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real world examples
I have a question that I’m not exactly sure how to word, but hopefully you’ll all know what I mean. I’ve fallen in to a graphics position at a studio (I was originally hired as an editor). I’m really digging it and in 9 months have gotten pretty decent. I’m looking for ways to take my work to the next level, but I feel like there’s an invisible ceiling that I can cross. I know how the program works, but I’m having a hard time figuring out how certain things work together.
For instance,take a look at this.
https://www.leftchannel.com/work-chocolate.php
First off, it’s awesome. But every scene flows into the next scene so fluidly and I can’t figure that out. Is it just an enormous comp? Do they render each entity out individually and then put them together? Most really good work has this look. Smooth transitions into the next part and I just can’t seem to get it to look right. I end up with HUGE projects that I get lost in and it doesn’t do what I want.
Am I missing something?
Any and all help would be MUCH appreciated. Also, is there a really good tutorial that anyone knows about regarding the integration of illustrator and AE?
Thanks so much.
Rich Seemueller
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8 Replies
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I feel exactly the same way. I know the ins-and-outs of AE in fact I started tutoring people at school on it. But YES! i feel there is a glass-ceiling I cant get past. I look at so many examples and study them but my work is just missing that touch you know.
For that movie all I could say, that it is one huge piece made up of many pre-composed comps with a camera on some path or manually animated.
If anyone could help I am sure Rich and of course I would be in everyone’s debt.
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That video looks more like it was made in like 3ds max. But i also got the same thing you guys got. That wall were i feel i cant get through because i feel like im missing something. I know After effects very proficiently, but im just stuck under the wall. But that video looks more like it was made in like 3ds max or Cinema4d.
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Check out https://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials.html.
Andrew has amazing tutorials that can help to show you the way.
See especially #22, #23, #25 for a taste . . .
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The key here is planning. In order to put together a piece this complex you have to break it down into its essential ingredients and plan it out pretty carefully.
For example, with the video you referenced there is a relatively clear break point between each shot, where the prior animation stops (or at least takes the back seat) and the next animation takes over. They all seem to be part of one flowing animation, but on a project of this size there were probably multiple artists. These artists were probably assigned a few scenes each and, as a team, they had a method for binding them together as one big master composition. In this particular animation, I would probably use a mixed approach – each artist’s animations are stand-alone comps, imported into a master project file and laid out as 3d layers. Provided each artist knows the end frame of the prior animation and the start frame of the animation that follows their own, they can fill in the middle with whatever they want. Using subtle camera animation and lights within the master comp, you can really tie the entire thing together and give it an extra level of cohesion, smoothing over any minor defects from shot to shot.
In the end, the ceiling a lot of people hit is only broken when they realize that design-as-you-go is fun and rewarding, but you can only go so far without really planning a project out, shot by shot. You will even need to conduct a few tests now and then to see what will yield the best result before going forward and spending a lot of the client’s money.
Brendan Coots
Splitvision Digital
http://www.splitvisiondigital.com -
Thank you so much for explaining that, I am starting to see now. Thank you very much.
While I have you, do you know of books or anything that help break down such large animations?
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I’ve never seen any books that deal with post-production project management. Unfortunately it’s something that is learned through trial and error and being part of animation teams, picking up on what works and what doesn’t.
If you ever DO find any books on the subject, let us know – I’m sure a lot of people here on the Cow would be interested.
Brendan Coots
Splitvision Digital
http://www.splitvisiondigital.com -
Thanks to everyone for your posts. I’ve definitely found that this is one topic that’s just not really covered. I’ve done so many books, tutorials, etc, and they all cover a lot of the same things– effects, color, etc. But project maintenance and organization is something that just doesn’t seem to be dealt with a whole lot. I understand why, the creative aspects are much more interesting and fun, but these things are obviously necessary once you get to the point I have.
Once again, thanks so much for the responses. If anyone has any other links, tips, please continue the thread. It sounds like I’m not the only one with this confusion. 🙂
Rich Seemueller
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After Effects is a post production tool. You ahould do all the pre production process.
Make a script.
The more descriptive, the better.Number the shots.
Take your script and segment it into shots. First: the chocolate fall into a cup. Second: the chocolate fall from the cup to a house. Etc.Make a list of what you need.
Maybe you draw each picture by hand. Maybe you need to take pictures or shoot some video and then cartoonize it.Draw a storyboard.
Print squares on the left and lines for comments on the right. Number each frame. It is not a drawing contest, it is for reference.Then, go to AE and have fun.
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