In a very clever use of Trapcode Particular, this tutorial shows us how to create an effect that is inspired by the Bourne Ultimatum end credits sequence.
Create an Effect Inspired by the Bourne Ultimatum End Credits Sequence
Jun 29th in Motion Graphics by Chaithanya Y
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File size 2.7MBTutorial
Requirements: Trapcode Particular (download a trial version here)
Learn how to create random 3d lines using particular. This effect was inspired from the famous "Bourne Series" end credits. Well it might not be exactly that, but I gave it a try and I hope you guys can learn something new from it and will experiment to create something of your own.
Step 1
First create a new comp with settings as "NTSC Widescreen Square Pixel" and frame rate as 29.97. I have chosen these settings but if needed you can choose any preset you wish.
Step 2
Make a new solid using "Layer>New>Solid" with the comp size and name it as "Particular". It is on this comp that we apply "Trapcode Particular".
Step 3
Right click on the layer and go to "Effect>Trapcode>Particular" and apply the Particular onto the solid.
Step 4
In the settings for "Trapcode Particular" change the emitter settings as follows:
The plan here is that we need some basic particles to be emitted and we control the motion of the particles.
Set particles/sec keyframes as follows:
As you can see, some particles have been emitted and then it is keyframed to turn off emission of particles. This is done to retain the particles emitted and stop continuous emission. We only control the particles emitted and move them in the space in lines.
Step 5
Also, change the particle and physics settings as follows:
Step 6
Change the Aux Particles settings as follows:
A small problem here is that the No. of particles / sec should be optimized between your computer's performance and the formation of a clear line. So I would ask you to choose the value yourself. As of mine I experimented with it a little bit and chose the least possible value to get a perfect line.
The key to this animation is that we make use of the particles generated in Step 4 and move them in exact straight lines and we mark their path using the aux emission from the main particles.
Step 7
Take a new camera using "Layer>New>Camera" and select the 35mm preset. Disable the Depth of Field if its already present. We will switch it on at the final step.
Step 8
Now we use the graph editor and manual keyframing in order to change the wind direction from time to time. The max wind speed I used is 500, since this is crucial for a perfect line path. If you are increasing the No. of particles/sec in step 6 to a higher value you may need increase this more. But the key to this effect is turning on and off simultaneously of the wind speed in directions of X,Y and Z.
Step 9
If you observe the animation you can clearly see the formation of lines in the same way. (i.e. all the lines move in the same direction at the same time).
Step 10
Duplicate the layer Particular to make a copy of that layer. Place it on top of the original layer. Change the settings of the particular of that layer as follows.
We change the settings of the position Z value of the emitter in order to get more Z depth to the animation and we also increase the emitter size to make more lines appear in the background and cover a lot of space.
Step 11
Now we will change the wind direction values and their order of occurrence in order to create randomness in the formation of lines as of Step 8. This is the boring part since we have to keyframe all the values for each sec gap but here is a small trick to ease the pain:
Using the values we made for the original Particular in Step 8, we copy the same values into this layer but at different directions. Example: I have copied the Wind X of original layer to Wind Y of this new layer and vice versa (Wind Y to Wind Z and Wind Z to Wind X). You do this by selecting the property you want to paste into first by clicking on its name then pasting.
Step 12
Duplicate the Particular 2 Layer to make another copy of that layer and give the settings for the emitter as follows:
In order to have more lines and have a little randomness in the video, we only change the emitter size.
Step 13
As you have done in Step 11, change the wind direction of the new layer.
Using the values we made for the "Particular 2 layer" in Step 13, we copy the same values into this layer but at different directions. Example: I have copied the Wind X of original layer to Wind Y of this new layer and vice versa (Wind Y to Wind Z and Wind Z to Wind X).
Step 14
After these steps in the final animation you will find the lines moving in random directions.
If you want a greater depth into the values increase the emitter size and particles/sec in all the Particular layers.
Step 15
Now we create a new composition with the same settings used before. This comp contains the information that you want to appear. I created a type layer "Indulgence".
Step 16
Create a new solid and apply Particular Effect to it. Then change the settings of the particular as follows:
Change the Particles/sec from 10 in the first frame to ) in the next frame. This makes the Particular release just one particle that we use in the following. You can also use 3d stroke in this part but the reason I chose particular is that I wanted to make the whole animation using just particular.
Step 17
Change the Particle, Physics and Aux System values.
Step 18
For the wind system you can copy the values from the particular layers that we made in Step 8 or you can re enter different values.
Step 19
Go to Layer> New>Camera to use a new camera and position the particular such that it is best viewed. Make the text/image layer 3D and then adjust it along the line formed by changing the Z values so that it gives a depth feel.
Step 20
Apply a linear wipe effect to the type layer in order to make it appear as the line moves across it.
