CGTalk - Creating this kind of text effect:

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M_Windu89

11-04-2004, 08:18 AM

I'm relatively new to 3D, and I was wondering how I could create text effects like this in 3Ds Max:

http://photos1.blogger.com/img/146/1746/1024/textfx.jpg
*You may have to copy/paste the link into a browser.

The shots are from Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft Cinematic Trailer, though other movies/cinematics use that effect also. Is there a name for that? and, how can it be done in 3Ds Max (preferably)?

Thanks in advance:),
M_Windu89

tibes

11-05-2004, 01:54 PM

not familiar with max, but what you are looking at is volumetric lighting, lit from behind the text.

hardev

11-05-2004, 05:07 PM

that effect was created using a plugin called trapcode shine for after effects. very easy to use. its possible to do it in max, in fact i came across a tutorial for max 2.5 quite a while back. i will post the link once i find it.

M_Windu89

11-08-2004, 09:23 AM

I googled for a volumetric lighting tutorial, but couldn't find any. Do you happen to have a link to any? -Also, can that effect be done with only 1 light? what kind of rendering should be used to render it? Thanks:) (I'm a total n00b) ,

M_Windu89

edit:
that effect was created using a plugin called trapcode shine for after effects.

I'm not so sure it was shine. Haven't seen any mention that Blizzard uses After Effects, but I don't know:bounce:

biffen

11-08-2004, 03:11 PM

Yeah, thats DEFINATLY trapcode Shine for After Effects. Saying you havn't heard Blizzard uses AE is like saying I didn't know Blizzard uses Photoshop. Its essential. ;)

Shine 'fakes' volumetric lighting and that effect would take about 5 minutes to do with it. Very Cool plug-in. But, no one wants to go and buy expensive plug-ins. I'm sure its possible with Max (and you could probably even do more with it).

pomru

11-08-2004, 11:22 PM

edit:
I'm not so sure it was shine. Haven't seen any mention that Blizzard uses After Effects, but I don't know:bounce:Yeah, thats DEFINATLY trapcode Shine for After Effects. Saying you havn't heard Blizzard uses AE is like saying I didn't know Blizzard uses Photoshop. Its essential. ;) I'll back biffen on this. I went to a Blizzard presentation of their Diablo II trailer four years ago, and the Blizzard cinematic guys mentioned that they use After Effects extensively. None of the raw 3ds max renders are used without being tweaked in After Effects first. Things may have changed in the last four years, but they were heavily using After Effects back then.

hardev

11-09-2004, 01:51 PM

hi M_Windu89
sorry for taking such a long time to post the link. have been searching for it and i have finally found it http://hatetank.dk/Volumetric-tut.htm. if u dont want it animated then u could also use photoshop. the effect in the blizzard website was definately made in shine. i use shine regularly and imho its a must have plugin if you use after effects.

M_Windu89

11-14-2004, 03:55 AM

Thanks for all the help!:thumbsup:

I guess they did use AE then. To recreate Shine's effects, would you need a light for each letter?

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