WIP Jet Composite

[Zeio]

Hey, I've been reading through the forums for a little while now and I thought I would finally post.

I am new to compositing, but want to pursue it further. This is a small composite I am working on to learn more about the process.

I was wondering if any of you could give me some tips and suggestions. ANY comments are appreciated, positive or negative.. I just want to make it look more believeable.

Also, I know the trees aren't moving with a jet flying past them, it's mainly because I am not sure how to approach the issue. I can easily make some particles in max or maya, but I am not sure how to physically move the trees realistically. Also, I know the smoke trail may be not completely accurate, and the blur at the end is just temp until I think of something better.

From my limited knowledge on the subject, I am assuming I could camera map some simply geometry to the trees, and move them in 3d, and have a duplicate copy of the bg plate underneath with the trees erased? Maybe I am way off or I am just describing it incorrectly.

http://home.attbi.com/~zeio/etc/jetstill.jpg

Here's the link, its in DIVX because I don't have that much bandwidth on my ISP per month to put up a QT.

Jet DIVX (http://home.attbi.com/~zeio/etc/jet1.avi)


Thanks in advance.

-Zeio

[Hugh]

Nice.....

A few comments.....

First of all, there shouldn't really be that much of a shadow with that lighting. It's quite an overcast day - take a look at the shadows under the drees - they are just dark blobs - the light is coming from all over the sky, so with the aircraft at any height, there wouldn't be a noticable shadow (or a VERY feint and blurred one)

The smoke seems to have some transparency issues - there is a black border to it just after the plane has gone by, which sudenly disappears as the whole smoke blurs. Also, the smoke goes all together - it should really follow along the line that the plane is taking....

I'm afraid I can't really help you with the trees.... If I were doing this, I'd probably overlay the ones that are there with fully CG trees, but that could prove to be quite tricky.

Anyway, nice composite there, and I'm looking forward to seeing anything else that you do!

[Aruna]

That's definitely a tricky shot. If you want to make it more believable, definitely follow Hugh's advice about the shadow of the plane on the ground. It's way too defined. The other thing, is the white stuff smoke or contrails? I haven't seen any smoke coming out of the rear of a jet when it's flying, that's why I'm asking, but you definitely need something to say that a jet just whizzed by you. Possibly heat distortions from the engines?

At the speed this plane is going, it would probably shake everything on the ground! I can't think of a quick and easy way to do this in 2D.. It would most likely require some heavy 3D effects for the trees and leaves, and also some interaction on the cars as well. Reflections or shadows, etc.

The key to this shot I think is interaction.. Because of the plane's proximity to the ground, it's going to affect everything in the shot, from the ground, cars, leaves, trees, signposts, buildings. I would probably get rid of the white smoky stuff and instead focus on the lighting and interaction that the jet makes when it passes through the shot (accurate reflections, shadows, and lighting).

Hope that helps a little.

[Zeio]

All of your comments are helpful, I really do appreciate the responses.

I agree with you on the smoke, i know its not really realistic for a jet to have billowing smoke coming out behind it, unless its being shot down. I do have another version with con trails, maybe I will use con trails and try a displacement map heat effect behind the jet instead.

I'll blur the shadow on teh ground some more to match the tree shadows.

Another idea I had was to do a camera shake (is there a solid method for achieving this effect? or just moving the comp?)

Also, when the plane passes by, I was going to have a few car alarms go off and their rear lights blink on and off... I'm not sure what I can do right now with the trees, but I do want to have some particles from the ground or what not be disrupted by the jet. You mentioned the signpost, maybe I could od something with that too, thanks.

Where would reflections occur, on the cars as the jet passes by? or other places?

I'll work on it some more and send an update. Thanks for your help again.

-Zeio

[BlackKnight]

A great start Zeio. Its good to see you posting some WIP's. I agree completly with Aruna on this one. At the current height of the jet from the ground and its close proximity to the buildings the bitch is gonna make one hell of a disprution as it fly's by.

Seeing some heat from the engine would be nice and that camera shake that you were on about would be good too.

Good luck with it.

BK:D