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True 3D Particles in CS3
Hi There
I am working on an animation where I would like to use 3D particles. I am currently creating these particles with CCParticleWorld. However, I have come to realize that I can’t really make these particles 3D; that they are only 3D within the solid to which the effect is applied. So, for example, while I can make the particles move into Z-Space, I am unable to capture this with a camera, because it is only the illusion of Z-space within the Solid to which I have applied CCParticleWorld. Is it possible in After Effects to have a particles that come off the solid layer to true 3D?
I realize After Effects is not a complete 3D program, but it would seem it could accomplish this.
Here’s some more information on what I am trying to do: I want to have the position of the particle emitter move through Z-space through some layers, and I would like to be able to animate a camera to follow it. Is there a way to accomplish this?
Thank you very much for any help that you can offer. I really appreciate it.
Best,
John -
7 Replies
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Yes you can!
Here’s I think my favorite of all the Cow tut’s, Building Your Own 3D Particle Generator:
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/ebberts_dan/particle_gen.php
Download the project file, then choose a comp that simulates what you want, probably “Moving Emitter 1 or 2”. You can sub in your own particle, make one in Photoshop (with alpha transparency), Dan uses mostly 128×128 psd’s.
This whole project is truly a Gem. Enjoy.
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To answer your camera question, set the camera up the distance away from the Null you want, looking at the Null, then parent it to the Null. It will follow.
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Hey
Thanks so much for your reply.
Ill check out the tutorial now.
Much thanks. I love this site.
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I believe in CC Particle World the particles do respond to the camera, if this is not the case then Particle Playground definitely does. However, Particle Playground renders slowly and my recommendation would be Trapcode’s Particular.
For any of these effects that ‘respond to the camera’ you do not want to apply them to a 3D layer. Instead apply them to a 2D layer and the 3D calculations will be handled internally by the effect and projected from 3D space correctly onto the 2D layer.
Darby Edelen
Lead Designer
Left Coast Digital
Santa Cruz, CA -
Thanks for the response. What I am getting is that CC ParticleWorld responds to its internal camera, but not to a comp camera. So I can move around the particles, using the camera that is in the effect. However, the 3d Particles are not actually coming off the layer. So for example if I take a camera and position it on the y axis looking at the layer-so the layer is a 2d plane in the in the middle of the comp- no paricles are coming off the layer. I’d like to have it so that I could put some text by the particles and have some particles spray in front, and some behind.
Trapcode particular seems to work the same way. Perhaps Im not working it right, but this seems to be what is happening to me. Thank you for the help, if any one has any further advice it would be greatly appreciated.
Much thanks again, John -
[John Felt] “Trapcode particular seems to work the same way. Perhaps Im not working it right, but this seems to be what is happening to me.”
Again: For any of these effects that ‘respond to the camera’ you do not want to apply them to a 3D layer.
Darby Edelen
Lead Designer
Left Coast Digital
Santa Cruz, CA -
Yes! Thank you. It seems to work. I thought I had tried that. So much thanks!
Best, John
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