Joseph W. bourke
Forum Replies Created
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Hi Alex –
You’re absolutely right about video formats on a machine which has a “full” install – I have the CS6 Master Collection on my workstation – and Bridge will play back everything in sight, as far as video codecs go. It will even let me view 3D .obj files. But on my desktop, which has CC, Adobe Edge, and Bridge CC installed, it is a pale comparison. My guess is, as yours seems to be as well, is that without one of the video apps (PPro or AE), there is something missing in the engine which makes these clips playable. I can see a thumbnail frame just fine for .mov, .mp4, .avi, and such files, but nothing plays back until I double-click it to spawn an external viewer. I don’t understand why Adobe would release Bridge as a freestanding entity, only to have it be a crippled version, with far less functionality than the CS6 version (unless of course it has to do with licensing issues – but that should be explained to the user up front).
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
Thank you Alex! Bridge really is powerful, but many users spend 10 or 15 minutes playing with it, get frustrated, then write it off. Have you played with Smart Collections yet? That’s one where you create a search (you can use all sorts of search parameters), and as new files match those parameters, the smart collection automatically adds the new files to the collection.
I’ve been using it lately to help sift through the hundreds of audio loops I use in Sony ACID. I have a smart collection which searches filename for various instrument sounds; vocal, flute, string, etc. I also have one which searches filenames for beats per minute, so I can immediately get a collection of everything that’s, for example, 110bpm. But it doesn’t just have to be filename – there are whole ranges of ways to skin the cat. Bridge is indeed a brilliantly conceived tool, but you do have to put in some time before the light goes on…
I just hope Adobe figures out what’s going on with the CC version of Bridge having no capability to playback video in formats other than .flv. That is very frustrating.
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
Hi Jordan –
Got your post through my website, and thought I’d answer here, so others can see this. It would take too long to walk you through this, since Particle Flow is not something you just jump into and play around with, but you can learn it:
https://www.tutorialshine.com/3ds-max-tutorials/special-effects/8-getting-started-with-particle-flow
There’s also the possibility that you could use one of the other particle systems in Max, and use multiple instances of it to create the varying particle shapes. In essence, what you do, is create the individual shapes you want to appear in the “stream” of particles, and then assign them to the particle system. The SuperSpray particle system will be able to let assign your objects as particles.
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
First create a new layer, and make it the size and proportions you want it. Second, animate the vertical scale of the layer (uncheck the proportional link) to your liking. Third, duplicate the layer four times, and move the dupes to where you want them on the screen. Done. If you want the animation offset, then change the layer spacing on the timeline.
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
Sorry – that’s Position, Orientation, and Scale which can be animated in Planespace.
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
Gary –
The best way to get PlaneSpace working for you is to work through the PDF file which comes with Planespace. There’s relatively little out there to walk you through it, but with a bit of experimentation, you’ll get it.
I found the best way to get rolling was to simply use small colored layers (of different colors, so I could see what my animations were doing). So if I was working in 1280 x 720, each layer might be 320 x 240 or smaller. Then I make all my layers 3D, select the ones I want in the array, and go into Spheroid Creator. From there, it was a very simple matter to create the spheroid with a few clicks. If you want the layers to be animatable, be sure to turn on the Position, Rotation, or Scale parameters.
Play around with it for a while – you’ll get it. Don’t forget that you can resize all your layer parameters after you create the sphere, since Planespace is just creating and arraying duplicate layers.
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
You nailed it Ridley! I knew it could be done (grid to sphere), but I couldn’t remember the exact details. Planespace is one of the most powerful plugins out there, given the amount of time it would take to do it all by “hand”. It’s a monumental time saver. Plus you’d really have to have a handle on your math to do it without Planespace!
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
Take a look at Red Giant’s Planespace – it will help you do exactly what you’re trying to do in a lot less time:
https://www.redgiant.com/products/all/planespace/
You can also set it up so that it will animate between a flat matrix and a globe shape, if I remember correctly.
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
Mark –
You may also want to start out with, for example, Photoshop, from the standpoint of things that you already know as a photographer and videographer – composition, camera setup, exposure and darkroom technique. You’ll also find a wealth of stuff on tv.adobe.com:
https://tv.adobe.com/channels/
There’s a channel for just about anything you want to know, and digesting it in small packages, then applying it, is a great way to learn.
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
Sorry Jamie – I was in 3DS Max mode. In AE, there’s the same sort of solution. Use the One Node Camera as opposed to the Two Node Camera:
https://helpx.adobe.com/en/after-effects/using/cameras-lights-points-interest.html
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com