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Smokey Type Effect in After Effects

layersmagazine.com — Type animation is one of the most wonderful functions to play with in After Effects, especially since version 6 introduced actual text character animation control. With CS3 adding per-character 3D control, typographic motion design has never been more fun. Let’s create some cool smoky type.

Who dugg this? Made popular Nov 6, 2008

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  • Zybergod, on 11/06/2008, -1/+14It's nice to see an AE article on the front page.
  • orlyfactor, on 11/06/2008, -0/+11"effect"
  • inactive, on 11/06/2008, -7/+16Some cool plugins download it if you want.

    GenArts Sapphire v1.07
    Magic Bullet Suite 2.1
    Panopticum Water v1.03
    Supressor v1.7
    Walker Effects v2.2 Professional
    Aurora Sky v1.0.1
    Conoa Superpak v1.9
    Cycore Effects 1.0.1
    Digital Anarchy 3D Assistants v1.1.1
    Digital Anarchy Anarchy Toolbox v1.02
    Digital Anarchy Data Animator v1.0
    Digital Anarchy Geomancy v1.2.1
    Digital Anarchy Gradient v1.1
    Frischluft Flair v1.12
    Frischluft Lenscare v1.21
    ObviousFX InverseTelecine v1.1.6
    ObviousFX MilkyWay v1.1.3
    Panopticum New Year Toy v1.0
    Profound Effects Gak Pak v2.0
    Red Giant Composite Wizard v1.2
    Red Giant Image Lounge v1.2
    StageTools Moving Picture v5.06
    Synthetic Aperture Color Finesse v1.5.6
    The Foundry Keylight v1.1 for only Adobe After Effects PRO 7
    Trapcode Echospace v1.0.1
    Trapcode Particular v1.5.0
    Trapcode 3DStroke v2.04
    Trapcode Lux v1.01
    Trapcode Starglow v1.03
    ---------------------------------------------------
    http://rapidshare.com/files/96375240/31_after_effc ...


  • thebuggalo, on 11/06/2008, -0/+9This is not professional work. The tutorial is very good, but final product isn't there. The fact that a masked oval of the Fractal Noise filter just slides across text is proof enough. If you want true smoke effects you are going to have to use particle effects such as Trapcode Particular. Check out Video Copilot for REAL tutorials that are actually worthwhile. To any Motion Graphic Designers who are just getting started, don't waste your time with this, this is amateur work.
  • SeaMowse, on 11/06/2008, -0/+7Apparently you don't have an interest in filmmaking or animation, or know very little of either.

    Or is everything that is out of your intellectual grasping range considered 'gay'?

    I jez keed. I jez keed. :P
  • alapoet, on 11/06/2008, -0/+7You sure it's not yours?
  • diggtochina, on 11/06/2008, -0/+7youtube video of this ?
  • ginestony, on 11/06/2008, -0/+6Personally, I don't like how that came out.
  • Secret7000, on 11/06/2008, -0/+5I've always used After Effects more as a compositing tool, rather than a motion graphics tool. I realise that it was originally intended for motion graphics, but it's compositing abilities shouldn't be overlooked.

    My (mostly) After Effects demo reel: http://vimeo.com/972497
  • gametavern, on 11/06/2008, -0/+5sweet, watch out for the trojan in the key generator (honestly, it's there)
  • knullcon, on 11/06/2008, -1/+5Can we see some of your work then?
  • Ch3n3yTh3D1ck, on 11/06/2008, -0/+3finally, a useful comment on digg. HAven't heard of TC's Echospace. what does it do
  • championchap, on 11/06/2008, -0/+3Buried for McAfee
  • LongShlong, on 11/06/2008, -0/+3Likewise... Doesn't really look like smoke to me, more like blurry gray letters.
  • Secret7000, on 11/06/2008, -0/+3Probably the most failsome comment I've seen today. Well done!
  • Secret7000, on 11/06/2008, -0/+3Trapcode Particular is awesome.

    @ gametavern: As great as Andrew Kramer is, I'm a bit fed up of people asking me which of his tutorials I used to do various things. I learned them myself!
  • CrushThemTorg, on 11/06/2008, -0/+2Fun Fact: After Effects was created as a cure for tuberculosis in 1784 by a mad monk in Königsburg. He was arrested on suspicion of witchcraft and congress with the devil shortly thereafter and exiled to Dutch Indonesia.
  • pathouston22, on 11/06/2008, -0/+2Definitely recommend Trapcode. I've been using After Effects for 10 years or so, I do it professionally - its a GREAt application.
  • cowsgonemadd3, on 11/06/2008, -0/+2Thanks for the list!
  • etx313, on 11/06/2008, -0/+2After effects rules.
  • inactive, on 11/06/2008, -0/+2Because now since the election is over, real content will start to come back.
  • TheKingInYellow, on 11/06/2008, -0/+2i couldn't agree more. however, i'd like to see less people learning AE because that means that less people know how to use it which means more business for...well...me.
  • pattyman5000, on 11/06/2008, -0/+2If this is what they're learning, we're safe.
  • serif69, on 11/06/2008, -0/+2Gay affect? It has a lisp?
  • jordantneff, on 11/06/2008, -1/+2Holy ***** a visual effects related article on digg? I'm so psyched!
  • ginestony, on 11/06/2008, -0/+1Did you mean to say Affleck? Yeah, Ben's gay
  • TheKingInYellow, on 11/06/2008, -0/+1hey pat, can i see your reel? i've been using AE for about 10 years as well:
    www.monolithcreative.com

