Event Design in After Effects

We've shown you how we use SketchUp to lay out event sets and create 3D models, and we've shown you how we use Photoshop to create more realistic drawings and renderings of our designs. But there's another tool that we use to enhance our creativity and prepare more thoroughly for events:

After Effects is a motion graphics and compositing program that we use to create animated video content for a variety of uses, from projection mapping to design visualization!

Sometimes we use After Effects to create custom motion graphics for use at events. If our client already has some graphics or event-specific visuals that they are working with, our creative team will work with them to expand upon those elements and create effective content for their specific application.

It can be helpful to see video content in use and get a better idea of how it will read in the event space, so sometimes we will use After Effects to drop the content into a rendering to get a realistic preview. Seeing the video play out in the space also helps us in our creative process, and sometimes gives us better ideas on how to use content to complement the set!

Sometimes we use this program to visualize the timing of the content and to coordinate transitions within the event. This is especially helpful in clarifying the run of show when there are lots of assets or screens to be managed.

These practices also help us to identify visual weak spots in the program that could use more "oomph", or to spot areas of the set that need separate content at a specific point in the program.

We love finding new ways to push our creative boundaries and continue to provide the best possible service for our clients, and After Effects allows us to better communicate our ideas and maintain a collaborative energy with your team. By integrating design visualization and graphics production into our creative process, we are able to offer full-service event production that reflects our clients' goals at every step!

Seven Ways to Make the Most of Your LED Video Wall

If you've been following our goings-on lately, you know just how much we love our new LED video wall panels! We're big fans of high quality displays, stunning visuals, and versatility in a set piece, and these panels provide our clients with all that & more. (Click here for technical info on our LED walls.)

If you're interested in using an LED video wall for your next event, here are some ways that you can get the most out of your video wall and wow your attendees with an elevated experience!

Keep your audience engaged using dynamic video content. Yes, this is something you can also achieve with projection screens - but with the high-impact intensity that LED video walls afford, your video content can truly shine. Even during downtime in your program, ambient motion graphics can keep your audience interested and excited for what's up next. (If you need assistance creating content for your event, please don't hesitate to contact us - we'd be happy to assist you!)

We've said it before, and we'll say it again - utilize your existing branding! Even when used in subtle ways, digital signage can be very impactful in driving home your brand's message. Your brand's visual identity communicates your overall mission, so it can easily help to establish the tone for your event. Our team is great at finding ways to tie branding assets into LED wall graphics, so give us a shout if you're stumped on how to achieve this!

This may seem like a no-brainer, but high definition graphics make all the difference! LED video panels produce a stunning, crisp image for your audience, so make the most of it by utilizing high quality images and video content. To be specific, we prefer content to be at a resolution of 1080p or higher. The better the resolution, the more your LED wall will impress your attendees!

Our LED video wall panels can be configured in any number of ways, so take advantage of their flexibility and have some fun! Lay out the video wall in any way you like. And don't worry about how your content will read - our designers will help you create content that makes the most of your unique panel configuration.

Because our LED panels are so bright, you can use the best lighting conditions for your attendees without worrying about it impacting the display. When using projection screens, the light in the space must be kept low so that the projected image doesn't get washed out. But with our LED video walls, you can feel free to keep the lights up, allowing your attendees to take better notes, move about more easily, and stay alert (we all know what effect a dark room has during that post-lunch energy dip!)

Be aware of where your speakers will be standing, and if they'll be placed in front of your LED video wall. Video walls can provide a great backdrop for speakers, but too much contrast between the graphics and the speaker is bad for visibility, especially in photos and recordings. For example, if you place a speaker in dark clothing in front of an LED wall that has mostly white imagery on it, the white light from the LED wall will make it difficult to see the speaker's face. (This is one we've learned from experience - don't make the same mistake we did!)

As you can see here, the white light behind the speaker compromises the image.

But here, where the LED content is darker, the image of the speaker is crisp & clear.

And lastly, use your LED video wall to create a set, like you would create for a theatrical show. LED walls are impressive in their own right due to their high quality displays, but you can also use the scale of your LED wall to raise the production value of your stage set. Integrate your LED video wall with other set elements, perhaps even disguising it to achieve a bigger moment of impact when you reveal it at an opportune moment! 

There are so many unique and interesting ways to use LED walls as part of a staging composition, and we'd love to help you find the perfect strategy for your event! Our multi-faceted tech & design team is waiting to help you knock your next event out of the park!

Event Design In Photoshop

A few months ago, we showed you how we use SketchUp to lay out event sets and make more informed design decisions. Today, we're sharing another tool that we use to assist our clients and improve our team operations:

You may know Photoshop as the program you use to touch up pictures and create photo compilations, but it can also be used for a number of other applications! Just like SketchUp, we use it to better visualize our design ideas, but Photoshop gives us much more flexibility in terms of the visuals we create.

Sometimes we'll use Photoshop at the beginning of a project to compile ideas into a communicative concept board... 

Sometimes we use it to expand upon renderings, making them more lifelike and adding detail...

Some times we use Photoshop to drop designs into venues, when the venues are a bit too detailed to model...

And sometimes we even use Photoshop to design graphics for projection or screen display at events!

Whether we're using it to help visualize a design or bring a surface to life with cool graphics, Photoshop is one of our favorite tools for helping our clients produce great events! By integrating design visualization and graphics production into our creative process, we are able to offer full-service event production that reflects our clients' goals at every step!