Need help creating light/smoke trails in Maya!

[ShoelessSteve]

I'm trying to create the light/Smokey trail from Harry Potter 5. Is this even possible in Maya? I have been working with particle emitters but not getting very good results. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

That last picture in the link is the look im going for.
http://features.cgsociety.org/story_...?story_id=4225

Thank you, Steve

[Hugh]

It was almost certainly created using either Maya or Houdini...

In fact, having a quick read of the text above the picture, it looks like those ones were done in Houdini, but I'm sure you'd be able to get a similar effect using Maya, albeit maybe not as flexible as one done in Houdini...

[ShoelessSteve]

Here is a test I did with particles but im not getting the results im looking for. Is there a way to control them so that they take on a more ribbon like shape?

[NEO]

Here is a test I did with particles but im not getting the results im looking for. Is there a way to control them so that they take on a more ribbon like shape?

Hmm... Ribbon you say. Just woke up so a bit sleepy over here. But how about using some cloth as emitter for the particles? Or as goal for them or something like that?

Anyways, I'm pretty certain they talk about this effect in particular in the fxguide podcast that covers Harry Potter. Hear this one out and see it you pick up anything usefull:

http://www.fxguide.com/modules/fxpod...731-potter.mp3

[brentorama]

Have you tried this?

SmokeStrings 3.0

[orion5175]

do a default emitter in the 3d fluid container, put the emitter where needed then. then in the irodesense make it white, and if you need to in the shade tab of the container adjust the glow intensity.

[dcompz]

use fluids, not regular particles.

[samsan8]

Use nparticles with clouds.......It is better.....