Step 21
Import the Text comp into the Main comp and make it a 3D layer. Then position in the comp so that the information is clearly visible.
Step 22
Now animate the camera. Since the particular works in 3d you can rotate, pan, zoom and do whatever you want to in the 3d space. I gave a simple zoom and pan motion to the camera.
Step 23
Turn on the Depth of Field to the camera by pressing "aa" on the keyboard with camera layer selected. Then change the values of the Focal Distance and Aperture to the one which you think is the best and apply keyframes to them.
Step 24
Also Turn on the Depth of Field on all the Particular layers by choosing the value " Full Render + DOF Square". Also make the particle size "0" in order to remove the blobs/dots before every line.
Step 25
Now we add some lens effect to the animation. Make a new composition with the same settings and create a new Black solid. Apply "Ramp Effect" using Effect> Generate > Ramp. Change the settings of Ramp and choose the Animations Presets as "Vignette Lighting". Then change the colors of the ramp.
Step 26
Import this composition into the Main composition and turn off the layer. Then create a new adjustment layer using " Layer>New>Adjustment Layer". Rename it as lens and place it on top of all the layers. Apply the lens blur effect using " Effect>Blur>Lens Blur". To the lens blur apply the following settings:
Step 27
Lets add some Bluish Tint and Glow effect to the animation. Create a new adjustment layer and place it on top of all the layers. Rename the layer as "Glow". Then apply the effects "Tint", "Curves" and "Glow" in the same order.
Give the settings for these effects as follows:
Step 28
If you want to add another information/title/image duplicate the Text comp and make the necessary modifications as elaborated and place it in the Main Comp.
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )kevin June 29th
The outcome looks awesome!
( )GPSchnyder June 29th
Yeah, looks good, but I’d like a Videotutorial more. Hate to read that much stuff online.
( )Earlymansion June 29th
Sorry, but when it’s not a video tut it’s too booring… Bye
( )baggy_pants June 29th
Earlymansion, are you really that big a wanker? Someone gives you FREE information and because you have to read it, you won’t? Well I guess AETuts won’t make any money out of you never coming back to their free tutorial site. I guess they better pick their game up.
Good technique Chaitanya, useful info.
I love that people can see beyond the mechanics of engineering, physics, chemistry or mathematics and peer into the beauty of the relationships of patterns and particles.
( )Zsolt October 15th
Your loss. bye
)
( )aechopper June 29th
awesome!
( )wrong download preview.flv link it is old tutorial link.
http://blip.tv/file/get/Aetutsplus-BurningBuildingTutorialPreview454.flv
Please Fix it
Lloyd June 29th
Link fixed
( )John June 29th
can you make a video tutorial??? Please. But it looks very great and awesome
( )David W. June 29th
Very nice effect! Thanks for sharing!
( )adam June 29th
I wondered how can I make it properly and I was even prepared to start making it and … Surprise on this site. However the final result is almost completly different than the original… I will try to make in a much different way.
thx anyway, but it doesnt look so good . Good technique
( )Satya Meka June 29th
Very Clever… btw I am from hyd too..
( )Chaithanya Y June 30th
Hi Satya,
Thanks a lot. Your videos are awesome.
Great to hear that you are a Hyderabadi.
( )Billy June 29th
Imagine that…..we had to wait all the way to post #2 for someone to complain about this not being a video tutorial. Wow……
The issue isn’t whether or not it is a video tutorial or not. The issue is whether it is a GOOD tutorial. We have seen WAY too many crappy tutorials around here lately. I will GLADLY read through a tutorial if it is a good on.
….and this is a GREAT effect! Finally a great tutorial to go through and a new effect to learn. Thanks Chaithanya! Hope to see much more from you!
( )Rev65 June 29th
Nice looking effect… would like to see more randomness and maybe fewer particles. Will give it a shot. Thanks!
( )ALJ June 29th
awesome ,,,nice one
( )vijay June 29th
great work greetings frm india
( )Jon putts June 29th
Greetingszy from poo poo lagoon, very good techniques this is. I praise you, but I like videos in my tutsplus and im a lazy wankjobber. Thanks for reading.
( )Karthik June 29th
Wow…AEtuts Rocks….
( )vasu June 29th
Hyderabadi Rocks dude , nice tutorial. I am also from hyderabad learning vfx .
( )Navarro Parker June 29th
Very nice!
Anyone know who designed the original?
( )illd June 29th
Interesting technique, although I hate that much keyframes….I wonder if those rectangle moves could be somehow done with expressions. I mean like that one tutorial of Lloyd Alvarez where a circle was done with a sinus function…Any Ideas?
( )Chaithanya Y June 30th
Hi illd,
I tried using expressions but couldn’t get one which changes the wind direction alternatively in x, y and z axis. If you have any idea, please share.
