|
Please preview the project files and movie before beginning this tutorial. Download movie and project files from the orange bar above.
This tutorial is built on a simple principle. After Effects sometimes needs footage to really make it cook. In this way we can look at using Photoshop stills as the catalyst to make an original animation.
The recipe consists of creating 4-6 different rendered cloud layers that are much bigger than the final output. Pick any 1 filter and add it to each layer with slightly different parameters and save.
Import those layers into After Effects and go nuts! Move them around, scale them, rotate them, add different effects to them until you're happy with what you have.
Remember...we're artists, this job is supposed to be fun...so get in there and don't be afraid to get messy!
| CREATING THE STARFIELD: PHOTOSHOP |
Please review the starfield.psd and starfield.mov before starting
1. Choose file / new and create a new file 1000x1000 pixels, 72 dpi, RGB color mode with a black background
2. Turn the background color box black , and the foreground color box white in the tools pallette
3. Create 7 new layers
 4. Choose layer 1
5. Choose filter / render / clouds
6. Do step 4 for layers 2 - 7
7. Choose layer 1
8. Choose filter / noise / add noise and set it to 400
9. Check monochromatic
10. Choose layer 2
11. Choose filter / noise / add noise and set it to 300
12. Set its mode to multiply
13. Choose layer 3
14. Choose filter / noise / add noise and set it to 200
15. Set its mode to multiply
16. Choose layer 4
17. Choose filter / noise / add noise and set it to 100
18. Set its mode to multiply
19. Choose layer 5
20. Choose filter / noise / add noise and set it to 50
21. Set its mode to multiply
22. Choose layer 6
23. Choose filter / noise / add noise and set it to 25
24. Set its mode to multiply
25. Choose layer 7
26. Choose filter / noise / add noise and set it to 10
27. Set its mode to multiply
28. If the starfield looks to sparse at this point, try turning off the eyeball on 1 or 2 layers starting from the top or adjusting
the transparency on 1 or 2 layers starting from the top
29. Choose layer / Flatten image
30.Choose image / adjustments / levels, set the input levels to
31. Name the layer starfield
32. Save the file as starfield.psd
| CREATING THE STARFIELD: AFTER EFFECTS |
1. Import the starfield.psd from the psd folder as a composition and double click on it
2. Choose composition / composition settings Rename the starfield.psd comp to renderout, resize it to the D1-NTSC
720x486 preset, and set the duration to 10:00
3. Switch the quality mode to best
4. Duplicate the starfield layer 2X
5. Rename all starfield layers starting from the top starfield1 - starfield3
6. Choose starfield1 and set its mode to add
7. Set position key frames IN 355x370 OUT 390x300
8. Set scale key frames IN 100x100 OUT 110x110
9. Set rotation key frames IN 50º OUT 60º
10. Choose starfield2 layer and set its mode to add
11. Set position key frames IN 355x140 OUT 410x140
12. Set scale key frames IN 90x90 OUT 105x105
13. Set rotation key frames IN 25º OUT 35º
14. Choose starfield3 layer
15. Set position key frames IN 440x90 OUT 425x140
16. Set scale key frames IN 80x80 OUT 85x85
17. Set rotation key frames IN 0º OUT 5º
18. Save file as starfield.aep
19. Render file a starfield, premultiplied with no alpha
Experiment with brightening the stars by layering the rendered stars and changing the blend modes to add.
The image below has 4 rendered layers with the top 3 layers set to an add mode.
Feel free to ask questions in the After Effects forum at Creativecow.net.
To subscribe to Dean's AE product, click on the logo to the right.
|
Digg it
