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let it snow on alpha channel
Hi guys, Jerzy Drozda wrote a tutorial showing a technique where snow stucks on the edge of a layer using particle playground. Regarding to this I am looking for a way to use the alpha channel of a layer to get a similar effect, maybe with a little bit more precision and a better look. Background to this is, that I would like to use a company logo where the particles builds small piles of snow on the edge of the logo during the animation. Maybe there´s a way to realize this effect with particular or the Cycore particle systems ? Thanks and best regards
Henning -
6 Replies
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Try using a different layer for the alpha. Try auto-tracing the layer in question and then animating the resulting masks so that they grow where the snow should be piling up (along the top of the layer).
Also, something that Jerzy doesn’t do in his tutorial, but that might help you depending on the look you want, is counteracting the gravity.
You’ll notice that in his tutorial the snow is only slowed, not stopped. If you want to stop the snow where it lands then under the Persistent Property Manager select “Y Force” in the “Map Green to” field and set the Max value to a negative value. If your Gravity is 120 then set this value to -120 to completely stop the snow from its vertical fall when it hits the layer.
Here’s a sample I put together quickly. I used a Median filter (with Operate on Alpha enabled) on the Snow layer in order to get the fallen snow to ‘melt’ together more. This could’ve been done better, but I’m a busy man 🙂
Darby Edelen
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Hi Darby,thank you very much, this is exactly the effect that I am imagine. If it does not strain your nerves to much, could you explain the first steps a little bit more please ? Best regards Henning
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[Darby Edelen] “Here’s a sample I put together quickly. I used a Median filter (with Operate on Alpha enabled) on the Snow layer in order to get the fallen snow to ‘melt’ together more. This could’ve been done better, but I’m a busy man 🙂 “
Good lord, Darby, this is soooo cool and so simple I’ve never known what to do with the Median filter but it’s easy to see how you modified the alpha as the control for the stickiness. I can’t quite get the particles to let go but you’ve given me much to contemplate with your quick example. Thanks. Illuminating.
I am in awe, as usual.bogiesan
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The first thing I did was type out my text. Then I selected that text and converted it to masks (you can use auto-trace for other assets). Then I added a vertex or two at the top of each letters and animated them rising up. I pre-composed this animated mask layer and used it to block the snow.
Does that help?
Darby Edelen
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Hey Darby, thank you so much for your help ! Now it works as desired. Another way I have worked out, was to switch back to “Y speed” and set the max value to about -26. The piles were growing on the edges without animating the masks.
Best regards from Hamburg
Henning
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Hello.
This is exactly what I’m looking for..
Could you please put the steps for this tutorial?
thank you
Ana
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