Combustion 4 and After Effects 6.5 pro are they the same?

[Andrew Kramer]

Well…
I’ll Try to answer the first part of your question.
Combustions strengths over After Effects…
1. Better Tracker, AE’s Tracker is good and fully functional but thats the truth2
2. Combustion has better roto tools, B-Splines, Better Paint Functiobnality, AE has great paint tools but they can be a bit intensive after many strokes.
3. Built in particles, Pretty much particle illusion is built into the program, AE has great 3rd part particles generators but the built in ones not too great, also the cc Particle world is good but can’t compare.
4. 3d Max Support,
5. A slightly better track view,
6. Integrated color correction controls, very fast perhaps comparable to Ae but… I digress
7. Integration with High end systems like smoke, flint etc.

So why is After Effects my only solution for Visual Effects… The workflow and the interface feels right to me, most of the programs shortcomings compared with Combustion don’t make a big difference because there is more that 1 way to skin a cat.
A good after effects use will tell you “i can achieve anything a combustion user can”, I’d have to agree.
Like wise a good combustion user might say the same…

At the end of the day theyre just tools, to this day i have never asked myself or could even fathom a project where i might say “gee, I wish I could do this on combustion”

Download demos if you really want to choose.

Btw, I could make a list just as long for features in AE, but you didn’t ask.

Andrew

[Joeythedog]

Andrew your reply was everything I needed thank you very much.

[Reneon]

Andrew

Does AE’s ability to have more than one camera extend it’s 3D capabilities over combustion in any real way?

thanks

Rene

[Andrew Kramer]

Well in After Effects It’s nice to be able to experiement with multiple camera moves in the same comp so it’s hard to say,
Andrew

[Joeythedog]

i think this may be an important discussion. First, please pardon me, how many people here draw a check from Adobe? Ok, nuff said, I’m not a mean person.

I have posted a similar question on the combustion forum. It was brought up that it would not be a bad idea to be fluent in both programs. I am very new to this animation compositing thang. My first week was spent with combustion and I was pretty much baffled. I have created in lightwave and professional photography video.

Somewhere/time while working with combustion, at the level of an intelligent aborigine, I felt there was some real horsepower there. I go alot on feelings, usually does me good.

>>>>>So my next question— Is there a place for both if someone wants to be the best they can be at composite animation?

heeere doggy doggy doggy bad boy!!!

[Andrew Kramer]

A collegue of mine once told me “you can be great at every program but it’s better to the master of one”. He was referring to similar programs like a 3d package for instance. I agree, I think you’d be better to master one or the other.

whats the ol’ saying, “jack of all trades, Master of none” These days you have to know how to do everything like: edit, composite, compose, title, color correct, dvd author, But if you find a program that suits your needs learn it.

Good luck,
Andrew

[Joeythedog]

Andrew I entirely agree with you. Very good point. AND one of the old adages I remind myself of is “jack of all trades and master of none”

Thanks for your input, you have my ear.

joe

[Reneon]

Are both applications such complex beasts that you couldn’t master both of them? I doubt it somehow.

They are fundamentally the same field of work, so knowing the strenghths of both applications makes sense, and could enhance understanding/appreciation/informed frustation with the other application.

combustion lacks certain plug-in’s for example.

I’m getting to know combustion but feeling I want AE to have as a tool alongside. AE has far more, and better, learning tools available, this makes a big difference, and I don’t doubt will improve my combustion chops too.

Rene

[Jeff Dobrow]

AE is ‘stronger’ and better suited to motion graphic animation…and not quite as strong for VFX compositing (this statement reflects its strengths and weaknesses in features)

Combustion is ‘stronger’ in VFX compositing, and less fluid for mograph animation.

Comustion is, after all,…a less robust version of Flint, Flame and Inferno. It CAN do mograph,…but it’s tools are more optimized for VFX.

They are both great tools! Just a bit apples and oranges.

[Andrew Kramer]