Open good old Photoshop and create some backgroundpic with the size 320x240 for your ripple effect. http://www.pixel2life.com/publish/tutorials/10/ripple_effect_make_a_wa...
This will be a kind of long tutorial, since there are many things to be done. http://www.pixel2life.com/publish/tutorials/57/create_an_opener_for_yo...
I will show you how to prepare a graphic bed for an opener or just as a background for your portfolio or similar work. http://www.pixel2life.com/publish/tutorials/78/graphic_bed_flowing_bac...
Here a short clip of the Go Media promo reel that utilizes the bird animation that you will learn to create. http://www.gomediazine.com/tutorials/animating-birds-with-after-effect...
As promised, the tutorial on creating a particle system purely with expressions in Adobe After Effects. http://rhys-works.com/vfx-tutorials/particle-system-with-expressions
This tutorial is the Adobe After Effects version of the Composting render passes in Fusion. http://www.cgsutra.com/adobe_after_effects_tutorials/render_passes/com...