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Tutorial

Preview

Want access to the full AE project files and assets for every tutorial on Aetuts+, including this one? Join Ae Plus for just $9/month. You can view the final effect preview video below.

Tutorial

Preview

Want access to the full AE project files and assets for every tutorial on Aetuts+, including this one? Join Ae Plus for just $9/month. You can view the final effect preview video below.

Tutorial

Preview

Want access to the full AE project files and assets for every tutorial on Aetuts+, including this one? Join Ae Plus for just $9/month. You can view the final effect preview video below.

Tutorial

Preview

Want access to the full AE project files and assets for every tutorial on Aetuts+, including this one? Join Ae Plus for just $9/month. You can view the final effect preview video below.

Tutorial

Requirements

• Trapcode Particular You can download a trial version here.
• Trapcode Lux You can download a trial version here.

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Tutorial

Step 1

At first we are going to create disco floor. Make a new composition by clicking Composition -> New Composition or ctrl + N . Name : "disco floor comp", Make it comp size (1000*1000) pixel aspect radio D1/DV pal 1.07, frame rate : 25 and 10 sec duration long.



Step 2

Create new solid clicking by Layer -> New -> Solid or Ctrl + y. Color doesn’t matter. Name it floor circle. Same as comp size. Make a larger sized floor. With solid layer selected, apply Effects -> Render -> Radio waves. Change a stroke -> color to white stroke. Set the start width to 25




Step 3

Create new solid clicking by Layer -> New -> Solid or Ctrl + y. Color doesn’t matter. Name it floor waveform. same as comp size. Make a larger size floor.



Step 4

Add a music bar effect in the floor. With solid layer selected, apply Effects -> Render -> Audio Waveform.You could use any music track to show the music bar. So import your favorite song. Bring it to disco floor comp. Change the below settings in audio waveform.audio Layer : music track that you have track in timeline , Start point : (0, 500), End point : (1000, 500), Display Sample : 40, Maximum height : 1200, Thickness : 10, Softness : 0, display option : digital.



Step 5

Add a glow to floor waveform layer by selecting the floor waveform layer click Effects -> Stylize -> Glow. Leave it as default settings.



Step 6

Create new adjustment layer by clicking Layer -> New -> Adjustment layer. To make like disco floor blocks, add mosaic on adjustment layer clicking by Effect -> Stylize -> Mosaic. Change the mosaic setting horizontal block : 50 & vertical block : 50.




Step 7

We have to make a blocks more effective so I’ve added effects -> render -> grid. Change the grid effect setting corner : 520,520, border : 7, feather: width : 1.5 height : 1.5, invert grid : on, bleanding mode : stencil alpha. It helps to make like small boxs.



Step 8

Make a new composition, Composition -> New Composition or ctrl + n. name : main comp, size width : 720 height : 411, pixel ratio : DV pal 1.07, frame rate : 25, duration : 10 sec. In this comp, we are going to make all the disco scene.



Create a new black solid, Layer -> New -> solid or Ctrl + y. name : Bg, same as comp size.



Step 9

Bring the disco floor comp to main comp timeline. Make it a 3d layer by clicking 3d switch on switches. Change the X rotation it to 90 degree. In the material opition make a accept light : off To make more of an extension on the floor, add motion tile effect on disco floor comp and change the output width : 250 & output height : 250.




Step 10

Create a new solid, Layer -> new -> solid or Ctrl + y, Name : floor light same as comp size colour medium gray (#949494). Make it as 3d layer by clicking 3D switch, rotate : 90 degree, make a blending mode : add.



After turning x rotation 90 degree it should look like this. Now we are going to create new camera in the comp.



Step 11

Create a new camera by clicking Layer -> New -> Camera or Ctrl + Alt + Shift + c . and use these settings. Select preset to 28 mm camera, enable the depth of field, aperture : 25 and make the position : 360, 90, -740, point of interest : 360, 180, 0.




Step 12

To make an additional extension of the floor, add motion tile effect on floor light and change the output width : 250 &; output height : 250.



