NEW TUTORIAL: Advanced Car Hit
June 3rd, 2008

In this new tutorial you will learn the compositing tricks behind this car hit scene including simulated vehicle damage, keying tricks, fun rotoscoping and even the puppet tool. Be sure to stay tuned for a pointless video I made at the end :)

Watch Tutorial

Project file and footage will be online tomorrow.

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Andrew Kramer
POSTED:
17 years ago
121 Comments
I used this tutorial in a short film my friends and I shot for the Georgia Tech Campus Movie Fest. We won best comedy in the competition. Our movie was screened in a theater full of people, and the reactions to the car hit were awesome. Lots of gasps and cheers. It was awesome.

Thanks!
nico
17 years ago
Dear mr Andrew,
you are a god.

I was wondering if there could be a tutorial on how "The bullet promo was made"
thanks
Aftab
17 years ago
Dear Andrew,

Congratulation !!! for such good tutorials, I just love this site.

I have a suggestion why don't you allow visitors to post there work on your website, work which is inspired by your tutorials, Some people do that through You tube web addresses but if there is some button to see users work it will be very convenient.

Thanks
keep posting good stuff, all the best
Jason The Designer
17 years ago
Hey there Andrew

I constantly watch your tutorials because 1. they are entertaining and 2. Imight learn something.

I am more of a web guy and do not get to use AE enough to make things stick in my memory.

I am however working on a freelance AE 30sec spot right now, and jsut today watched this tute. Here I was needing to add a drop shadow and have it animate along with another object. I remembered this tute today and the pickwhip/parenting thing. Wala, you saved me time.

Thanks for helping the little people
17 years ago
Merci beaucoup pour ce tutorial!
17 years ago
awesome tutorial. And thank you for the bullet dvd too mr kramer.
i was wondering if you were still planning on releasing the cg shadows tutorial. ive always wanted to make 3d text with shadows and track it onto moving people like all those awesome commercials on tv.
thank you mr kramer, for making me a beast at after effects, well at least on the road to becoming a beast.
Joe G
17 years ago
Hello All,

AWESOME tut Andrew!! I just finished my first year of computer arts, your site has helped me with AE, BIG TIME!! I wish my instructors had your sense of humor :0) Free tuts and your products are GREAT!! I really look forward to going to your site. Just to see Tahna

Thanks again!! Keep up the Awesome Work!!
sachin
17 years ago
great tutorial as always. Loads of luvs and hugs.
5ive&2wo
17 years ago
wow, incredibly insightful! and incredibly free.

Been a while since i learned so much from one tut ^^
17 years ago
let the man get some air.. It's like watching people wait for Athene--the best Paladin in the world [youtube it] Do you think AK would not be doing something important right now? Do you think he is out there somewhere in the woods chasing dinosaurs with a fred flinstone costume on singing mother goose rhymes??.. is that what you think??.. lol.. put it this way.. the more time AK gets, just multiply his amazingness by 25 for every week he does not post.. AK does amazing things.. don't you forget that... amazing...
caskale
17 years ago
HEY ANDREW WHAT ABOUT A TUTORIAL OF MODELING PEOPLE IN CINEMA? I KNOW THE ONLY WAY TO LEARN 3D IS WITH YOU, ALL OTHER TUTORIALS ONLINE ARE S*** BUT WITH YOU, EVERYTHINGS POSSIBLE (or nothin's imposible lol)
Sandy
17 years ago
I hope Andrew is busy with the results of the T-Shirts Contest.

Fingers crossed for the results.

Best Regards
Sandy
Rob
17 years ago
Project file still not here? Must have been in Sam's pocket when he was hit and is lost now... Such a pity...
Graeme Meadows
17 years ago
Hi there Andrew and Gang. I have watched a few of your tuts now,(1,000 or 2)
Hey look we have a similar sense of humor (O`well that`s Free)
Yes your right Tahna is a great addition, but seriously now..... you always find great ways to show your aufait ability within AE and 3D Apps. Glad I have discovered you guys keep up the great Tuts
Kelley Muro
17 years ago
The girl totally checks Sam out.
ben
17 years ago
What happent to that project file?
Lawrence
17 years ago
If I was on the same flight as Andrew, I would give him my window seat, no problems.
Cresty
17 years ago
I love how in the beginning you said "but the more you get into it on the set, the better it's going to look"... As you scroll over tahna...

