[Steve Morris]

I used Aharon’s displacement map tutorials to create a waving flag earlier this week. The displacement layer gets kind of tricky when you try to animate it. It does not work the way you think it should. You will need to watch 2 of the 3 displacement tutorials to figure it out.

Created a displacement map in Photoshop. Make undulating vertical lines. Make sure to use a very soft brush. Then blur the layer. Then follow his tutorials. Then apply a second copy of the displacement map on top of the flag to give it the appearance of shadows. Make sure to reduce the opacity of this layer.

[Steve Morris]

I think Peder has a gobo tutorial on the Trapcode site that looks similar to a single star. You would need to have a separate precomp for each star.

[Steve Morris]

I second the idea of Kurt’s tutorial if you can not find the answer you are looking for. I was looking for a glass look, and used his tutorial. I was not using Zaxwerks. I don’t think his tutorial would apply correctly with Zaxwerks.

I was trying to create a similar thick glass look to export on an alpha channel in 3DS Max. I never really accomplished it in an alpha channel.

[Steve Morris]

Make sure to read Trapcode’s webpage. http://www.trapcode.com
Their plugins have a very popular / modern look. Particulary (pun intended) 3D stroke and shine are what you are looking for.

[Steve Morris]

What export settings did you use?

You need to use something that supports alpha channels, like QuickTime, million +. I always use the Animation codec. I am not sure if other codecs could be used. I forget which setting I use for straight vs. premultiplied.

There are some other formats which will work.

It may also have something to do with how FCP handles the alpha channel. I don’t use FC, so I am not sure about that……. Different NLE’s handle mattes differently.

[Steve Morris]

Apply the flare to a black solid, then change the blending mode. I think the mode to use is multiply.

or

Use a plugin for unmultiplying. Search for Knoll Unmult.

[Steve Morris]

Thanks. I see how “scrunching” the graphic will help. I did come up with something that I like. It involved linear keyframes. But, I added a wobble as the graphic came to a stop.

Here is a link to what I came up with. Criticism / improvements would be appreciated. The low quality video seen in the link below shows the flash clipped at the bottom. My shows a smooth gradient all the way to the bottom of the video.

https://s122.photobucket.com/albums/o249/stevem1928/?action=view&current=Lowerthird.flv?t=1169869892

[Steve Morris]

Yes, that is right Steve. I think Particular uses an obscuration layer….or is it another plugin that I am thinking of?

[Steve Morris]

I am not at a computer with AE right now, so I can not check. But, I think there is a setting for an OBSCURATION layer somewhere in 3D Stroke. I think it is in the VISIBILITY settings.

[Steve Morris]

Wow. That is a broad question. Best suggestion is to do a quick search for wedding videos. There are a lot out there. Checkout Digital Juice. They have some nice animations. I like to use reflections and glass-like objects in my videos print graphics now days. This seems to be a hot look, but is starting to get old. Look at the Apple and Windows Vista stuff. As far as making it sharp and crisp, don’t over scale your images.