Add Effects -> render -> grid Change the grid 1 effect setting corner : 503, 503, border : 3.5, feather: width : 1.5 height : 1.5, invert grid : on, bleanding mode : stencil alpha. It helps to make like small led boxs, we have to make some more bigger blocks that matches to disco floor comp layer. so add effects -> render -> grid to floor light layer make a grid 2 effect setting corner : 520, 520, border : 5, feather: width : 2, height : 2, invert grid : on, bleanding mode : stencil alpha.



Step 13

Now we are going to make a disco ball. Create a new solid, Layer -> new -> solid or Ctrl + y, Name : disco ball same as comp size. Add a fractural noise effect, Effect -> noise -> fractral noise. Change the below setting fractal type : Basic, noise type : block, contrast : 100, Brightness : 0, drop down the transform Scale : 40.




Add an expression in evolution make a Alt + click on keyframe and type time*200.



Step 14

To make a sphere look add CC Sphere effect on clicking Effects -> perspective -> cc sphere . To make a disco ball rotate drop down the rotation. We want the ball rotate on y axis so add an expression on Y rotation. Alt + Click on Rotation Y in timeline layer, type time*50. make a keyframe on start radius : 15 move the 7th frame in timeline make a another keyframe set radius : 45, change the light properties in cc sphere, drop down the light and change the light intensity : 150, light : 70, light direction : 180 degree, offset : 360, 45. We made a nice disco ball and i think some rays makes it better feel.



Step 15

Add a shine effect to make disco ball more effective. Effect -> trapcode -> shine . Change these settings Source point : 360, 45 same as cc sphere offset , drop down the shimmer , Amount : 100, Detail : 40, Boost light : 0, change the colourize : one colour, colour : white same as the disco ball, Transfer mode : Screen.change the position : 360, 130, 0.take it ot the top of the screen, switch the layer to 3D and make a accept light : off.



Step 16

Now we are going to create a laser effect. Create a new point light, Layer -> New -> Light Name it laser light , setting a light type : point, intensity : 200 , colour : green (#87FE52), then light cast shadow : turn off . Make a Position : 360, 145, 300 . Now we can see the light effect on the scene.




After adding the light i may look like this.



Step 17

Create a new solid, Layer -> new -> solid same as comp size and name it "laser light beam". Add trapcode particle by selecting the laser light beam layer, Effect -> trapcode -> particular. Change the Emitter and particle settings as follows :



Step 18

Create the laser effect by changing values on physics turbulence field & aux effect only. Change the Gravity : 0, Physics Time Factor : 1 Change all air values to 0 . Drop down the turbulence field change these settings Affect size : 0, Affect Position : 1000, Scale : 700, Ocatave Scale : 2, Evolution Speed : 20 . affect position & scale values Make a beam effect that randomly turns on. Change the aux values as follows :



Step 19

We are going to create a focus lights to the floor. Before that we have to make a light visible on the scene so Create a new solid layer, Layer -> New -> Solid or Ctrl + y name it "Lux". Add Trapcode Lux to the solid by selecting the Lux layer on timeline Effect -> trapcode -> Lux. It makes a laser light is visible. Make a Lux settings as follows :




Step 20

Now we make a focus light, Create a new spot light Layer -> New -> Light Name it "Top light 01" Setting a light type : spot, intensity : 100, Cone angle : 30, Cone feather : 30%, make a brighter color as your wish but i made colour : blue (#52B7FE), cast shadow : off click ok. Change the light position to back of the stage, position : 0, -100, 400, face the light to the stage change the point of interest : 0, 200, -150. Disco focus light should move randomly so i made a experession to the Top light 01 . Alt + click on point of interest keyframe type wiggle(1,200).




Step 21

Duplicate the focus light another one by selecting Top light 01, Edit -> Duplicate and change the colour as your wish. Change the point of interest : 250, 200, -150 and position : 200, -100, 400. Again, we duplicate another one. Change point of interest : 450, 200, -150 and position : 500, -100, 400. and again we duplicate one more light change the point of interest : 720, 200, -150 and position : 720, -100, 400. Make the focus light in different colours.




Step 22

Now, its time to make logo appearance. Create new composition, composition -> new composition or Ctrl + n. Name it "aetuts+_logo Comp" make a setings ad follows :



Step 23

Bring the aetuts+_logo to the comp, scale : 40 To make suitable to the composition switch it to a 3D layer. Divide the logo image to 3 separate slices as shown by the ruler on the screen by pressing Ctrl + r and aligning the guides where to separate.