Great tutorial, you are always helpful, clear, and entering.
17 years ago
ANDREW:
you will not believe it but your song was used in the Lakers Vs. Celtics game opener LOL!!! How crazy is that man?
Timmie
17 years ago
Timmie!!!!!!!!!!!
CraZy DonKey
17 years ago
Oh yeah... Who won the T-shirt contest
christian
17 years ago
esta muy buena la china mas tutoriales con la nena
ben
17 years ago
Andrew, you have to post the PROJECT FILE beacuse I need the car crash sound effect and the engine picture..
illd
17 years ago
Is Thana still together with Sam?
I mean... Since that crash he cant use his hips anymore in a way that make sense to Thana...
...like playing basketball and stuff
17 years ago
download mode please!!
Legacy
17 years ago
Hey Andrew - little request (off topic, but I figured you may see it here). I was wondering if you could make the section for posting links to our work more accessible. Maybe a link on the side or top of the site. I love watching the great little collection of other people's shorts and if it were more visible perhaps more people would post. If it's possible, that would be great. Thanks.

P.S. this is a great tut. Your method of keying here works really well for poorly lit greenscreen and/or DV footage. Thanks.
Loay
17 years ago
@ Speedbreaker

The same question
Jay
17 years ago
DUUDE....i lol'd so hard at the last clip, great circumstances if you ask me.

on that note, can i add a request a tutorial on how to do shattering a windshield? Like I love how they use the effect in children of men, bullet goes through the glass and leaves a hole, and then a minute or two later the glass just shatters. Its all digital but it looks very well done.
Flubber
17 years ago
nice work, as always! oh and by the way, what happen' with the SHORT-CUT idea?
Daryl Booth
17 years ago
Just watched my Serious compositing dvd again, I fell about laughing at Sam doing the dancing segment in sillhohette creation. He must have needed the money...
Igor
17 years ago
Nooooo! With Sam's death, we will not have more tutorials! ARGH!


...


...


Mhh...you can try to make one, where you give a new life to Sam.


...


...

Otherwise you can replace Sam with Thana eheheh..sorry Sam!


PS: Thank you and to all Kramer's crew. You learned me so much things! I parented my eyes on your website

When you will be in Italy? eheh

Bye and sorry for my english!

igor
Chris
17 years ago
Tom, you made me laugh out loud.

I too am no longer a tutorial whore and Andrew (et crew) have earned every reference and penny I have thrown their way.

MONEY WELL INVESTED! (In myself

Cheers,

Chris
Tom
17 years ago
so I mentioned to my boss that I would very much like some of these training materials and that it would benefit his business anyway, so I showed him The Bullet and Advanced FX & Compositing (since they reflect my area of expertise and the type of work I do), and also Riot Gear and Evolution... he told me to pick 2 but I thought he should be better aware of what's available...

HE BOUGHT THE ENTIRE SERIES!

on the proviso that I make the most super-awesome showreel. EVER. so if I'm unable to do so, then I'm gonna shift the blame on you, Andrew (feel free to then pass it on to Sam)!

seriously, there's no reason why I can't make a great showreel, even without these great training materials, except now I have no more excuses thanks Andrew, and I can now confidently keep checking the site, secure in the knowledge that I can't be called a tutorial whore any longer ;p
Rob
17 years ago
Morning everybody!

Andrew, when do you think the project file will be online?

