Create a Peaceful Sunset

on Aug 14th 2009 with 53 comments

Final Product What You'll Be Creating

In this tutorial James will show some practical techniques in creating a lovely sunset scene. He will cover extracting a tree image from the sky background within Photoshop and animating a realistic sunset.

Requirements

  • Trapcode Shine You can download a trial version here.
  • Knoll Light Factory You can download a trial version here.

Tutorial

Download Tutorial .flv

File size 286MB

 
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James is a 22 year old motion graphics designer, editor, and filmmaker. He loves creating things that people will remember and talk about. That's why he believes a good story line is key to creating a good design. He is from Grand Rapids, MI and hopes to start up a motion graphics company some day.  

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  • Vincent BOUDIER

    Peacefull !

  • luantran

    Nice, AEtuts very good, ha ha ha

  • RALZO

    Hey tuts are very good no doubt but all are common..

  • khan

    great tut
    thanks

  • http://youtube.com/effectsgroup EffectsGroup

    pretty cool!

  • brandon

    i think im deleting ae tuts from my book marks. or change the name to “learning common basic effects.” but im still deleting it. :’( ae tuts blows now. sorry. i expect greatness and i get a freaking sunset. it doesnt even look like a sun. it looks like an effect, ” the greatest effect is where you dont recognize it! “

    • http://www.visualfxtuts.com Topher Welsh

      The point isn’t to learn how to do this exactly, because that would be lame… the point is to learn some handy techniques that you can apply to your own projects.

      • Rafi

        word!

        brandon, noone need you.

      • brandon

        and the handy techniques in this tutorial are very basic. i wait and wait for a good tutorial. i get 1 out of the past 2 months. i have never duplicated someones elses work to my own. im not bashing the guy or anything like that, hey i think its great he got a chance to produce a tut on THE ae tuts. but thats the problem.. its suppose to be THE ae tuts. not just..ae tuts. i want some awesome stuff i dont know and each time its a huge let down. sorry..

    • LD

      ”the greatest effect is where you dont recognize it!“

      C’mon man, this obviously wasn’t meant to be photo-realistic. Sheesh.

      • Ryan

        I Learned a few nuggets from the photoshop part, If you don’t like it. Dont click on it.

  • eivind

    nice.. but have to say that the sun goes the other way..

    thanks for all tutorials you´re making. good

    • Johny

      Assuming you’re facing ‘north’ – the sun is going from ‘east’ to ‘west’, like it does in this tut.

  • Chris

    Nice effect, but I’ve personally banned Trapcode Shine from my AE install. For a long time it was my default “ughh this looks crappy, wonder what i can do to make it look better” plugin. Strangly it never really made it look better. LOL

  • Billy

    Brandon….be careful in expression your opinion around here. Lots of people only want to hear the positive….even when things blow.

    Now, I’ve never been hesitant to register a negative comment when the tutorial requires it. I will admit that this tutorial is….again….a basics. I don’t like seeing that the last 2 months or so around here has been pretty weak.

    However….I kinda like this one. It is basic but there is a nice elegance about it. So, I will give James as hearty….”nicely done.”

    However, that being said…..Adam…..seriously…..come on! Some advanced stuff please! Lloyd kicked off this site with one of the best tutorials it ever had. I know I have been one of the more vocally negative commentators…but look through the comments over the past two months. I’m hardly the only voice. There are so many fantastic graphics artists that frequent here….I can’t believe you can’t drum up business, especially when you guys are paying for tutorials.

    We had a thread last week about all the title reveal contestants. Most were fantastic and any one of them would make for a great tutorial and I’ll say that seeing how a solid 60% of them are made would be better tutorials than anything we have seen recently.

    • brandon

      hey i’ve read your comments a lot, i agree with everything u say. but obviously nobody is taking in effect with it. so why come back and get my hopes up and then shatter it with tuts with basic knowledge, most is common sense really.

    • http://educateja.com kamal98

      Hey Billy how you doing. i must say your comments are very interesting and to the point. My question to you his do you have any video tuts online

    • matthew

      yes,

      you are hardly the only voice, but you are the most annoying one. You act like a little girl with a skinned knee on every tut that gets put up. I hope I get to meet you one day Billy, so I can find out that you are a teenager, wish you the best of luck and move on with my life

      your #1 fan
      -matthew

  • Billy

    Adam….

