• Adobe After Effects

  cool ink type effect

  Posted by Lyle Pascoe on January 30, 2008 at 11:16 am

  Hi,

  I am looking to recreate a cool effect I saw on the shutter trailer and was wondering if anyone knew how to do it.

  It is like the type gets wet and “runs” across the screen then comes together in crisp type again.

  Here is the link to the trailer to see the effect.

  https://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/shutter/

  Can this be done with After Effects?

  regards

  Lyle

  Lyle Pascoe replied 18 years, 3 months ago 6 Members · 11 Replies
• 11 Replies

• 

  Dylan Burr

  January 30, 2008 at 4:52 pm

  try using a combonation of liquify, mask animation, and starting with some water color bleed type brushes from photoshop.

  https://www.bittbox.com/freebies/free-hi-res-watercolor-photoshop-brushes/

  You can get some brushes here.
• 

  Topher Welsh

  January 30, 2008 at 4:54 pm

  My first thought is keyframing the hell out of the liquify tool and getting it to resememble that flowing liquid-ish look. And then add some blur and I think you could probably have it.

  Just a lot of trial and error getting it to look the way you want.

  Topher Welsh
  Head Editor & Motion Graphics
  http://www.scout.com
• 

  Steve Roberts

  January 30, 2008 at 5:36 pm

  It looks as if the text passes over something that affects it. See how the blobs seem to be static relative to the type?

  Usually good effects are a combination of multiple effects and layers. Below the type layer may be a copy of the type layer, with an adjustment layer with the displacement map effect applied, or maybe turbulent displace. I mention the adjustment layer because the effect seems to be applied after the type’s motion has been applied.

  Instead of the adjustment layer you may also apply the Transform effect to move the type, then apply turnbulent displace to the copy below.
• 

  Kevin Camp

  January 30, 2008 at 5:43 pm

  try compound blur on the text layer, using a pre-comp with fractal noise as the blur layer (slight animation on evolutions and play with the contrast/brightness and fractal type).

  you may also want a displacement map on a duplicate of the text layer, using the fractal layer (or maybe a blurred version of it) as the displacement map…

  Kevin Camp
  Senior Designer
  KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW
• 

  Lyle Pascoe

  January 31, 2008 at 9:33 am

  Thanks for the tip.

  🙂
• 

  Lyle Pascoe

  January 31, 2008 at 9:40 am

  Ok,

  I am going to ask a really stupid question so here it goes.

  How do i use the photoshop brushes in this effect?
  Do i use them to create the distorted type in photoshop that will then be liquified in to the different shapes later in after effects?
• 

  Lyle Pascoe

  January 31, 2008 at 9:59 am

  Fantastic.

  You have been a great help.

  Thanks

  🙂
• 

  Mike Bohatch

  February 1, 2008 at 10:35 pm

  i’ve created this effect in similiar type scenarios.

  So definitely what is going on is a simple breakdown.

  top layer text – uneffected
  Bottom layer text has displacement mapping applied to it
  Then…
  to get that random look, you mask off certain letters of your bottom layer.

  or even mask off portions of the individual letters themselves. such as only allowing the top of the letter “T” to show..etc

  finally maybe a little “fast blur on that 2nd text layer as well.

  there ya go

  check out the “abandoned” trailer – a similiar scenario though much more advanced stepping and displacment play

  https://www.nightmarekinetics.com
• 

  Lyle Pascoe

  February 4, 2008 at 7:26 am

  Thanks man you rock!

  regards

  Lyle
• 

  Dylan Burr

  February 6, 2008 at 6:39 pm

  Stamp them out in photoshop, then bring them in as layers, then use the liquify or masks or distort tools to move them. Composite them together with your text fully expanded, then in AE smush them down into the type at frame 1 then have them open to the 100% position. Get what I am saying. I know this may not be too clear.

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