Chris Smith
Forum Replies Created
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Basically in Maya, I used simple sin, cos, and noise functions to animate the lights. In Maya there is the option to generate a lens flare from real lights. This lens flare automatically dims when occluded by objects. Don’t know if it’ll do the same effect in AE because in AE your objects are flat planes whereas in Maya they were 3D objects with depth. So when a light passes behind something there is a nice rim light, etc.
It’s a good point though that AE should do like 3D apps where it generates a lensflare from it’s lights. try what you suggested for yourself. I still think to do the effect (if you indeed do want something similar to the reel intro) is to use a real 3D app. But who knows, you may get something way more awesome in AE!
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
Yes, they are just lens flares. However the lens flares were generated from the light sources which are floating through 3D space lighting all the molecules which I think is the key. A glowing ball of light can be made with a blur and the right transfer mode, but the key is that the light source on the objects actually change. The intro was done almost all in Maya and composited/colored in AE.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
Yes, they are just lens flares. However the lens flares were generated from the light sources which are floating through 3D space lighting all the molecules which I think is the key. A glowing ball of light can be made with a blur and the right transfer mode, but the key is that the light source on the objects actually change. The intro was done almost all in Maya and composited/colored in AE.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
It’s really for instant access to a huge library. For example I was in a pre-pro meeting 3 hours ago talking about how we are going to approach a project and it was priceless to jump on the net and search a bunch of spots we all referenced to get ideas or communicate exactly what we’re talking about.
Also when I’m creating a shotlist for a spot, I’ll search keywords to find hundreds of spots with similar creative to see how others before me approached the same concepts to learn, differentiate myself or just plain copy from.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
If I remember correctly it’s about $1500 annually to be a member which lets you host your own page with spots. But I’m not sure if there is a ‘view only’ membership. Send them an email, I’m sure they’ll have price plans.
This used to be the famous ‘e-creative search’. Then Fastchannel bought and runs it.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
Here is one of the two top sites with about every commercial made (The other being The Source):
https://www.fastchannel.com/CreativeChannel/default.asp
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
Purely depends on how it is beng projected. Is it a film projection? If so, talk to the person who will be putting your piece on film. Ask what specs they need for your files. Is it an HD DLP projection? Off what format? When you find out, ask what specs they need your files in.
The point is, know what the projection is and work back from there. Whomever is going to put your files onto a format suitable for the projection knows what the specs are.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
Like Steve said, check the specs with the person that’s going to integrate your clip into the broadcast pipeline. However, I think it would be safe to assume that the resolution would be 720 x 486 with .9 pixel aspect. That’s standard D1 setup.
720 x 480 is most commonly DV.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
Use the AE masks. You’ll have to know the very basic fundamentals of AE to work with it. What you are doing very likely is an easy effect but you gotta know the program enough for us to give tips. I’d spend a few days with the manual. You’ll get it.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
Most of those effects are usually done with a particle systems. AE has some built in particle systems or you can buy 2 awesome particle systems : Trapcode Particular or Particle Illusion.
To make it fit in with your traditional animation, I would draw each particle on paper using your drawing techniques. Scan this in, mask it and use this as the particles.
So for example. In Particular there are presets for smoke. Instead of Particular using a puffy grey ball as it’s particle, have it use a drawn and scanned grey puffball that you drew. So it will move like smoke, but look like you drew it.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com