    In thinking this over here, I just had a great idea and one that I think is not only sure to net this place some great tutorials but to get you more tutorials than you know what to do with.

    Videohive and Revostock have some amazing project files done by some very talented people. Why not crank out a few emails to those creators and see if they aren’t interested in generating a few new projects catered to tutorials for this site. They would probably make some decent money AND generate it would be a great advertising tool for the stuff that they sell on their respective sites.

    I don’t know…if it were me…I’d be going to the people that do this for a living rather than waiting for some wannabe “filmmaker” to crank out another building exploding with fire coming out of the window tutorial or someone else looking to rip off Andrew Kramer….

    Just my 2 cents….

    • http://www.visualfxtuts.com Topher Welsh

      Good idea Billy… although you do have a lot of negative stuff to say, you always have pretty valid points. I am the blog writer over at VideoHive, I will make sure that Mark, the Site Manager checks out your comment, maybe we can do something like that!

    • makproductions

      that is so hilarious billy. I am a fan of your comments…. I have seen some peoples demo reels filled with andrews free project files. lol.. for this tutorial the effect is ok.. but nothing spectacular.. If the point is to not make it look real or nicely color corrected or something that could be used for real life, then why are you going to make it.. or put it UP here..

    • Ryan

      I already emailed some of them asking if they can make a tut on some of the effects in the video AKA nice looking 3d titleplate. But he said the effect was made in maya =(

  • Jordan

    Hey negative nellies. Turn those frowns upside down! Instead of bashing the guy who spent a lot of time doing this tutorial and getting it selected by the peeps at AETuts.. we could identify the problem and look for a solution:

    Let’s ask the fine makers of AETuts to have a system where there can be a couple of different levels like… “Advanced Techniques” and “Getting Started” or something. They seem pretty open to ideas on how to make the site more appealing to the different levels of designers out there.

    That way… you don’t have to waste your precious time where you don’t want to waste it! (except to send the forum peeps a line)

    • jink

      Hey positive Pete! Turn your upside down frown into a larger upside down frown! Your positivity is truly validity, your aura turns aetuts into funtuts. I like your uplifting mouth words. Peace out moon disciple!

  • Jordan

    Oh wait… they DO have that.

    +)

  • -J-

    I would key out the blue from the clouds and create another BG layer. Then put the sun behind the clouds since they are closer to us ya know… just a thought…. But good tut. Thanks

  • V.O

    Exactly what i was looking for… thnx

    Great tut

  • MANNUNEDIA

    THAT WAS KINDA BASIC.

  • human0id

    Like -J- said, I’ve never seen the sun in front of clouds!

  • Billy

    Adam,

    I think negativity is often misunderstood. There is negativity just to be negative…to attempt to tear something down for the sake of making yourself feel better….and then there is constructive criticism design to improve the process. If all we did here was come applaud and celebrate every tutorial regardless of how poor they are, what would be accomplished? Most likely a continuing decline in the product.

    I speak my mind. Always have….always will. However, I think I attempt to have a “reason” for why I’m critical of something. I also believe I have a proven track record for applauding the great ones. I have also made recommendations in a couple of the tutorials and in at least one those comments lead to changes in the actual tutorial…the Animated Flower tutorial….http://ae.tutsplus.com/tutorials/motion-graphics/create-a-beautifully-animated-faux-3d-flower-scene/. This is why I really don’t care about what others say about my negativity. I want this to be the very best place it can be.

    You seem to understand, Adam. As I said your tutorial this week…I do love your stuff. I am looking forward to seeing what you do with aetuts.

  • Billy

    Adam….sorry…one other suggestion I have always felt has been lacking from here….a forum. Any change we could see a true forum added? It is great to make comments on the tutorial thread, but it would be great to have a place where we could share ideas about a number of different thing, like discussing a particular tutorial in greater depth, general After Effects discussions, suggestions for tutorials, etc. I know there are a lot of AE forums on the internet, but this place has garnered such a large following it would be great to be able to connect better with the users of this place.