Step 24

Duplicate the aetuts+_logo layer another 2 times by selecting the layer Edit -> duplicate or Ctrl + d. Move the first layer to 1 sec 15 frame in the timeline, and second layer 1 sec. set a anchor point as follows.



Step 25

Select the third layer with retangular tool mask the ae into 1 slice, select the second layer mask the tuts, and select the first layer mask the + in the logo.



Step 26

We are going to animate the layer make a keyframe in y rotaion as follows:



Step 27

Have to make a reflection in same method so duplicate all three layer bring it down in the comp.



Step 28

Set the opacity to 30, make the negative scale in y axis and set the position as follows:



It will look like this:



Step 29

After animating the logo, I think light reflection makes a better feel. Create new adjustment layer Layer -> New -> Adjustment layer, add Effect -> Generate -> CC light sweep and make a below setting :



Step 30

Bring the aetuts+_logo comp to the main timeline move the start point to 3 sec, switch it to 3D layer by clicking 3d switch in switches and keyframe the position keyframe it as follows:




Step 31

Add a lens flare to the comp it makes feel better output .Create a new adjustment layer Layer -> New -> Adjustment layer, add Render -> lensflare and key frame the flare center on 1st frame make a position : 8,-44 and take the time indicator to 8th sec set a position : 700,0.



Step 32

Finally, we are going to animate the camera in the scene. keyframe the camera position, set camera position 1 sec -> position :0, 0, 0. , move the time indicator to 1 sec 8 frame -> position :215, -6, -635, move the time indicator to 5 sec -> position :365, 90, -740 and move the time indicator to 8 sec -> position :630, 165, -425.



Move the marker to 1 sec in the timeline ruler. Render it and enjoy the disco floor.



I hope guys you guys enjoyed this tutorial.

]]> http://ae.tutsplus.com/tutorials/motion-graphics/get-your-disco-groove-on/feed/ 36 http://ae.tutsplus.com/tutorials/motion-graphics/use-lights-to-project-your-logo/ http://ae.tutsplus.com/tutorials/motion-graphics/use-lights-to-project-your-logo/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:00:36 +0000 Eddie Bogdanov http://ae.tutsplus.com/?p=3800 ]]> This tutorial basically involves three things that could be useful – Use of Light Projections (text projected onto white solids), Text Writing with particular and Use of Exported Camera from cinema 4d. There are some good principles you can take from this example.

Requirements

• Trapcode Particular 2 You can download a trial version here.
• CS Tools For Cinema 4d, you can download them here.

Preview

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File size 1.5MB

Tutorial

Step 1

Start by making a new composition with whatever settings you prefer. Call it Main_Comp.



Step 2

Next, make a new Text Layer and type in anything you want to. I’ll use Arial Black but use of other, more funky fonts can result some cool looking outcome.
After that, right click onto that Text Layer and choose Create Masks from Text. At once, Outlines layer will be created and Text Layer’s visibility turned off.
Save.



Step 3

The idea is to use those masks as paths for emitting particles. We’ll not use Null Objects but rather Lights to avoid unnecessary actions.
Create a new Light leaving its Light Type to Point. Call it Emitter.
Now, you want every letter to animate separately so you’ll need a separate emitter for each one of them. It’s 6 letters for me so obviously I’ll need 6 emitters but since letter A contains two masks I’ll create an additional one.
Duplicate them and call them so the name wouldn’t reapeat except for letters that contains 2 or more masks.
Save.



Step 4

Now select AETUTS Outlines layer and press M to reveal only Mask Path properties. Then highlight all the Light layers and press P to reveal their Position properties.



Step 5

You’ll be creating Position path’s from those Mask Path’s now. To do that, just select one Mask Path and copy it by pressing Ctrl+C.
Next, highligh the desired Position option and paste by pressing Ctrl+V. Do it for every letter.
After that, you can turn off the visibility of AETUTS Outlines.
Scrub through timeline to see how they animate.
Save.



Step 6

Further, make a new Solid (A Particles)and apply Particular to it.
Open Emitter submenu and change Emitter Type to Light.
Then, open Settings and change Light name starts with under Light Emitters to A.
This will tell particular to search any light in composition that starts with letter A and set it/them as emitters- thats why you don’t want names to repeat.
In this case, Particular will set up both A layers as two emitters but with the same settings.
Save.



