to shoot them out of a cannon. This animation would be useful, not just for Christmas, but for any festival.
Joe Chao was once required to create an animation in which a flock of fireflies assemble into an insect shaped logo. In this tutorial, Joe demonstrates a quick method to duplicate the effect using Trapcode Particlular.
In this tutorial for Adobe After Effects, Joe Chao (The English pronunciation that Cao Jun gives to his Western friends) gracefully gives to CreativeCow readers his easy-to-follow lessons on reproducing an ancient art technique, thousands of years old, and producing for today interesting and versatile special effects.
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