Thanks

R
17 years ago
This is a very cool tut. I happened to see a real person hit by a real car once. Not pretty or recommended. She was rushed to a hospital. What happened was the person kind of flew like a limp rubber puppet. Not quite what happens to Sam. Any thoughts on showing Sam hit and rolling/bouncing off the front left of the vehicle as it passes? Oh yea, how about this same effect with a Phone booth? I've seen that in a few movies.
17 years ago
Hi Andrew...what is the latest on the T-Shirt competition?
17 years ago
Search for "Gear" on the right.
Murray
17 years ago
Hey Andrew, could you talk about what kind of camera you are using?
17 years ago
I have one thing to ask too: when are you going on tour?!
bwoogie
17 years ago
I do have one thing to ask.. Why is Tahna not running towards the injured Sam, but straight towards the truck?
17 years ago
Wow, i tried it before this tutorial, but this makes it so more realistic!!
Thanks for the tutorial although it took you long enough. Just kidding :p

The result of my car hit long before this tut: http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=8UBTYJUogaU
Kayode
17 years ago
hey,i don't know what u all need but this is@ Andrew best tutorial yet
keep it man
Speedbreaker
17 years ago
This tutorial was awesome like always!
It was the first time I had to wait about an hour because the server was too busy!

And since I saw yout first tutotial I also ask myself why precompose (ok not realy I know that) but why move all attributes or leave all attributes, what is this about?

Thanks from germany
Loay
17 years ago
You looks very enthusiastic Andrew....
It seems that you are very interested in making tuts ..... !!!
I'm proud of you Andrew.

I wanna notice on a little thing here.
I don't have a green cloth......do you recommend me any other solution ....... ?
Akiro
17 years ago
Great tutorial...Thanks Andrew !!!
Peace out bro!
17 years ago
AK, you are going to be so proud!
Check out my contest entry I did for watchmen using your
tutorials and products, I actually was one of the winners
http://youtube.com/watch?v1Hmu-YfJe8&fmt=18

There is no sound even lol, just video.. goes to show once again,
that VCP rocks!

And yes, please we need a tutorial on just what "move all attributes" and "keep all attributes" is about as well as "collapse all transformations".. by now you realize that you have so many dedicated fans that you can pull that off and still get views just for the quick tip.. infact, just call it "Quick Tips"... :-]
17 years ago
oh man,
the animation at the end of the tutorial is classic. well done.
Sandy
17 years ago
This is an awesome Tutorial, Really Awesome!

This tutorial has everything, even a g8 comedy Hit at the End, where Sam falls into the Car's Trunk. hahahahha. I mean wat was that ???? hehehhe

Thnx a million Andrew & Team. U guys are superb. Tahna is also very impressive with her expressions.

Just one Word - AWESOME

Best Regards
Sandy
John
17 years ago
Hi Andrew,
Great as always! One question: Why are there no braking sound effects or skids?
kris
17 years ago
lol andrew kramer just suprise me at the end. Im sorry sam but I have to comment a little bit of negative. The Impact of the truck depends on its speed plus the amount of weight of sam equals to crashing a pepsi can with a bare hands, you know what I mean?

But everything looks good, I have to comment that I like it alot. Very funny at the end.
17 years ago
Great tutorial, especialy the muppet tool, funy ; )
Langalot
17 years ago
Once again, a fantastic tutorial. Question: Could the puppet tool be used to distort the pedestrian victim of the crash? For example, could the puppet tool be used to crunch a person further or send them flying up over the car? I'll mess around with it and see what I come up with. In the meantime, rock on!
filmguysc
17 years ago
Always impressed with your tutorials and the new information it provides. But one question keeps popping up and it never seems to be answered clearly, only in relation to the current working situation. When and why is it necessary to pre-compose a layer or group of layers and what s the main reason for choosing "keep attributes" or "move attributes"?

Once again- your site is the best.
mcphlen
17 years ago
amazing ... thanks a lot .. and i laughed like crazy for the ending footage :p .... its like watching cartoon :p .. poor sam :p
Daryl Booth
17 years ago
Well the site was unavailable last night 6pm GMT I am guessing due to the enormous traffic you had trampling through to get to this tute. I will now have to wait till I get home from work tonight to see it. I cannot wait
BBB
17 years ago
I would like to see the Truck get damaged around a Super Sam.