Step 7

Change Veocity, Velocity Random and Velocity from Motion to 0. Also Change Emitter Size X, Y and Z to 0.
Scrube through timeline and you’ll notice that the animation stops in 2 seconds. To fix this, you’ll need to add this loop expression to every Light layer’s Position: loopOut(type="Cycle")



Step 8

Select A Particles layer and find Turbulence Field under Physics>Air. Change Affect Size to 15 and Affect Position to 35.
This will make particles to randomly move around after they’re born.
Change particle Size to 3.
Save.



Step 9

Under Emitter, change Particles/sec to 300.
Next, duplicate A Partilces layer five times and change their names accordingly to letters. Then, do the same thing with them as in Step 6 where you have to open Particular Settings and change Light name starts with to whatever emitter you need. Also, you’ll have to rename T layer to T1 otherwise you may experience some glitches.
Save.



Step 10

We have done with particle animations so now we have to add those reflection planes. Star by making a new white Solid and duplicating it as many times as needed. Then change their transformations and distribute them similarly as in screenshot. I lowered the opacity to see the text.
Save.



Step 11

Make all the Plane layers 3d as we’ll need them to move in 3d space. Solids will turn black but thats okay. Don’t forget to crank up their opacity back if neccesarry.
Now, select all the Light and Particles layer and precompose them. Call the composition Title.



Step 12

Turn Title composition into 3d layer.
Next, add a new Light with Light Type set to Point and Casts Shadows checked.
Open Material Options under Title and triple click on Casts Shadows value to set it on Only.



Step 13

Open Title’s Transform properties and change Z Position to -50. You’ll see how the Light projects a shadow from our Title.
Now you can start to arrange those solids in 3d space to make them look better. See the screenshot on how i did it.
Save.



Step 14

It’s time to make a camera animation but won’t be doing it inside After Effects because I want to show you an easy technique that can turn out to be very handy in future. We’ll use Cinema 4d and object library called CStools for this matter.
If you haven’t downloaded CStools yet, do it now.
Inside Cinema 4d, go to File > Open, find CStools directory and open CS_DocuCam.c4d.
(If you want to integrate those tools in C4D, watch this excellent tutorial by Grayscalegorilla’s Nick Campbell.)





Step 15

Then, create any primitive object to help you see how camera acctualy moves.
Select DocuCam in Objects panel and see its settings under User Data.
First change Base Zoom to 20%, then, under Snap Zooms, set Probability to 25% and Complexity under Organic Motion – to 20%.



Step 16

Open Render Settings (Render > Render Settings).
First, go to Output and set Frame Range to All frames.

Then, select Save and set Path for output.
Open Compositing Project File pulldown. Set Target Application to After Effects, tick Include 3D Data checkbox and press Save Project File…
Save it wherever you like.

Important: For this to work you have to have a Cinema 4D to After Effects plugin (If you don’t have it, open this tutorial and follow through Step 10)



Switch to After Effects.

Step 17

Now import the file you just saved to After Effects.
New folder called CINEMA 4D Composition should be created. Open the composition in it and see that there’s a camera called DocuCam.
Copy and paste it inside Main_Comp. Because of the offset, you’ll have to move every layer manualy back to necessary position.



Step 18

To make everything look a bit better, i moved the objects closer to camera.
Next, we’ll make a floor layer. Create a new, white solid wtih size of your composition. Call it Floor.
Turn it into 3d layer. Using position controls, move it back to its original position.
Then, open Rotation properties and rotate X Rotation to around -70 degrees. After that, grab Z axis on pivot and lower the layer so it would be located under our titles. Lastsly, scale Floor’s width in the lentgh of your composition. See the screenshot.



Step 19

Select Floor and make a mask around it by double-clicking Rectangle Tool. Change Mask Feather to 420 and Mask Expansion to -55.
Create a new solid with comp size, call it Background. Put it in bottom of your layer structure. Apply Ramp effect on the layer.
Leave its Start Color black but change End Color to dark grey (#575757).



