Fun with 3D Shadows
February 2nd, 2008

I'm planning a new tutorial covering some of the cool functions of 3D shadows in AE. In this example the light follows the flame and make the text cast a shadow down the background.

Now if only they would make a movie called "Death Man" I'd be set.

I've also got some new tutorials in the works, so who knows what will actually be released next...

Andrew Kramer
POSTED:
17 years ago
117 Comments
I don't remember ever seeing this tutorial.
Iqbal
15 years ago
Hi Andrew..............
Now am a small expert in AE because of you.....
Why didn't put tutorials for maya......
I expect that from you.............
Navarro Parker
16 years ago
What's the status of this one getting completed?
Nikolaus
16 years ago
Hey,

why is the link down? There is no tutorials for this video, or?
riki
17 years ago
what happened to the link for the movie re: http://www.videocopilot.net/burn.mov
bwoogie
17 years ago
Yeah, I'm still really looking forward to this one! I hope he hasn't forgotten about it!
Jason
17 years ago
Hopefully it is. I came here wondering the same thing.
Bob
17 years ago
It this tut still coming?
nirvana
17 years ago
From china！
Nice tutorial！！æ??Ÿå¾???äº???！！
.gp
17 years ago
anyone got an idea how to make text like death man? its got some texture like thing on it. somewhere yellow somewhere redish. i m just tryin to figure it out, but no success (have already tried ramp, have 2 text layers with different color, then have a fractal noise masking out one of them, etc)
Zach
17 years ago
Can you do a tutorial on how to make the light shine through like that at the end to illuminate the words in the back. That is an awesome effect!
Peacemaker
17 years ago
I made this effect too (skip to the end of the movie). I used evolution and Riot Gear too and I used the earth zoom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHol3z6XX9E
Stephen
17 years ago
Thanks Andrew, I can't wait for this one to come out!

I've been looking all over for anything about creating simulated shadows and reflections using greenscreen footage of a person. Something a bit more realistic than just flipping a layer upside down and blurring it. I saw a plugin a while back that does a great job of this and I totally can't remember it. Thoughts?
William
17 years ago
yo andrew, your tutorial are really helpfull, it's really great man!!
by the way can i have your basic tutorial dvd ? thank's man.
matthew stafford
17 years ago
have you guys ever thought of using a contest involving us normal people in order to promote your products. Personaly I would love not only to see what you guys do with your products (I love the tutorials...i learn a lot and use these at work) but I would love to also see what us "Joe Shmoes" are also able to create. Posting some of the good stuff would not only be interesting but would show possible customers what average people can do with your product. Just a suggestion, keep up the good work.
kAMA
17 years ago
here is my attempt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYoCMLi12JE
17 years ago
if you have heard of jerry springer than you have heard of steve wilco, well his whole title sequence is kramers ink bleed stuff and they sucks! you think that some one with a studio l.a. no less , they would take it to the next level....but it was only an ink bleed with an adjustment layer to add color
Some Guy
17 years ago
@ matt: I found that advert and it' really the same music. They even have a man hit by a car.
17 years ago
I got it ,dont ask for free stuff i was like where did i go but again iam still trying to make the cold breath from the movie essin using the smoke and track it to make it look like breath.
matt
17 years ago
haha

i just watched an advert for the sarah conner chronicles on Virgin 1 in the UK and they've used the same music that Andrew Kramer used on his old showrell on Final Image lol.
17 years ago
ace one, always appreciate the efforts you put into getting us to be regulars, total insparation for my own stuff obviously, but i have been able to put myself out there like i couldnt before with the confidence you have helped me with, if you ever need any favors..im your guy...lol if you ever need to be smuggled acroosed the can/am border...i know some mohawks ...lol

thanks again
Matthew Boer
17 years ago
Wait for it, thanks for the comming up release.
17 years ago
Thanks some guy! I also noticed the fakeness of the words with the crisp edges, and I see your point on the flame's bottom. I didn't have much time to work on this because I'm gaffing a film at the moment and don't have much free time, so I rushed this render before it was ready I guess, haha. I'll make some improvements though!
17 years ago
all i need is the light and camera movment i got the camera but i cant get the freakin light. i guess i have to wait
Some Guy
17 years ago
Looks great! I can't wait.
I would love to see this done in 3ds Max with real 3D text.

PS: I saw another "some guy" here on the blog. I am the original one. The others are just imitations...


