Jedi Council Forums - "Force" Lightning

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Author	Topic: "Force" Lightning - Test and Tutorial
MasterZap Registered: Aug '02	Date Posted: 8/29/05 11:09pm Subject: RE: "Force" Lightning - Test and Tutorial
	Spiff posted: I find using 16 bpc eliminates all those problems. Not the channel blow out banding you get when a channel hits the ceiling, and the human eye picks up the discrepancy in the luminance derivative. What you need is something that smoothly compresses into white, not hard-walls into it. Unless you "want" that look, but that generally only works in some situations, and poorly if one channel blows before you blow the total into white... you get the classic "ugly red/green/blue blobby fringe around nice white blowout" Spiffy posted: Blow outs have to be tempered with careful opacity selection and blurring. Why not do it right with luminance compression? Not saying screen is "right", it's way too "wimpy" looking, never "cuts" nicely. As a matter of fact, many sabers in Revelations were done in "Add" or "Linear Dodge" for the "bite", while some "additional glow layers" were thrown on in "screen". Spiffy posted: I find if I "need" to use Screen to get the effect "right", something's wrong in the lower layers, and a little tweaking will fix it. Fine, but keep in mind no amount of tweaking in the lower layers (except making them black ) will make raw "Add" on top of video doing anything even remotely resembling "correct". Bill Spitzak explains it best here (with perdy pictures) why light math should be done in real linear. Notice his exposure tests done with simple sRGB => linear => sRGB conversions, and how amazingly okay it turns out, and how horrendeously horrid the "work in raw sRGB pretending it's linear" turns out. I also like that overhead shot of LA with the exposure change, first in plain sRGB-pretending-to-be-linear and then converted to linear, re-exposed, and back. You immediatly recognize ther really ugly result of the former in a lot of bad f/x work. The whole feel of the mids blowing mindlessly into the ceiling thing. Le Spifue posted: Add + eLin is probably the most correct, but I'm not so much concerned about doing it "right" as doing it without spending cash Last time I looked eLin was free for non commercial use(!) Fruity posted: The best tool I've ever found for color correction is the Selective Color, but it's only available in Photoshop The best is probably Colossus 5D but people tend to miss the "suprising greatness" of the hue/saturation tool. While I most often simply use "curves" for color correction (because I tend to dislike the cumulative error of going into certain color bands and tweak), the "Hue/Saturation" tool has a functionality many/some don't even know. See that box up there that says reds, yellows, blues? You'd think it's just a preset to apply to only the blues? Well, it is.. but this does NOT mean all the other settings go away, as one would have thunk! Au contraier, hue/saturation maintains SEPARATE settings for each of these "sub-color-ranges" (which are all changeable in themselves too). So if you want to make your "Blues" more saturated, the "reds" more yellow, the "greens" more desaturated and the "purples" pushed towards blue... YOU CAN DO all that... AT THE SAME TIME! Perdy neat, and oft overlooked. /Z -----signature----- mental ray Tips blog - http://www.mentalraytips.com ZapTroNic Visuals - http://www.ZapTroNic.com Oldschool Homepage - http://www.Master-Zap.com FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER - http://twitter.com/masterzap
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-Spiff- Registered: Jun '05	Date Posted: 8/30/05 6:24am Subject: RE: "Force" Lightning - Test and Tutorial
	sigh Zap just spanked my previous argument. I hate it when that happens. I also hate demo versions... there's always a catch. "Note: eLin has a highly sophisticated tracking device built-in that automatically detects whether any money has been made from its use LOL. Well, either it's watermarking or it isn't. This seems a rather bold statement though. See - if it's spy ware, there's no way I want it. downloads I'll try to render a few things with it sometime to see if it's worth it for this kind of compositing. Obviously a lot can be faked. -Spiff -----signature----- Eclipse SE now available: http://boards.theforce.net/fan_films/b10015/28647876/p1/?26 Spiff(x, \|x-Phi\|<small) = twitterpated FREE THE QUARKS!!!
