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Step 11: To the Background Layer, apply Fractal Noise. Use the following image to set up your effect.
Step 12: Add the Circle Video Pre Comp to the Up Next Timeline.
It looks pretty good as is, but we can jazz it up a bit.
Step 13: Create a New Solid. Name this layer Blue Arc. It doesn’t matter what color you use, but make sure you set the dimensions to 1000 x 1000. Yes, this is the same setting we used for the original Large Circle layer.
Step 14: To this solid apply Profound Effects Useful Things. Again, you probably should read the review I wrote that actually walks you through how the plug-in works.
Find the pe_easyArc element and add it to the Elements in Effect column. When working with Useful Things is to turn on the Slider Controls for each of the properties I want to experiment with over time. These are the lightening bolt symbols you see next to each property.
For this exercise I set Color 1 to deep blue.
Click OK
In the Effects Control Panel, make the following adjustments:
Position 500, 500
Inner Radius 25.00
Outer Radius 29.00
Starting Angle 0
Ending Angle 25
Rotation 0
Again, because we are in the Effects Control Panel to make these changes, we can see the results instantly in the Comp Window (providing you have large screen real estate space).
To make sure that we can see everything underneath the layer, turn off Composite with Input.
Step 15: Duplicate the Useful Things effect in the Effect Control Window. Because you duplicated the effect, you don’t have to go through and recreate the settings. However, to make sure that the arcs don’t overlap, adjust the rotation to 40 degrees. Also you need to turn back on the Composite with Input.
I chose 40 degrees because I want to create nine different arcs with equal spacing between them.
Duplicate the effect seven more times for a total of 9 Useful Things effects and add 40 degrees to each (0 – 320 degrees).
Step 16: Position this arc layer behind the Circle Video Pre Comp layer (also make sure you position the layer at 134, 366). For more interesting effect so the arcs blend a bit with the background, change the Transfer Mode for this layer to Color Burn.
Step 17: With the Blue Arc layer selected in the Timeline, press the R key to bring up the Rotation Property for the layer. With the Timeline Indicator at the beginning of the Timeline, create an initial keyframe by clicking on the Stopwatch Icon.
Step 18: Press the End key to move to the end of the Timeline and change the Rotation amount to -180 degrees.
Step 19: While this produces an interesting result, we can duplicate the look of many spots by duplicating the blue arc layer and reversing the rotation keyframes (frame 0 = 180, frame 300=0).
Companies and Products mentioned in this exercise. |
| Adobe (www.adobe.com) After Effects 6.0 Profound Effects (www.profoundeffects.com) Useful Things v 1.5.1 Artbeats (www.artbeats.com) Destination: San Francisco |
Because of the Transfer Mode and the fact that the layers rotate in opposite directions, the arcs appear to grow and shrink as well as change their brightness levels.
Step 20: If one row or rotating arcs is good, then multiple levels would be even better. On your own create another larger row or arcs behind the blue ones. Experiment and until you achieve something like the following
The results are very satisfying and will look great on your local.
In the next installment, we’ll create some appropriate text elements to the piece.
You can download the project file in .SIT format here. The Artbeats clip is not included, so you will have to replace the layer with video of your own.
When not working deep in the labs of the DMN Central Division testing the latest and greatest software/hardware products Stephen Schleicher can be found at the local university teaching a few courses on video and web production. He can be reached at schleicher@mindspring.com. You can also visit him on the web at www.mindspring.com/~schleicher
Source: Digital Media Online, Inc.
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