@ Sean Emer: Wow, nice job! But I would make two things different: a) the edges of the text are sometimes too sharp (it makes them look artificial), I would blur them just a little bit; and b) I would mask out the bottom of the "flame" - that hard edge floating in the air behind the word "MAN" looks funny/strange (look how Andrew did this; he also used a different inkdrop). The rest is great. The weird positioning of the title (the left side stays black, while the right side is bright and thereby dominant), the flickering, the blur and the camera movement makes your composition intense and creepy. I also like how you used the rule of thirds.
17 years ago
hey andrew,

there are a movie called Dead Man!
Directed by Jim Jarmush, whit Jonny Deep.

hey, sorry my enghlish.

by the way.... this tutorial looks very cool.
Babatunde Tunslike
17 years ago
AUDITION! AUDITION!! AUDITION!!!

an audition will hold on the file "DEATH MAN" at VideoCoPilot.Com....

HOLY JESUS!

this AndRew KramEr is really a bunch of talents, i could imagine what the Trailer would look like with the wonderful concepts...

its been a long time i posted, but when i open my browser today cuss videocopilt was my home page and i saw this, Waow!!!... i was like "O my God, who is this guy?"..... i cant wait for the tutorial

Guy!!! don't forget the AUDITION, I having meeting MEL, GIBSON, STeven Spliberg, and other wonderful guys on this project...

Andrew! your new EVOLUTION Header, which Font is it? and how do you blend background for reflection?
17 years ago
just saw this on you tube, Great 3d tracking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyiktNfn4AA
kAMA
17 years ago
has anyone figured out the second part of the tut. where the embers fall and light up the scene?
17 years ago
heres my try at reproducing an effect similar to this... what do you all think?

www.doodlesofamadman.com/video/Darkman.mov
17 years ago
In this clip based on DEATH MAN I did the opposite of what andrew did , he worked alot with blue so I based it on that.
check it out
http://www.youtube.com/clancy30
%$@#$
17 years ago
Deathman !!! sweet! ..like from the book ($0.49) ??

http://www.amazon.com/Deathman/dp/B000IFPEGC
Gregger
17 years ago
Here is my attempt at this. I'm sure Andrew will make it easy like he always does.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VvJsBfO3tU
steve
17 years ago
this looks awesome!! the way the flame holds the effect while traveling away from the text and the little bit of flame ignites from the letter 'n' while appearing to be casting a light flicker effect is absolutely fantastic!! Can't wait for this one!!

Thanks in advance Andrew. Hope the family is doing well.
DiRTDOG
17 years ago
This one looks great, I am far from an expert and this is constructive criticism, the flame doesn't really look like a flame as it goes up it keeps its intensity which really isn't what a flame will do, it will dissipate and turn into black smoke. Looks like a great tutorial though!! Love the site.
Lucifer
17 years ago
WOW!looks great,Keep it up!
17 years ago
æ???°å¹´å¥½,é¼ å¹´è¡??大运,æ???Žè¥¿å¾·å??????,身ä½???健康,ä¸???äº???å¦???æ???
Best all u best
happy new year,
bring on 2008
greetz,Wacker from China
Ralle
17 years ago
Hi, thanks for a great site!

i was just wondering if ju cant do some more 3D/After effects work?
would be awesome tracking som shoots import to a 3d program then
compositing in Af !
17 years ago
Hey Andrew,

How are you?
Nice work, can you make somthing for my company?
For EYE VISION PRODUCTIONS? I hope you can.

Mail me,

Thanks al lot, Paul

from Holland
17 years ago
dude i`m from brazil and i would like just to thank you so much for making this site and this tutorials! thank you big time!
Dean
17 years ago
Hey Andrew!

Thanks HEAPS for all of these tutorials - I feel like a pro now. I also second the above comment... smove continous flow's between scenes.
17 years ago
I like the choco/ mochoa evolution color scheme by the way .....or colour scheme as I would say (being english...what what)
Tim
17 years ago
Awesome thanks Andrew.
Can I throw out a tutorial request. I notice in a lot of your promos e.g. evolution, you do a lot of camera moves between scenes to give it that continuous flow kind of vibe. There seems to be motion blur and dissolving and a bunch of stuff going on, maybe a tutorial on that would be cool (if there isn't one already). Keep up the great work
ikke
17 years ago
i love thees tutorials, im a newb at starting with AE, i cant even get CC particle world.. lol.. any one lend me a hand ? is it part of AE or is a new plugin..