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The_Doctor1 Registered: Apr '04	Date Posted: 8/30/05 8:51am Subject: RE: "Force" Lightning - Test and Tutorial
	You da man, Spiff. That was really cool, esp. in High Def. My only _really_ nitpicky thing is that the strobe lighting did the same thing every time, regardless of the angle of your hand, i.e. whether or not your hand should have been blocking the light a bit in one direction or another, you still had the same strobe light on the surroundings. ... but that's _really_ picky, I imagine that taking all the extra time to "fix" that detail would have no cinematic impact whatsoever. Very cool stuff ... Ah, Steve, when are you going to stop messing around with that physics stuff and go into film for real? -----signature----- Spiff for mod in 2008; for Alana:
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MasterZap Registered: Aug '02	Date Posted: 8/30/05 8:55am Subject: RE: "Force" Lightning - Test and Tutorial
	-Spiff- posted: sigh Zap just spanked my previous argument. I hate it when that happens. Then never disagree with me. Simplifies matters immensly (just kidding) Il Spiffoso posted: I also hate demo versions... there's always a catch. "Note: eLin has a highly sophisticated tracking device built-in that automatically detects whether any money has been made from its use Stu has a sense of humor. Los Spiffos posted: LOL. Well, either it's watermarking or it isn't. This seems a rather bold statement though. See - if it's spy ware, there's no way I want it. downloads No, it neither watermarks nor spies, but it does have a once-per-launch little nagpop. VERY little too. If you are like me and never shut your computer or AE down, you wouldn't know it was there. Der Schipffer posted: I'll try to render a few things with it sometime to see if it's worth it for this kind of compositing. Obviously a lot can be faked. If you are already at 16BPP, then go eLin for sure, IMHO. The fact you must use 16bPP is the main "issue" with eLin. If you are already, there is simply no reason not to use it. I can every day watch a feature film, and spot the non-linear f/x. When you learn their "look" (and your eyes learn it remarkably fast) you spot it immediately. Make sure to use the "compressed" mode, which compresses overbrights in a kewl way. Thats the whole point, really, because without that, you can just "fake" eLin with the levels and gamma plugins. /Z -----signature----- mental ray Tips blog - http://www.mentalraytips.com ZapTroNic Visuals - http://www.ZapTroNic.com Oldschool Homepage - http://www.Master-Zap.com FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER - http://twitter.com/masterzap
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Mikeyspad Registered: Aug '05	Date Posted: 8/30/05 10:53am Subject: RE: "Force" Lightning - Test and Tutorial
	hey im new to this whole editing thing and i dont understand. what do u make the lightning with and can u use final cut Express HD? i need some help. if u can help please email me whenever u have time downswing90@yahoo.com
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DVeditor Title: Fan Films Evil Overlord (manager) Registered: Dec '01	Date Posted: 8/30/05 12:07pm Subject: RE: "Force" Lightning - Test and Tutorial
	Mikeyspad - Welcome to TFN! The effect was done in After Effects - I'm not sure if it'd be possible to achieve this result in Final Cut Pro due to the lack of certain plug-ins. FCP is more of an editing program whereas AE is made for compositing and effects work. However there are many ways to create lightning in a host of different applications up in the tutorial sticky. Hope that helps! -----signature----- CK Hicks http://www.ckhicks.com http://dveditor.deviantart.com TFN on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2202937735
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G-Unit Registered: May '04	Date Posted: 8/30/05 1:03pm Subject: RE: "Force" Lightning - Test and Tutorial
	Very nice Spiff! That was a nice effect and the tutorial is not all that bad. -----signature----- Aaron Greer-Director/Writer/Producer http://www.nexthorizonfilms.com/ "I'd rather direct than produce. Any day. And twice on Sunday." Steven Spielberg Current Project- Gatekeeper
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beafet Title: Webmaster Ja cksonville, NC FanForce Registered: Mar '01	Date Posted: 8/30/05 1:04pm Subject: RE: "Force" Lightning - Test and Tutorial
	I would like to use eLin, however, I have only version 5 of AE. I'm missing a bunch of the useful stuff. I may upgrade to 6.5 when the next version comes out. -----signature-----
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DarthZome Registered: Aug '00	Date Posted: 8/30/05 4:02pm Subject: RE: "Force" Lightning - Test and Tutorial
	-Spiff- posted: I usually use Linear Dodge - but I just did some tests with frames from this and could not discern a difference between in and add. That's because Linead Dodge and Add are the exact same function. Photoshop does not have a blending mode called Add, so After Effects uses Linear Dodge to match Photoshop. -----signature----- "Only a Sith deals in absolutes" is a statement that deals in absolutes. **** -My rightful stars The rewards of self-discipline are greater than the rewards of self-indulgence.
