light trails

[chuckie7413]

Hey everyone, first post but long time reader.

I have been asked to add random light trails to some photographs (wrapping around some people and into the sky). When i say light trails i think you probably know what i mean but here to some images. http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl...-8&sa=N&tab=wi

I wanted to know if it was possible to do this effect in shake as i need to make this effect 3d(ish) with depth using the shakes 2.5d/3d camera, as i will want the light trails to go around a person within the image.

Let me know if this is possible in shake or if anyone has created this effect before in post, what the best method would be.

Many thanks

Rich

[ecs-designs]

Im not sure about shake as I've just used it for basic compositing and tracking...but Aftereffects offers many different ways you can go about that effect, the best ive come across uses Trapcodes "particular" and simple expressions. The great thing is even if your not that framiliar with AE the internet is SATURATED with tutorials in AE for that specific effect as its quite a sought after one. I recomend this one.

http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials.html?id=42

and for compositing with the picture follow with this tutorial

http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials.html?id=34

[chuckie7413]

thanks for the response

tutorial links are very much appreciated. I came across a few other light steak tutorials by the same guy and they are really great except i cant get the trapcode particular 1.5 demo plugin to bloody install on my mac for after effects cs3. Its a real pain.

If you have used the plugin did u you have probs installing. What operating sys. you workin on and what version of after effects.

thanks again

[ecs-designs]

Nah i cant help you there im a PC user so i just drop it in the Plugins folder and its all set...but i got that plugin when i had aftereffects 7 and have since upgraded to CS3 and it transfered right over with no problems.

[chuckie7413]

well couldnt get it to work on mac but had a pc to hand and copy of after effects 7 so got it to work.

Did this image pretty quickly playing around, lots of settings on the particular plugin so just sticked to the standard setting for this look and will play about later, adding more trails and more random swirls.

http://www.bedistinct.co.uk/Images_f...ilCOMPtest.tif

thanks again for your input, much appreciated

[ecs-designs]

Looks real good man, only thing i might do is throw a little turbulance into the streak to give it more of a organic, natural disrupted by the elements look.

[Luka]

As already mentioned Shake is not the tool you want to use for this kind of Job.

[chuckie7413]

thanks luka for response. Been playing around in after effects after looking at a few of the videocopilot.com tutorials. Seems like a good program for motion effects and stuff, but cant say i would choose to use over shake full time.

Any idea how i could go about creating high quality music visualisation (example pic: http://ostermiller.org/g-force-screenshot.jpg), either with a plugin into after effects, shake, or a stand a lone piece of software. Want control over how the visuals appear. Just wondered if you have come across a program that can produce this.

Thanks

[Luka]

Well okay, After Effects is a great tool, sure. I just would never use it as a replacement for a full compositing package like Shake.

AE can do Compositing AND Motion Graphics, thats its biggest advantage. It is layer based though. However I think AE is a great choice for motion graphics but it clearly can never reach the flexibility of a fully node based tool like Shake, nor replace it.

How to solve that music viz. - I have no idea, sorry.

[krabiboy]

Any idea how i could go about creating high quality music visualisation (example pic: http://ostermiller.org/g-force-screenshot.jpg), either with a plugin into after effects, shake, or a stand a lone piece of software. Want control over how the visuals appear. Just wondered if you have come across a program that can produce this.

maybe check out Trapcode Form - it has Audio visualizer features built in

http://www.trapcode.com/products_form.html

Hope this helps

Tim

[chuckie7413]

thanks tim, checking it out now