Gun shot effect…need ghelp

[Oakmozart]

What you are referring to is known as “muzzle flash.” This flash generally takes up one frame for each time the trigger is pulled. You can create it by hand in Photoshop.

Easier methods:

Buy Digieffects Delierium plugin set for AE. Included in this 47-filter set is DE_Muzzle Flash for auto-animating muzzle flash. It’s not cheap, but it’s full of cool stuff! https://www.digieffects.com

Buy the “Gun Stock” library from Artbeats. Included is all sorts of great gun footage effects shots, all with blue or black backgrounds for quick color or luma keys to composite on your footage. Not cheap, $500 for about 30 clips, but the quality is incredible and there’s nothing else like it on earth right now…that I know of. Muzzle flashes are included, from various weapons, along with riccochet sparks, bullet hits in metal, glass and wood, among other stuff. https://www.artbeats.com Search under “Effects.”

Remember, muzzle flash isn’t the only element you’ll need to sell the shot. If the camera is up close to the gun as its being fired, it won’t look realistic if the viewers don’t see some blowback action on the slide of the handgun (if using slide-action semi-auto handguns, like a Beretta 93, Glocks, etc.). If you’re using a “wheel gun” (revolver, like Cowboys used to use in westerns), then that’s not such a big deal. Shotguns and automatic weapons need to show the bolt cycling if shooting up close. If from a distance, you can get away without using it. For realistic blowback, look at Airsoft BB guns. They’re not cheap, but the realism is INCREDIBLE!
Remember to have your actor “react” to the gunshot as they pull the trigger. This is called “recoil” and is a byproduct of firing any weapon…even a .22 calibre rifle/pistol, though the recoil is minimal and hardly noticeable. Try it on a 12-gauge shotgun or a 30.06 rifle and it’s a TOTALLY different story!

Remember to add some smoke coming out the end of the barrel and the shell casing being ejected. Ejecting shell cases can be created using a 3D application or even a heavily blurred, square mask. I just saw the masking technique done in book yesterday, titled “Adobe After Effects 6.5 Studio Techniques” by Mark Christiansen.

Also remember to track the muzzle flash/smoke/shell casing elements to your weapon if necessary, especially if your actor’s “recoil” is substantial. It won’t look realistic if your actor’s hand is pulling the pistol up and away from the stationary muzzle flash. Make sense?

Good luck.

[Patrick Pathmanathan]

Thanks man, I’ll give it a shot.