[Steve Thompson]

Ha ha… Alan this is getting funny.

I did a search before I started the original thread and tried all those options. The thing is that I think now that it is my graphics card.

Now I’m going to hijack my own thread.

I use dual monitors. When I installed this card and booted up my computer, it looked like both monitors was found but when I get to my windows layout… only one screen.

I contacted ATI and jumped through all kinds of hoops without a solution and stumbled across the answer on my own by accident. By leaving one monitor off until the computer is totally booted up, I then turn on the second monitor and voila… two screens. I love technology. 🙂

I think we’re done here, right? 🙂

As always… many thanks for all you do for us.

Steve

[Steve Thompson]

Alan,

Not to beat a dead horse (Too Late) but I may not have stated things clearly myself.

Originally, certain libraries crashed PI when I double clicked on them.

After doing the reset to defaults, I could open most emitters properties but it was when I closed the property dialogue box that I would get the crash.

I like bringing the emitter to the stage first anyway.

Maybe my graphics card doesn’t like things. Not sure. It’s an ATI. I used to have an NVidia card and never seemed to have these problems.

I’m just glad to be able to use ALL the emitters again.

Thank you again!

Steve

[Steve Thompson]

Hi Craig,

I did a reset but the results were the same.

Alan, thanks for that tip. When I bring in the emitter into the project and choose properties from the hierarchy, I do not crash.

Still bugs me but it’s probably the way I should be handling my emitters anyway as to not change the original by making changes in the library.

Thank you again,
Steve

[Steve Thompson]

Oops!,

I should of said that the Logo Column 04 DOES NOT CRASH!

I think I’ve crashed. 🙂

[Steve Thompson]

OK,

When I open up the library Emitters_05_03il3, the Logo Column 03 and 05 Crash but the Logo Column 04 crashes.

Can anyone check this on their end for me?

These arent’t the only two but it’s driving me crazy.

Thanks again,
Steve

[Steve Thompson]

Oh, how I wish I could remove that music.

Are you kidding me? The music was a blessing in disquise as I lost 50 pounds. I couldn’t eat solid food for weeks. 🙂

Take Care,
Steve

[Steve Thompson]

Elvis,

This is the best news I’ve heard all week. I too just ordered my DVD and will be waiting by my mailbox.

To anyone using PI whether you think you know it all or not, I highly recommend Elvis’ products as they are not only packed with useful information but you’ll be putting them to use immediately.

I can’t wait to see what I’ve been missing!

OK Elvis, when can we expect the next one? 🙂

Take Care,
Steve

[Steve Thompson]

Alan and Brian,

I’m sorry if this goes into another one of my long tangents but I think Alan, you are on the right track and the method may require a fade trasition of some sort. I’m going to try and do this effect tonight to see if I can.

Anyway, the point I was going to make was that instead of one emitter or two emitters creating something, sometimes you have to give the illusion that you’re seeing one effect and here’s what got me thinking about it.

When you go to a movie that’s produced by Paramount pictures, they now have the stars coming from the sky that look like meteors that turn into stars. Well, I’m sure it’s supposed to seem like stars falling from the sky but it’s not, just two different effects combined to look like one.

Anyway Brian, I’ll see if I can come up with the effect you’re looking for and write back.

Take Care,
Steve

[Steve Thompson]

Elvis is right!

This is not easy to do. I did a Christmas video where I had my wife holding our baby boy looking out the window at falling snow.

Well first, it wassn’t snowing at all so I animated the snow through the window panes, masking out the other areas. Real Easy.

Then I had a close up of the baby laughing and a great shot of our son’s eyes. I wanted the image of the falling snow mirrored in his eyes. I pulled it off and the result was worth the time but it was a frame by frame job.

Working with eyes is very difficult and time consuming but can be quite rewarding if you’re willing to put in the time.

Good Luck
Steve

[Steve Thompson]

I just noticed this thread and thought that I would respond regarding that…

the front flashes doesnt look realistic

Sometimes the trick to making things “look” more realistic is the timing and showing less on screen with quick cuts in the action.

EXAMPLE:
LOW ANGLE shot looking up at our hero holding and shooting his gun.
CLOSE UP: Our hero gritting his teeth as he continues to fire.
FLOOR SHOT: Bullet shells piling up and bouncing all over the place.

I saw these same muzzle flashes in King Kong over the holiday’s and I’ve seen the same “flashes” in other movies and they look the same as in PI.

SPEAKING OF KING KONG
I thought the part where the landing party was running from the dinosaurs was too long as far as holding the shot. It looked too “Campy” because Peter Jackson held the effect for too long instead of quicker cuts and that made it seem too fake. But, this is not a criticism of the movie but the point I’m trying to make.

LESS IS MORE!

Sorry to belabor the point.

Here’s what I do. Add a little smoke coming off the gun, some yellow and red glow or flare coming from your muzzle as well as your “gun” sound FX timed to the flashes and you should be good to go.

Lastly, remember that you know your dirty little secrets when it comes to adding these effects to your moivies but your audience usually does not.

Good Luck,
Steve