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Kchr1ss Registered: Mar '05	Date Posted: 9/3/05 5:14am Subject: RE: "Force" Lightning - Test and Tutorial - Date Edited: 9/3/05 5:15am (1 edits total) Edited By: Kchr1ss
	...any news? ok bump for some of those u cant find it in tutorials page -----signature----- Lookfilms Ltd. You were the chosen one!!! We were brothers !!! I loved you !!! The jedi turned against me ! Don't you turn against me ?!?
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Neothehacker Registered: Nov '04	Date Posted: 9/3/05 10:00am Subject: RE: "Force" Lightning - Test and Tutorial
	Which version of AE is the advanced lightning plugin in? -----signature----- Lou: You're my best friend, Andy. Andy: Yeah, I know. L: You like me, don't you? A: Yeah, I know. L: But I thought you said you hated me. A: Yeah, I know. L: Do you know what your most annoying catchphrase is, Andy? A: ...That one.
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VaporTrail Registered: May '02	Date Posted: 9/3/05 10:41am Subject: RE: "Force" Lightning - Test and Tutorial
	Well, Spiff... I just watched this test. Yeah. You suck. I mean that in the most un-literal/insanely impressed way as possible, but yeah. You suck. =) -Vaportrail -----signature----- Fanfilmers shoot first and talk copyright later. http://www.vimeo.com/vaportrail/videos http://thespenceleyspoileriffic.blogspot.com/
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-Spiff- Registered: Jun '05	Date Posted: 9/3/05 5:12pm Subject: RE: "Force" Lightning - Test and Tutorial - Date Edited: 9/3/05 5:23pm (1 edits total) Edited By: -Spiff-
	Thanks for keeping me grounded Vapor. I know the Advanced Lightning filter was in versions 6.0 Pro and up... (? See Funk's post below). Note that much of this probably could have been achieved with the normal Lightning filter as well. -Spiff -----signature----- Eclipse SE now available: http://boards.theforce.net/fan_films/b10015/28647876/p1/?26 Spiff(x, \|x-Phi\|<small) = twitterpated FREE THE QUARKS!!!
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Funk-E Registered: Sep '03	Date Posted: 9/3/05 5:18pm Subject: RE: "Force" Lightning - Test and Tutorial
	Advanced Lightning's also in the 5.5 production bundle. -----signature----- I'm so adjective, I verb nouns. RIP George Carlin!
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Neothehacker Registered: Nov '04	Date Posted: 9/3/05 11:30pm Subject: RE: "Force" Lightning - Test and Tutorial - Date Edited: 9/3/05 11:30pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Neothehacker
	Which directory? EDIT: whoops, i have 5.0 pb. -----signature----- Lou: You're my best friend, Andy. Andy: Yeah, I know. L: You like me, don't you? A: Yeah, I know. L: But I thought you said you hated me. A: Yeah, I know. L: Do you know what your most annoying catchphrase is, Andy? A: ...That one.
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