[David Bogie]

Lightning produces a single-source type of lighting effect. A single-frame pulse that casts a hard white light and deep, crisp shadows. Try a point-source or distant light object placed in the approximate direction-distance of your lightning layer. 200% intensity, white.

bogiesan

This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”

[David Bogie]

Back in the Olden Days of CoSA, we answered all of these similar questions (Bonanza-style burning map, smoke, video noise, breaking glass) with the same thing: Go shoot it. Even today, unless you have access to remarkable tools and the time to have learned how to use them. simulated natural effects are going to look faked and baked. The big dogs use sophisticated tools we do not have access to and they have design teams dedicated to realizing the finest realism.

I say, “Shoot it.”

bogiesan

This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”

[David Bogie]

How did you set FCP to look for or use AE plugs?
Only a few third party publishers use AE’s universal API. Most do not and none of the Adobe plugs can be used in FCP.

Open all of the plugin folders for FCP, there will be at least three in various libraries and in the application package, and check for any aliases that point to your AE sets. Destroy the aliases and move any AE plugs out of the FCP structure.

bogiesan

This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”

[David Bogie]

Lordie, yet another import/export issue to make seamless integration between the suite’s apps a sick joke.
W spent a semester teaching an AE class at Boise State. The integration in the Adobe suite was actually seamless and 90% bombproof/idiot proof. Moving comps and sequences between Premiere, AE, Audition and Photoshop was truly effortless.

We just ordered our FCS2 upgrades. Oh, boy. Can’t wait. Not.

bogiesan

This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”

[David Bogie]

You might want to drop by the apple.com forums and register your feedback. Tehre’s a folder for such suggestions/comments/complaints.

However, the release of the iPhone and the thousands of complaints being psoted every day have brought that forum site to its knees. The admins have disabled search and feedback for now. Could take a few weeks for things to settle out.

This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”

[David Bogie]

forget Particular unless you’ve got the money. Forget Particle Playground unless you’ve got the time.

Easily accomplished with Foam or several of the CC particle systems. However, any particle system that requires you to create a believable illusion of smoke is far more difficult than you can possibly imagine.

see also theanvel.com for a tons of great smoke effects that don’t use any particles at all.

bogiesan

This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”

[David Bogie]

I’d use a single movie but figure out how to design the background so it sloops seamlessly.
You’ve really got to look at fancy menus and animations from the user’s POV, not the designer’s.

bogiesan

This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”

[David Bogie]

Windows Media Player for the Maicntosh v7 plays most older stuff.

bogiesan

This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”

[David Bogie]

Probably trying to export to an improperly formatted drive like FAT32. Must be MacOS extended, journaling is optional but we generally turn it off for media drives.

bogiesan

This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”

[David Bogie]

The most common explanation for this is that you cannot judge DV material on a progressive scan monitor such as your computer. You must view it on an interlaced video monitor or TV.

bogiesan

This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”