( )Mike June 29th
Realy Nice. I was thinking about throwing some color inside
( )And I had an idea how make it easyer. You can parent wind to 3d Null Object’s position… then you move nullobject and wind will follow.
Chaithanya Y June 30th
Hi Mike,
Had the same idea, but thought that working on the graph editor would be more easier, I can have all the values before me, so there cannot be any errors.
( )morstua June 29th
i have no patience to read.. sorry
( )Billy June 30th
You understand how pathetic this make you sound? I have no idea why you’d say “sorry.” It’s your loss that you don’t seem to have the ability to read through a whole 2 pages of text. So pathetic….
( )villa June 29th
nice stuff.. But I think there is a simpliest way without all thoses Keyframe and particle effect… Simpye draw a shape with square angle, animate the revealing line. duplicate that shape in 3d world and that it ! .)
( )villa June 29th
my technique works if you use trapcode 3d Stroke ;0)
( )Chaithanya Y June 30th
Hi villa,
Yes that’s one technique, but as you see this one is very flexible. If you wanted to have more amount of lines, all you need is to increase the size x y and z, and no. of particles/sec.
illd June 30th
Shure! rectangle Masks converted to paths – thats really a good Idea. Its a shame that i used this technique along time ago and now I already forgott it…
( )travis June 29th
no patience to read?
you people that can’t read through a tutorial – aren’t going to go anywhere in your professional careers. i’m glad people like you are around – you make me seem like an even better designer than i am, because i learn more techniques than you because i have the patience to read through a tutorial.
so thanks, and keep it up. the more you slack with practicing your “skillset”, the better i look and the more i get paid.
( )Hooper June 29th
The people in this world are becoming more and more lazy and spoiled.
I grew up without cable TV or a cell phone! And a bunch of other luxuries you fools don’t appreciate.
Great tutorial…thanks for taking the time to TYPE it!
( )Lyndon June 29th
Man ur old, NO CELL PHONES!?!?! you must be like 90 or something
I’m joking, but yeah… people are lazy and don’t appreciate a tut unless its spoon fed to them.
“THANK YOU, GIMMIE MORE!!!” (in my most retarded voice i can make)
( )mahmoud June 30th
amazing tutorial thank you.
( )nunya June 30th
Well in the debate of video tutorial or text, I say text.
I can scan the text in a few minutes, see what I need to see, and move on rather than watching a whole video.
( )krushi reddy June 30th
wow ! bave
( )keep up the good work
goaian June 30th
nice tutorial…thanks for putting every step clearly…will try it out!
( )fante June 30th
I think some expressions would do instead of the boring and not so random key framing.
( )harry June 30th
excellent tutorial ! thank you !
( )Nym June 30th
Really great technique.
I’m thinking of numerous ways to use it.
Thanks
( )Paddy June 30th
Brilliant, you are on your way to become a VFX master now…
( )Vipul Satya July 1st
Chaitanya!
( )Brilliant tutorial dude.
And about the debate for video and text tutorials!
At the end it’s the outcome that matters.
Both have their pros and cons but you must consider the hardwork the author puts to get a screenshot every time and make a tutorial. Try publishing one yourself before saying text tutorials aren’t good. I personally prefer text tutorials since i can copy them and save them as a document and then go on with my animation
Cheers Chaitanya! I myself being a B.Tech student appreciate your effort for publishing a tutorial. Shows engineers are much more than nerds
Chaitanya July 1st
nice work…
btw, you could have used and demonstrated a camera rig . then the camera movements could have been much more smoother…
anyway,,, great work buddy..
( )thank you!
CgBaran Tuts July 3rd
Great effect thanks for this tutorial
( )Abhay July 6th
Yo Bave!!! I am BITS GOA as well!!!
Proud to be ur classmate and learning so much from the tuts and keep rockin!!!
( )Chaithanya Y July 8th
Yo… Abhay
Thanks.. and ATB for your PS…
( )Jackkiller July 6th
Very nice effect! Thanks
( )tony July 7th
is there a downloadable file to see this, as its not working for me. I’m new to AE.
( )Chaithanya Y July 8th
If you want a project file for this
mail me at hello@ylchaithanya.com
( )tony July 12th
Hi did you get my email?
tony August 3rd
is there a chance to get the project file please?
THE_EMPEROR August 4th
Hi,
Got my mail?
Phil Johnson July 7th
I really appreciate the tutorial, but I do agree that a video tutorial is better than a written one. So please, when you can find the time, please make a video tutorial for this great effects.
( )Oscar Pires July 8th
From portugal, nice tutorial but in can´t pass the step 4, could you explained this tutorial with a video tutorial…it’s more easy to me understand watching…(sorry my inglish is very bad
be well, thank you
( )Ashish Chauhan July 13th
Hey thanx chaitanya for this cool effect….
