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cgboy
06-19-2003, 08:26 AM
Hi, I'm new here, not sure if this post fits this thread's categorie as Texturing. i was wondering anybody out there tell me the techniques on how to create a good animated futuristic graphical user interface design for control centers. I have an idea but not sure if this is the right way? Are we suppose to animated composited elements of normal web photoshop GUI designs in programs like "After Effects" and just use it as an animated texture map applied to the objects. but how to create the illuminated/glow when pressed on the certain buttons. do we set up masks/alpha maps to animated the illumination of the material?

How do they do it like in Matrix Reloaded or Minority Report in the real industry?

Can anyone please point me in the right direction and point out their detail ways/steps on creating it. Thank you.
Ian Jones
06-19-2003, 01:57 PM
It really depends. Interfaces in movies such as monority report were a combination of 2d and 3d. Ultimately the end result is 3d because many of the 2d elements were placed into a 3d scene and camera's sweep around and move about giving depth impression.

You can build great interfaces with 2d, but you can push them even further with 3d.

In relation to your question about how it is done....

You can do it in many ways. My advice would be that you investigate motion gfx programs such as Adobe After FX. Put simply it is photoshop with a timeline. You can animate absolutely any attribute. This includes filter settings. So you can animate the level of gaussian blur over time for example. A mind blowing concept when you consider the potential of such tools. I really love it. So that is how you can animate your button rollovers to glow.

You can also use 3d geometry, as well as flat planes with animated texture map etc... as you described. A combination of whatever tools are required to do the job is how the pro's handle it.

" but how to create the illuminated/glow when pressed on the certain buttons"

In after FX you could animate the opacity of a 'colour dodge' blended layer to achieve this effect. In 3d you would animate material settings on a shape or geometry. There are multiple options as you already seem to know.

I hope that helps.
cgboy
06-23-2003, 02:31 AM
Hi, Ian ! I like to thank you for your help. From your advice I feel more confidence now with the same way that i would approach. And it sounds really good from someone in the actual industry that reply and share their ways of doing techniques.

thank you again. Jimmy.

ps. looking forward to hear from you in future.
Ian Jones
06-23-2003, 04:54 AM
Hey, just to clarify...I'm not actually in the industry. I'm a still a student. I do make try to make educated responses though, and I believe that the ways I suggested are most likely correct. I would certainly approach it in those ways. Guess you'll just have to agree, unless someone else decides to respond. :) :rolleyes:

"A combination of whatever tools are required to do the job is how the pro's handle it."

Thats the best advice I can give. ^^^
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