A compound effect is an effect that refers to, or takes values from, another layer in your comp. In this video we'll look at how this works by examining the Lens Blur effect, which can be used to create a pull focus effect on your layers. You'll see how to apply it selectively to specific areas of your footage using a Luminance Map we create using the Ramp effect.

You can use the Brainstorm tool to randomize effect properties in order to figure out what they do. In this video you'll see how it can help you experiment and come up with new ideas.

There are lots of different ways to select items in Illustrator, including the Selection and Direct Selection tools, the Select Similar options, and the Layers panel. We'll explore the various options in this video.

In this video you'll see how to use Illustrator's shape tools to create primitive shapes that you can use as the basis for objects. You'll also learn how to use the Shape Builder tool to combine shapes.

One fun way of creating shapes is to use the Blob Brush tool in combination with the Eraser tool. In this video we'll use these tools to create a stylized teddy bear.

In this video we'll explore Illustrator's Appearance panel. This panel not only lets you make changes to properties like opacity, blending mode, stroke, and fill, it also gives you powerful control over the effects you apply to objects.

In this video you'll learn how to set up a new Illustrator document. We'll look at options in the New Document dialog box like Width and Height, Color Mode, and Transparency Grid.

There have been many improvements to the user interface in Illustrator CS6. In this video you'll see what's changed and how to customize the interface to suit your own way of working.

The Pen and Pencil tools are very useful but require a little practice to get comfortable with. In this video you'll get a chance to play around with these tools, using the Pen tool to create clouds and the Pencil tool to create hills.