Step 20

To make the scene more dynamic, let’s add some expressions. Create a new Null object and call it Control. Add a slider to it by Effect > Expression Controls> Slider Control. Open Position properties for one of Plane layers and alt+click on the stopwatch to add expression.
Type in wiggle(Pick whip Slider here,5) It should looke like this – wiggle(thisComp.layer("Control").effect("Slider Control")("Slider"),5)
Copy&paste this to
rest of Plane layers.
Save.




Step 21

Go to Control layer and animate its slider by placing keyframe with value 25 on 01:10 and keyframe with value 0 on 02:00. Easy ease keyframes by pressing F9 on them.
Now, open Light layer’s Position properties. Set keyframes on 00:00 and 02:00. Select first keyframe and highligh Position’s X value. Add 300 pixels to it so the light would move 300 pixels to the left over those 2 seconds. Easy ease those keyframes too.



Step 22

Turn on the motion blur for all the layers. Create an Adjustment Layer and add Curve effect to it. Draw a contrast curve.
Next, add Noise effect. Set Amount of Noise to 5% and untick Use Color Noise.

Open Floor’s Material Options and bring down Specular to
20% so the floor wouldn’t reflect as much light. Also open Light’s Light Options and change Color to light grey (#B5B5B5).
Change project’s Color Depth to 16 bits per channel by Shift+clicking on bpc button in Project panel to stop color banding from happening.
Save. You’re done.



Step 23

You can also project pictures this way. All you have to do, is import the image, turn it into a 3D layer and position it correctly. Then, under its Material Options, change Casts Shadows to Only and Light Transmission to 100%.






]]> http://ae.tutsplus.com/tutorials/motion-graphics/use-lights-to-project-your-logo/feed/ 27 http://ae.tutsplus.com/tutorials/ae-plus/simulate-a-realistic-sniper-scope-perspective/ http://ae.tutsplus.com/tutorials/ae-plus/simulate-a-realistic-sniper-scope-perspective/#comments Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:00:53 +0000 Phil Strahl http://ae.tutsplus.com/?p=3553 ]]> We have another AE Plus tutorial exclusively available to
Plus members today. If you want to take your Photoshop and After Effects integration skills to the next level, then line up your cross hair, we have an exciting tutorial in sight for you.


My tutorial deals with a VFX shot that’s easy to attempt but hard to master: A convincing looking sniper scope view.
I will outline the assets that I provide in Photoshop and the principles of accomplishing the intended outcome. In After Effects I’ll make use of pre-compositions, motion tracking and some easy expressions. For clarity’s purpose I’ll get into details about optical phenomena when necessary.

Additionally I mention and highlight keyboard shortcuts I use to speed up the work, so this tutorial is not intended for absolute beginners who still struggle with the interface but for users already somewhat familiar with getting around, although I mention every step clearly and make it easy to follow.

Requirements are:
After Effects CS3

And for custom made assets, additionally:
Photoshop or Illustrator
A photo camera
A small video camera

This is a Plus Tutorial. To view you must Join Plus.

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File size 1.5MB

Once you’ve joined, log-in to the Tuts+ Dashboard with your username and password to immediately access your Plus Content. Navigate to Ae Plus via ‘Plus Categories’ in the sidebar. You’ll be able to grab the tutorial videos, project files and assets in the members’ area.

]]> http://ae.tutsplus.com/tutorials/ae-plus/simulate-a-realistic-sniper-scope-perspective/feed/ 70 http://ae.tutsplus.com/tutorials/motion-graphics/map-your-destination-in-ae/ http://ae.tutsplus.com/tutorials/motion-graphics/map-your-destination-in-ae/#comments Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:00:46 +0000 Jorrit Schulte http://ae.tutsplus.com/?p=3537 ]]> If you’re planning a trip and need to set up a visual location overview, you’re in luck! If you pretty much never even leave your room accept for class, work, and meals, you’re still in luck! With some expressions, good technique, and a little treasure hunting instinct, Jorrit Schulte guides us through the process of this animation journey.

Preview

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Download Preview .flv

File size 2.3MB

Download iPhone Preview

File size 2.5MB

Tutorial

Download Tutorial .flv

File size 219MB

]]> http://ae.tutsplus.com/tutorials/motion-graphics/map-your-destination-in-ae/feed/ 28