Well the key statement in this error message is: Invalid framesize/framerate for this Level.  By default the H.264 settings are set to Level 3.0 which apparently doesn’t support your HD settings framesize or framerate, thus this annoying error plops up when you hit render. 

Some other sites out there claim the work around is to render your clip as a QT movie using the H.264 settings.  That work around sucks because your file size is still going to be quite large in comparison to what you get out of an MPEG4 and you’re still going to have a .mov extension.  The same people that tell you this works will also tell you the Animation render setting for QT movies in After Effects makes Lossless video.  I see that aLOT online and that drives me nuts because even though the Animation setting gives you great video with large file sizes it’s still compressed and not Lossless.  To make lossless clips you must chose ‘None’ for the compression type.  That’s all besides the point and just something that irritates me so I feel better now. 

If you would like to render out your HD comps in AE using the proper H.264 setting then please feel free to click the link below to view a screenshot of my render settings:

HD720p Render Settings for H.264 format Screengrab

I hope this helps keep the whiskey and gun in the top drawer of your desk for now.

A fellow designer I work with created a new blog to show off his collection of awesome work.  He has a very unique style where he takes cut-outs of hand drawings, paintings, whatever and layers them in epoxy resin to give a weird 3D effect to his work.  He uses just about anything as a canvas and has a style that reminds me of R. Crumb when it comes to what are the Many Faces of Lenny Spurr. Enjoy!

I’m not really a Devo fan and I even booed them back in 97′ when they openned up for Tool at lollapalooza because I wanted to see Tool not Devo, but I have to admit that they’re new video for Don’t Shoot (I’m a man) is pretty cool.  I’m not sure how they made this video, but it looks like the whole thing was done with After Effects.  The production for this video was made by an LA based studio called, Thumbwar. 

This is a very fun 2D animation that I wanted to share in the latest attempy by not just men, but yes… Devo.  Enjoy!

What to learn your Hexadecimal Color Codes?  Or maybe you just want to blindly test your intuition. Either way What the Hex? is a great place to go to do either of those things.  Have fun & you’re welcome.

I made this highly sarcastic wallpaper the other day for anybody that chanted, “Drill Baby Drill” during the presidential campaign of 08′.  To those who want oil-at-all-costs here’s my small gift. 

Download my BP Wallpaper: Resolution 1440×900 or 1280×720.

I was watching the Blackhawks Stanley Cup victory parade today on WGN and was so proud to see Chicago’s very own, Brad Chmielewski from Daily Planet have his work aired during the broadcast.  This is also the clip they play on the jumbo trons to pump up the crowd before games at the UC.  

I’m a huge Chicago sports fan and I was thinking of just how cool it would be to make something like this for a sports team the year they won the championship and it just makes me smile from ear to ear.  I just think it’s pretty damn cool so I wanted everyone to see Brad’s Blackhawks spot and check out more of his work at Digitalhitchhiker.com

Enjoy!