    Just a suggestion. Guess I’m full of them today! ;)

    • James Twyman

      Hey Billy.
      I’m sure you can understand why people are having issues with your comments. I mean hey you gave me quite a bashing for my tutorial (and deservedly so). Its obvious you know what your doing, and that you know what your talking about and what would be great is for you to contribute. This isn’t me calling you out and saying “hey if your so good why don’t you do something”. Its a plea. You have knowledge and I personally would love to learn from you. I agree the quality of tutorials here has gone down (including mine). But the only way this site can get itself back to where it was is if some one comes along and delivers something incredible and from the sounds of it, you’d be perfect. Just a thought.

  • Billy

    Here is another suggestion….LOL…but this one is for those doing this tutorial (one I just thought of as I was giving Adam all my suggestion!)

    When you sit down to do this tutorial, don’t just throw the cloud layer in.

    Animate the layer as Aharon Rabinowitz does in this tutorial:

    http://allbetsareoff.com/tutorials/creating-3d-cloud-motion-from-a-still-image/

    It will give your clouds a better perspective and add a touch of realism to the comp and and a somewhat advanced technique to a basic project.

    • Adam Everett

      Billy, I appreciate your honesty. I will say this. Creating online content can be quite intimidating because you’re stepping out for the world to tear you apart. I heard a rule a while back that you should be positive 9 times for every 1 critique, just because scrutiny is hard for us humans to take. I think a forum is a good idea… and I’ve thought of that myself… it would be nice to shift conversations from comment boxes into a more conducive environment. As for the sky thing, watch the tutorial, he already mentions that in there.

  • Ivanex

    Un excelente aporte…………
    muy bueno
    GRacias…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    un saludo desde BOLIVIA
    gracias…………………

  • James Grochowalski
    Author

    I never thought I would get so many negative comments. If you want advanced I can give advanced. I dumb down for the majority of the audience watching. Usually if you’re sooo experienced in AE, then you wouldn’t need to come to a tutorial site for step by step directions.

    I always liked these sites to pick up new or faster ways to achieve the same type of effect. By no means is this tutorial out of this world with crazy expressions and multiple leveled effects, but it’s how to create that one effect that you could be a beneficial addition to your next AE project.

    So be happy and if you don’t want to watch it, then by all means.. don’t.

  • Bacchus

    GUYS FORGET IT!

    You are not going to see any GREAT tutorial here

    Please show me a dissent motiongrapher who would spend time and energy for just 150 dollars.

    COME ON GUYS!
    NOBODY!!!!

    Someone who makes good tutorials:
    1)Already works in the industry by charging per hour: “DON’T ASK THE PRICE”!!
    2)He will post them on his own site where he can easily sell himself (e.g. Andrew Kramer)
    3)He will make a DVD to get even more money (e.g. Gnomon)

    NOW
    I DO NOT EVEN WATCH THE TUTORIALS ANY MORE

    I JUST READ THE TITLE AND DESIGNER’S C.V. (presentation) AND
    I IMMEDIATELY KNOW WHAT IS INSIDE THE CAN!!!!

    JUST PAY ATTENTION TO THE ‘HEAVY’ INTRODUCTION:
    “He is just 22 yrs old designer, editor and FILMMAKER”

    LIKE, LET’S SAY, Stanley Kubrick?
    MERCY, MERCY, MERCY!!!!!

    • http://randomshutterbugger.blogspot.com Binggeba

      You know, It’s not all about the money here. Some people just want to try to teach and help others to learn. The money and recognition is just a bonus.

  • Mete Öztürk

    Well, I think there are plenty of options. You may watch or not. As a beginner I think that tuts sites are good options with some inspiring elements in certain tutorials. And better it is free, so why not?

  • http://forte-vfx.blogspot.com/ Zingara

    Its very difficult to create an interesting and original tutorial. Currently; our field is very trendy amongst young dudes who have the enthusiasm but not necessarily the chops. They also tend to be interested in creating the big fun, flashy effects that are actually not often used professionally. Most of the stuff I do regularly at work would be considered too boring for a tutorial, but its critical to do it properly. Perhaps we could focus more on what workers actually need to do.

