Video distortion, warp.

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

You need to create a 3D elevation map from the grayscale image and use the same image as texture. Then add some lighting. How to achieve that automatically within After Effects for footage, no idea. If I were to do this, I would use Photoshop 3D, create an action and batch apply it to an image sequence. Not a very fast method, but you can leave it running the batch overnight.

[Kasper Nyman]

So actually you will recommend using Cinema 4D for this?
Either way thank you so much, a good help for google search for information.

Nyman

[Walter Soyka]

Check out Mettle FreeForm [link].

Walter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive   |   RenderBreak [blog]   |   Profile [LinkedIn]

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

On second thought, I would recommend Trapcode Mir, it can do what I describe (once you have your bad tv distortion footage created).

Setting the Fractal frequency of Mir to 0 (and x and y scale to 0) you can use any image or footage to offset the surface in 3D. And you can map the same image/footage as texture on that surface.