( )well but i m kind of new into AE n haven’t used graph editor as yet, so all i was able to get after scrubbing G.Editor whole night were some curved lines out of it, so if you get time plz elaborate that graph editor section a bit. You may term that spoon feeding but for a starter like me it could be helpful. I would really appreciate that……………………
and anywayz congrats for this nice lookin effect.
dev July 14th
bev rocker ….lovely
( )Debanshu July 14th
heyy,
( )i’m really glad you started posting your experiences with FX online.
hope you’re having a great time at Pixelloid. Look forward to more articles…something more about your graphic design process… if you wanna do a written article…you know with designs and all.
if possible, you may consider using camtasia studio for recording video tuts. It gives you great control over screen recording with commentary.
we’d love to learn more from you
tanazeftino1 July 14th
its a cool effect but personally i think thats there is too many lines
( )Mengembalikan Jati Diri Bangsa July 15th
i hope can make like this. it so nice.
( )James July 16th
It’s nice to have screenshots once in awhile. Thanks
( )Barry July 17th
ALL THE PEOPLE COMPLAINING, PLEASE STFU.
Great tutorial.
( )tzu July 19th
ohh! thank you so much~
i tried to follow your step but got lost in step 8 >”<
could you explain it clearly?
where to set wind speed ?
appreciate your contribute ! !
( )Andy M July 20th
Hi – that’s a nice looking effect, and a nice tutorial. Good Job!
It’s always nice to be able to look at the source code when trying to code along however. Maybe something to bear in mind for the next one?
Keep up the good work, and look forward to seeing more!
( )Ralu August 11th
Hi u all, i´ve tried to do it but i get stuck in step 8 like tzu, more information would be great.
)
( )Thanx anyway and keep on rolling (typing or videotuting
Dennis S. August 17th
Hi Can anybode send me the projectfile to my email Account
dennis_seidensticker@hotmail.com
Subject: AE Tutsplus Bourne Effect
Thx for help me
( )sid August 24th
nice project dude it would be nice it this was a video tutorial lots of steps to read to show it on video it would be easy to follow
( )Michael August 26th
Thanks for the tutorial…
If I may make a couple of suggestions. First, in steps 11 and 12, the values for Particles/sec change from the original of 63 to 3000 and 0 respectively. I don’t think this is what you intend and might have caused some people to wonder why their finals look so different.
Also, as a couple of other people mentioned, Step 8 is a bit unclear. If you could, you might go back and expand that to be a little more specific on what you did.
I eventually worked through it, and it was actually helpful to figure out on my own, but someone who is relatively new to AE might not make it through because of that.
Again, really like the tutorial and want to thank you for taking the time to post it.
( )misskatherine September 2nd
And perhaps more options?
( )Wary September 7th
Those that say that reading is boring are completly lost!!! U learn away more by reading tutorial than watching video.
by reading u memorise faster and better than by video.
Very nice TUT by the way….
( )Jeffrey September 18th
Hi THE_EMPEROR,
Can You send me this AE Project file?I am new in AE.Thanks alot.
Here is my email address chehawlee@hotmail.com
( )B_A_ September 18th
I’m not very familiar with AE. Could you tell me what was the point of adding the new comp with tha ramp effect if than you turn it off? By the way… how do you turn off a layer?… Thank you!
( )SM September 22nd
Hi,
I think i got one part or some parts wrong as it didn’t turn up the way it is shown on the preview clip.
can I get the AE project file(s) to have a look. Thanks
email: racoon3@yahoo.com
( )kevin October 13th
I’d really appreciate it someone had the project file, just can’t get my wind settings looking right, lines are a mess
( )kevin October 13th
lol, forgot to put my email
kevindoherty40@gmail.com
thanks!
( )cristian October 16th
hello everyone, I am one of the newbies who did not understand well enough the step where the wind settings were explained. could you please send me the project files so i can better understand how it was made? i’ve been trying for days now to make it work and i was close to abandoning it, but it looks way too cool to ignore.
my e-mail adress is impiegatus82@yahoo.com
Thanks a lot and i am waiting for an answer . have anice day
( )Thomas D451 December 2nd
Same problem for me. I don’t understand the wind settings section well. Id like to use the effect for a 30 sec comp, And there’s not enough information for me, on the provided small piicture, to set up the animation properly, altough I get the general idea, I can’t get it working right.
( )Thomas D451 December 3rd
Update: Managed to rig the wind values to the position of a null, wich helped a lot. Now I’m experimenting with some expressions, that control the nulls position, a way to randomize the movement a bit, so that one must not keyframe the whole thing if for example the clip runs for more than 30 secs.
( )