  • Paco

    Great

  • cheetos

    its funny how the ones that are all talk…. no skills or are too chicken to put up their own work are the ones that criticize

  • LifeType

    Great tutorial . dont listen to these kids that want a new youtube video to imitate
    keep doing your thing

  • LifeType

    Zingara . i agree 100% . thats how you can tell the youtube kids from the people that actually clock in every day to work on CGI (etc)

  • Loay Emad

    This Tutorial is very cool
    Thanks very much
    But I have a little suggestion that would make the sun animation behind the tree more realistic.
    You can use the Obscuration Layer property in the Knoll Light Factory and use the tree layer as an Obscuration Layer, That would give you much much better result.
    Thanks again for the great tutorial and I’m looking forward to see you in another one!
    Cheers !

  • http://www.mechanicalwhispers.com Robert Morris

    I was thinking the same thing while watching this tutorial, as a lot of these commenters have called out. But that all being said, a tutorial is a tutorial. It’s never going to be at everyone’s skill level. And will probably never please everyone. And I think the author’s bio at the top lets you know what you can expect. I think one commenter even said, “C’mon man, this obviously wasn’t meant to be photo-realistic. Sheesh.” When (as you can read at the top) it is described as being a “realistic sunset”. But to the author’s credit, he mentions in the tutorial that he likes to make things a bit “unreal”. Stylized is what I would call it.

    As some further suggestions for people wishing to incorporate this technique, I would still say that the sun should be behind the clouds, the color of the sky should be tinted to better match a sunset look, and when the sun goes behind the tree it should interact with the brances and blow them out (as the author mentions, but doesn’t show, in the tutorial). I mean, if you’re going to do something, don’t stop there. Although having a tutorial author mention these things without showing them is a little counter productive. People should want to take the concept and creatively run with it, rather than immediately find better ways to do it.

    As a VFX Supervisor, I was cringing when he roughly masked the photoshop file, precomp’d it, then scaled the tree without regards to resolution. I know it was blurred afterward a bit… but there are an awful lot of tutorials out there giving bad form like this. And in a real-life production environment, you will learn very quickly that certain things are a big “no-no”.

    I fear I may now join Billy’s ranks of being labeled as a negative Nancy, but I fully agree with what he was saying about constructive criticism and only wanting to make this site better. I am not sure about the screening process on this site for tutorials, but there’s something to be said about sites that filter out content for the best user experience. I’ve been toying with the idea of creating some tutorials, but they would mostly be aimed at personal projects and issues I’ve had that I couldn’t find info for anywhere else on the internet.

    One final note to James, the author… if you want to get rid of the edge artifact you pointed out in your tutorial, you may want to try scaling up the solid slightly that you have the light effect applied to, or even use the Motion Tile or Grown Bounds effect to extend the border of your solid so the edge is out of frame. The other thing I would suggest is to turn on “repeat edge pixels” when you use the Fast Blur effect.

    Best,
    -Robert

    • http://www.mechanicalwhispers.com Robert Morris

      One other small note… when you did the skew effect on the clouds from Aharon Rabinowitz’s tutorial (based on Noel Powell’s tip), you should set the first keyframe of the skew transform to a negative value, then the second to a positive. That way, you aren’t getting so much negative space and you don’t have to scale up the cloud image so much, risking degrading the image.

      -Robert

    • James Grochowalski
      Author

      Thanks so much. I hope to create better content and teach people tidbits on the way. This was my first, and hopefully not the last.

  • jerry

    Hey! I would love to see Elvis Preley in one of your tut.

  • Horsechicken

    Nice tutorial…i think a bet is also to do something cool with basic tools (as my favourite designer does http://www.g30.net )…so brandon, there’s no need to forcely learn incredible stuff…all that you need is a good idea and design and nobody can teach you that.
    and if you are searching for big learning, don’t rap in websites…pay you a good training course in a professional school…this is only my opinion, no need to flame…:)
    and sorry for my english…:P

  • Turias

    i have a problem with the tut: ive got ae 9.0. when i create the solid layer in black and lay the light effect over it for creating the sun.. the black background wont go away.. it stays there an the flare is over the black layer.. can someone help?

  • rod

    nice tut men!!!

  • beef

    Cheers for the useful tutorial. Probably not the way i am gonna approach this but interesting all the same.
    Such lame negative comments here, i’m sure the guys that bag the tutorials here are full of s*&t anyway if they were really any good why are they here watching tutorials about making sunsets???

    Like to see some tutorials from them!!!