Combustion 3
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Those are some of the major new improvements to an already-solid application. In addition to the new – what I call - “internal improvements”, there are also some external improvements to the application, which make combustion 3 even more valuable to the user.
The first is in the particle system included with combustion 3. While other reviewers have said how great the particle system is, I have noticed many fail to mention that this is simply the ParticleIllusion (PI) system integrated into combustion. There are the exact same particles available, similar animation and creation principles, etc. ParticleIllusion is currently available as a stand alone application for those After Effects users, and I have reviewed it in these pages before. To be blunt, the particle system in the current version of After Effects is pretty low compared to what ParticleIllusion can do. If you want to do sprite-based particle effects, then an AE user will need a third party app like PI. As a stand alone application for After Effects users, it costs in the neighborhood of $400. With combustion 3, you are basically getting this particle system for free. [an error occurred while processing this directive]
The other big external improvement to combustion 3 is the inclusion of RE:Vision Effects’ RE:Flex as part of the system. If you are doing spline-based morphing and distortion of your footage, then you will definitely want to use this feature. Again, it is a third party purchase for AE users, but built in to combustion 3.
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| Another big plus for combustion 3 is the built in dedicated color corrector. After Effects can do color correcting, but not as easily or with a single built in effect. |
And this brings up probably the biggest consideration for those considering purchasing a motion graphics package – the price. If you were to compare the cost of After Effects, plus the other plug-ins to match the current release of combustion 3 it would break down as follows:
After Effects Pro $999.00
RE:Flex $595.00
ParticleIllusion $399.00
Total $1993.00
Combustion 3 $995.00
That is a savings of almost $1000. For some this may be a huge consideration as you can get two copies of combustion 3 for nearly the same price as one version of After Effects Pro, plus the additional plug-ins.
So does that mean as an After Effects user that I am totally swayed to combustion 3? While I find combustion 3 to be powerful, I’ve noticed some serious learning curve problems. These generally relate to window layout, where certain operators and feature are located, and my feeling that some of the ways things are done in combustion are just plain clunky. For example, in order to add a solid to a combustion 3 workspace, I have to do x number of steps. When I want to make a change to that layer (changing the color), I have to highlight the element, find the proper tab that has the properties for that element, make the changes, etc.
The bottom line in my review/comparison for After Effects users is this: If you are fully entrenched with the quirkiness of After Effects and find working with it a walk in the park, you will have some difficulty in switching to combustion 3. If you are someone who uses After Effects sometimes, then you might consider switching to combustion 3 or least adding it to your system and learn both at the same time. For both types of users, once you get over the interface learning curve, I think you will find that combustion 3 is really deserving of your time and efforts.
As a stand-alone product review, I give Combustion 3 a Strong Buy recommendation for power, ease of use and bang for your buck. A motion graphics artist who is just starting out, will benefit greatly from purchasing this package.
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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