    you're in houston? i'm in houston!
  • TheKingInYellow, on 11/06/2008, -0/+1@pat:
    well, not necessarily. it's really about all who you know. if you know someone who knows that you "know" how to animate or design (regardless of your skill level)they will most likely hire you even though there are more skillful artists out there dying for the work.

    example: i just did a freelance business card and when they got the bill their jaw dropped. they wanted to know why it was so high and that they've 'never paid more than $65 for a card'. i asked who does their design and they replied 'our on staff designer.' the $65 was the printing and shipping fee but they had overlooked how much their artist makes in salary. i explained that the amount that exceeded the printing and shipping fee on the invoice was our art costs. odds are they won't use us again for anything regardless of how much they 'loved our designs'.

    you get what you pay for and some people can't (and won't) get past the pay part.

    so, if some kid is learning how to do a crappy smoke text (instead of using a displacement layer or a fancy trapcode plugin) animation they will use it in their arsenal and most likely get the job over someone with experience. 'hey bob, my kid is an awesome animator. he can make text turn into smoke.' 'really? i need to make a commercial for my construction company. how would he like to make a few bucks?' that's how it will go down.

    we're never safe. we gotta watch our backs at all times and be ruthless. we're always better than the other guy and cheaper.
  • skrunchey, on 11/06/2008, -0/+1Love any tutorials that get people playing with AE!
  • pattyman5000, on 11/06/2008, -0/+1no he isn't
  • JYoungest1, on 11/07/2008, -0/+1What do you use for motion graphics?

    p.s. I am in college for Computer animation and focusing on motion graphics.
  • pathouston22, on 11/06/2008, -0/+0@Secret: Agreed. I've looked at this website, but never really followed his tutorials point for point. I've seen several demo reels that are 100% pure Kramer copycats. My demo has NOTHING that you could link to him. I'm 99% self-taught in After Effects.
  • ElGanyan, on 11/06/2008, -1/+1Agreed. Too bad the effect itself was rather poor. To be honest, with how popular some AE tutorial sites like videocopilot are, I'm surprised we don't see more AE articles around here.
  • mitzs, on 11/08/2008, -0/+0Well it would seem that the people that have tried this tut don't agree with you. They seemed to have not just enjoyed it but also appreciated it. I have found that there is usually more then one way to accomplish thing in adobe products. One doesn't mean the other way is wrong just because it isn't your way.

    Steve Holmes is not only a awards winner in his field. Adobe approached him about giving seminars all over Europe on their behalf. Steven Spielberg was so tickled with his work in Jurassic Park and Small Soldiers that he sent MR. Holmes two letters of personal commendation. Maybe it is the two of you who needs to do this tutorial the most before giving out advice to other newbies in this field.

    Anyone that's every been to Layers Magazine, a Photoshop World, or a NAPP member knows that Kelby Media hires nothing but the cream of the crop for all their seminars and tutorials. They have set a standard that no other company that I've come across can match in all that Kelby Media is involved in. They take pride in helping to train others. They always make sure everyone get their monies worth and that is not even mentioning the free material they provide everyday at Layers Magazine and Planet Photoshop which is the same top notch quality.

    I think the two of you need to do a little bit more research before running around calling other people works amateur unless you just really like showing off your own ignorance.
  • pathouston22, on 11/06/2008, -0/+0Check your monolith email.
  • jnorris441, on 11/07/2008, -1/+1that is, if you can get after effects to import or export anything. what a piece of crap
  • kilakiwi, on 11/06/2008, -2/+1THIS IS PIRATED SOFTWARE FULL OF TROJANS. I downloaded thinking it must be legit to be posted so openly, and my McAfee caught Trojans 5 times. Idiot.
  • Zarxrax, on 11/06/2008, -2/+1How the heck did an After Effects tutorial get on the front page of digg?
    Not complaining though, just saying....
  • ElGanyan, on 11/06/2008, -2/+1I'd be more concerned about whether people know how to do it better. That was pretty *****.
  • gametavern, on 11/06/2008, -2/+1videocopilot has taught you well.
  • drgmdp, on 11/06/2008, -3/+1he's talking about weeeeeed
  • koonchu, on 11/06/2008, -4/+1finally, a moron who can be easily traced for spreading warez!
  • TaintBrush, on 11/06/2008, -6/+3People didn't know this?
  • inactive, on 11/06/2008, -13/+1cool affect.. if your gay

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