realy wanna try that title tutorial with the particles, but get stuck there

keep it up..
kAMA
17 years ago
ok i think i figured it out and im proud of myself hahaha. cant wait to see if im right. or at least on the right path.
17 years ago
check out the fire tut i made ,its not perfect like andrews but iam still trying ,still learning and the credits goes to the boss him self.
http://www.youtube.com/clancy30
17 years ago
Looks good Andrew. Looking forward to it.
Joran
17 years ago
nice movie Anrew!
I like the way you make the riot gear inkflow look like a flame.
i cant wait for the tutorial
stk
17 years ago
looking forward to this tut looks awesome
17 years ago
Ehh, Why not? You can get a group of AE Students of yours, make a new movie. Go to Disney, tell them this is the next Chronicals of Narnia... Andrew Kramer Edition. And your set. You know how Disney accept every single move Looks nice
17 years ago
Video Copilot crow, you guys putting up one of the best tutorials on your site. If anywhere I can be to learn is here! Hi I cannot wait for the news tutorials.......keep your head up.....
Ryoo
17 years ago
LOL@Lee


*cough*I am Sam*cough*
kris
17 years ago
Ohhh very nice. I cant wait this new tutorial. It is going to be additional to my little movie.
Lee
17 years ago
Anticipating everything you come out with... Has Sam seen that movie, "I Am Sam"?
17 years ago
i think we should have a amuture tutorial contest
which kramer fan can make the best tut
17 years ago
This will be very useful! Can't wait.
c
Joey Bane
17 years ago
wow! Andrew Kramer answered my question! I'm so psyched!
17 years ago
Looks great Andrew, I guess this 2008 will be very good.

Keep it up Andrew. ANDREW KRAMER you Rokk man
17 years ago
Looks cool. I especially like how the sparks light the background.
debeli
17 years ago
Ovo je futa ziva
uta
17 years ago
I love it! Thanks heaps! always can learn a lot here...your blog is a treasure for me.
Sandy
17 years ago
gr8 andrew, will wait for the tut & the awesome ending part of those fire particles.

It looks superb, u r my master. thnx, regards - Sandy
WiRXMAN
17 years ago
Looks very cool as usual. Should make an awesome idea for a tut.
Will Carroll
17 years ago
Awesome Andrew. Can't wait to see this one! btw, I think that it would be a cool edition to your site if you added a tutorial competition page, where the best composition of the tutorial of the week is posted on the home page.

just a thought...
unique
17 years ago
u rock, man
keep on!
Marc Biorklund
17 years ago
I must say that I love the teaser of this upcomming tutorial.
I already see that Riot Gear will be very helpfull here
Jeff
17 years ago
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Also, Don't forget the voice
Ryoo
17 years ago
nah man AK is really aftereffects...imo he gotta strick to AE.
im 100% no one can do it better then AK, specially the humor in the tuts lol, most tutorials are boring blablablabla but AK takes it to another lvl


good job
matt
17 years ago
Slightly off topic, but...Just a quick question on motion blurring if anyone wants to answer it:

I'm putting together an animation and am having a go at pre-composing bits of it before putting them in the main composition (normally i just slap everything into one composition lol).

Ok, on the switches pannel, should i turn motion blurring on in my pre-comps, switch the motion blurring on in the main comp.....or in both?

Hope that makes sense, i'm not sure whether doing it in the pre-comp plus the main camp leads to a double blurring effect.
17 years ago
It would be ground breaking for video copilot to have a sister website for c4d and 3ds max. but i guess it harder to sell 3d materials. can't wait until the new tutorials start up.
17 years ago
Amazing....amazing.....amazing!
17 years ago
The font is one of my favorites:
Franklin Gothic Demi Cond.

As for the ending, I'm sure it will be worked out be for it is published.
Dado
17 years ago
You are one of the kind! Your work inspierd me so much! I cant wait to see you update more of your work, its just simple amazing! And its fun to listen to you, you are a very good teacher. Great work man and where are the monkeys*
Matt
17 years ago
hey looks great, thx to u i have really learned after effects through and through. i learn somtin new everyday. but i RELLY want to c that 3ds max particle destruction tut u planned. PLZ MAKE THAT ONE NEXT, if its ready.
Sandy
17 years ago
Wow thats superb. thnx andrew.

But how the fire particles at the end gives light to the text? Is there any tricky part for that?

Expecting to see the tut soon. thnx again.

Regards - Sandy
Conor Maher
17 years ago
GO PATRIOTS!!!!!!
Ryoo
17 years ago
# Joey Bane Says:
February 3rd, 2008 at 3:23 am

Andrew,

What fonts are you using? especially with this one and the banner of the site? thanx.



