Moho Animation Forum

My attempt to make a missle explode in space just doesn't work. I'd like to make a large rolling flame explosion but I don't understand how the sample in the ASP library works. Some of the particles change color, some of them blur and so on. Can someone recommend a good tutorial?
If you take a look at this clip you'll see what I mean.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc9IZPl8JQI

Hey Larry, a while ago I did a demo on using particles to make a campfire effect that could be adapted to what you need. As you know a particle layer takes the layers in it and repeats them and allows you through the settings to adjust the path and direction of the clones. But if the layers also have animations associated with them, they will also be included. So you can for example have a vector shape scale up in size and then fade the opacity out at the end, then all of the clones will do this as well. The particle lifetime setting is what determines how long the animations should be. I could make a more detailed tute on them if you want. Check out this demo, I don't know if you've seen it yet. PS the explosion under the SCRIPTS/PARTICLE menu looks much better than the one in the library and was what I used to learn particles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHZEY4ghe2o

I have some AVI explosions that have transparent backgrounds you could use.

I just uploaded this sample for you too look at.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mSC3b6VqmY

Jonbo, I saw your demo. The particle layer is the most complicated layer IMO. I put it off for as long as I could. I could not tell what was going on in the "explosion" object in the library. I knew I needed help.

What you said about vector shapes and clones is very helpful. I will start with that idea in mind. Controlling a single vector shape is something I can do. I will check out the explosion in SCRIPTS/PARTICLE.

sbtamu, that explosion is amazing. Did you get your studio back yet? I would never ask for your artwork. My goal is for my work to identify me like my signature.

That really isn't my art. I took some free ware explosions and added the alpha channel to it.

Are you kidding, my studio is a lost cause. If you follow me on twitter or facebook you can see the pics I have uploaded. I found a watermelon in one of my best coolers in the closet of my studio that has to be at least 2 weeks old, it was growing hair.. But I am one not to complain, at least the kids are here where I can keep an eye on them. They have played some big shows over the last few weeks and have some more coming up. I just wish I had better equipment to record them live.

In the studio we get great results recording and will have a CD release soon.

After looking at this a few times. I think this explosion I got had already a transparent back ground. I think It came with a package I bought a few years ago. I have since learned to make these on my own.

sbtamu, I'd like to know how that was done. I don't have a clear understanding of what an alpha channel is. I haven't joined facebook yet but I may do so in the near future.

I am glad you come out and were honest about not knowing what an alpha channel is. You did not try to bluff your way. It is the transparent back ground. I usually use PS or gimp to frame by frame remove the background in such explosion. The results = the amount of time you take to remove the back ground. spend a day on it and get garbage, spend a week and get great results.

Hi again.

I did a "fireworks" sequence earlier this year as part of a bigger (private) project. This is the test run for the fireworks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL0IbiQgRzI?

it's 2 AS files - "starburst" (3 sec sequence) and "cascade" (6 sec sequence) - both use particles. Render time is very short (sorry sbtamu! ). I vary the "wiggle" on the tail (bones) and render out 3-4 different "variations on the theme" from each. in AS the colour base is primary green except for stuff that I want white. I use colour replace in premiere on the green to put any colour I want in the tail and flash. This is what is in this video file. In the final project I also (in premiere) used lighting effects on both the AS output and on colour replace to animate the colour of the tails and head ....

You could cut the "tails" off and turn off gravity?

I examined the explosion in SCRIPTS/PARTICLES and it still puzzles me. The render shows bright yellow to red flames but the vector layers only show 'flesh toned' colors. I see the opacity and soft edge effects but not color changes. What am I missing?
sbtamu, did you make that explosion from an avi. removing the background frame by frame?

Have you checked the layer transfer modes?

Hey Larry, there are three things going on with the vector layers. First there is a slight color change in 4 of the 6 layers over their animation life, layers 3 and 5 don't change colors. Second the alpha channel for the colors of the shape is pretty low and also changes for the animation to make them fade in and out. Third, the vector layers have the layer blending mode set to add which is what is giving you that color variation you see in the render. Also the particle count is pretty high (2000-particles) which makes all of the factors look like it does.

slowtiger, I never heard of layer transfer modes. I'll look for them.
jonbo, you proved my point. Particle layers are complicated.
These are great insights.

(I know that the missile looks like a 'crayon' but that's an easier fix than an explosion).

3deeguy wrote:sbtamu, I'd like to know how that was done. I don't have a clear understanding of what an alpha channel is. I haven't joined facebook yet but I may do so in the near future.

I import the movie into a photo editor as layers and use different ways to remove the background from each frame. It depends on how complicated the background is. There are other ways to do this with tools made for this type of editing and they can be expensive.