Well i know he's using Ariel Black a lot...DEATH MAN is ariel black...But A CHRONICLE OF MAGIC is not ariel black think Franklin what ever think dont know the full name
Titso
17 years ago
Kramer, why don't you and your team make your own movie and launch it at the cinema? Would have gone to that film 20x!
Flubber
17 years ago
that is brilliant, waiting forward for this...
amazing... just.. just... my eyes are so happy... awesome

keep up the good work
Joey Bane
17 years ago
Andrew,

What fonts are you using? especially with this one and the banner of the site? thanx.
17 years ago
Great! your tutorials get better everytime andrew
Victor
17 years ago
And if you don't mind, can you pleeease give us the audio with the project, cos the the audio surely make the scene looks realistic.
Thank God for you Andrew...
Victor
17 years ago
Wow, I've always wanted to do this, and if you can please also teach us to create the flame and shadow effects in a real life video, so that it can comes out of a person's hand or body. I know there are tutorials like this out there but they are not as realistic, or maybe we should use real flame instead of particles?
And I love how you sounded so excited in your tutorials even though it's for free... makes us excited too...
Thank you Andrew.
Alex T
17 years ago
"Now if only they would make a move called â?????Death Manâ??? Iâ??????d be set."
Don't you mean movie? ^^

It looks really good! But the sparkslight looked a little wierd when it suddenly become completly black. But I think you will make a great tutorial out of it anyways so!

Keep it up!

/Alex T
ömer tatlisoz
17 years ago
very good Andrew
17 years ago
looks great
Stefan
17 years ago
Woah that's just awesome man! I can`t wait to see it! Greetings!
17 years ago
Look at this

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rZQQgvhn4jg
17 years ago
Hi Andrew,
This is a great teaser. For me the teaser is already a great inspiration for a project I'm doing currently.

Thorsten

http://www.StrongMocha.com
(DFX (Digital Effects) VFX (Visual Effects) Compositing Food)
Mikester191
17 years ago
Sweet!
some guy
17 years ago
thank allah for those people on youtube that told me about videocopilot
some guy
17 years ago
im f---in jealous....i dont want anyone to know about this website...only me......everyone leave..after u buy his dvds of course
jorberg
17 years ago
Looks Great -- Looking forward to a great tutorial. Also looking forward to Twitch! I'm really hoping for more motion graphic tutorials or even a new motion graphic product soon.....I've been using evolution like CRAZY.
17 years ago
WOW! This looks absolutely stunning! Can't wait for the tutorial...man that looks wicked!
17 years ago
Hello,
Great stuff Andrew. Keep it up mate!
ricky elliott
17 years ago
I know I already posted, and its probably because I'm a perfectionist, but I think the light should follow the ink as it goes up. AWESOME THOUGH
17 years ago
Looks great!
Geo
17 years ago
Freakin righteous! Can't wait Drew!
illegalD
17 years ago
Looks hot, somehow.
James
17 years ago
that was wicked!

In a few months or so my school is having a media festival, Ill be editing the opening scenes of most, I think this will awe the audience!
nico
17 years ago
2008 will be a great year with videocopilot !
morten enoksen
17 years ago
looks neet Looking forward to it.
bwoogie
17 years ago
Wow that looks really nice! Can't wait! Like always!
Ryoo
17 years ago
man this is crazy, you keep working very hard for us.
stefen
17 years ago
awesome
ricky elliott
17 years ago
sweet. Now, are you going to use the riot gear things? BTW BEST PURCHASE EVER, well ok they all are good but I love riot gear. I also want to know about this forrest gump tutorial!!!
17 years ago
I told you i have a script for you but you are too buzy.
Josh J. Johnson
17 years ago
That was awesome Andrew. Which forest gump tutorial???

17 years ago
WOW, I'm really impressed with the way that looks!

I can't wait!
17 years ago
yea! new tuts! i cant wait. how much tuts you got in work?
Aaron
17 years ago
that looks awesome, i look forward to it and i knew there was a good reason to check this blog every day
Le Bandit
17 years ago
wow, great stuff Andrew, this is my first time writting, I??´m seriously impressed with the contribution to vfx artists that you and your friends provide.
Great site, Great Stuff, Great people
Thanks from Argentina
Ted
17 years ago
HOLY CARP!

Dude this looks sweet.

Now i know I'm not supposed to post ideas for tutorials here but i was just wondering, what ever happened to that Forrest Gump tutorial you were gonna do?
Gwen
17 years ago
Andrew, your tutorials have transcended to the point I consider them entertainment. They are wonderful to watch.
17 years ago
hay my dear frined

that is very cooooooooool vedio can we do like this
so i Proposal you make like this vedio and we try to make like it
to opne door for Challenge " Make like thiS "

THANK YOU MY DEAR FRINED
Mohammad dashti
17 years ago
thanks
i can't wait for your plug-in
17 years ago
Cool! looks great