Maybe it hits him and then goes up and on its back like a turtle.

or just folds up like a beer can.

then do it.
everything in this tutorial showed you how to do this. you use your actor with greenscreen. you just stop the car and then with a special pic you make it look like there is a hole in the car.
Kung Fu Panda
17 years ago
Andrew, Does sam knows how to use after effects??



you guys are cool!
VCPFAN
17 years ago
come on guys
you got me wrong, i did not mean to post a negative comment,
i was just trying to say something funny because the video at the end made me laugh but i guess i did not expressed my self very well
what i was trying to say was that the video was funny, and nothing more

HAVE FUN, trying this effect.
17 years ago
I am your fans! Welcome to China! I will be there!
Tom
17 years ago
I would like to see the Truck get damaged around a Super Sam.

Maybe it hits him and then goes up and on its back like a turtle.

or just folds up like a beer can.
17 years ago
Andrew: You are going to laugh your socks off.. look at the funny clip I made with your video http://www.youtube.com/watch?vaReSkWFRZ0 check it out all you guys you are going to dare I say giggle with laughter.. watch how the sound even matches up haha.
VFX-Anomaly
17 years ago
Is that a AK bot reply?
WOW that was fast as CC Lightning, I think?
VFX-Anomaly
17 years ago
Holy Geebers VCPFAN,
Are you insane?
LOL sorry I just had to reply after what VCPFAN posted
17 years ago
There is a rack focus in the original shot and the first example video, but the tutorial was running a bit long for this. I just keyframed a box blur in and out as the live action rack focus occurred.
VFX-Anomaly
17 years ago
Andrew Kramer,
I may be wrong but does the DOF look correct in this tut?
it seems as if it should be the truck and sam that is out of the focus point, maybe i'm just crazy but that seems to be my vision anyway.

Thanks again VC & Crew for another great FREE tutorial !
kris
17 years ago
@VCPFAN dont say such a thing about pointless video. Everything has its own purpose. Dont know if thats your negative comment

Very advanced tutorial but some of them are hard to follow. I guess it needs 2-3 people to involve this effect.
FuddyDuddy
17 years ago
Hey Andrew, hate to be the one to say it, but this is one of the weakest effects yet. Along with the suicide exploding head, the car hit just looks bad. Dont get me wrong, it would take me a ton of work to do any better.... I'm just saying, as you wont hear it from the fanbois.

And I think the problem is the pretty girl. Bring a pretty girl in and everything goes to hell. We dont need the eye candy, we just need good effects. So ditch the girl, that will clear that glaze from over your eyes, and we'll get great effects.

And really, Sam should just jump in front of the truck on his own because a chick like that wasnt going to say "yes" to Sam anyway. (That's a burn.)
Mort
17 years ago
that was really cool with the puppet tool! hey what ever happened to that CG title with shadows tutorial you previewed way back in march? i was psyched for one...
VCPFAN
17 years ago
i love the pointless video, it's rally pointless
i guess that's how it is supposed to be

Btw when i try this i'll use my girlfriend's mom, just in case somebody gets hurt

i dont remember where i hear the advice to use people you dont like for your experiments
i guess i wasn't paying that much attention

cheers....
17 years ago
AWESOMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
17 years ago
Sweet!
Looks amazing!
Andrew M
17 years ago
Simply amazing
Sam
17 years ago
this tutorial was simply brilliant! you know Andrew, you should be doing the special effects of the big movie projects now! next Batman maybe? or next Indiana Jones that rumors say it's gonna happen! anyways, good luck and thanks for making us enjoy doing VFX.
17 years ago
and to think that puppet tool was just sitting on that toolbar this whole time..
thank you AK!
17 years ago
Nah, Thana is younger.
And much more... I hate to be so sexistic, let's say I think she scho looks better

Regards,
Lucas
17 years ago
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks ANDREW!

http://www.dazzling-money.blogspot.com
17 years ago
Sweet tut. Really amazing stuff.
Thana looks a lot like that cute Irish girl from the Myth Busters?
Anyone else notice that? They even dress somewhat similar.
kris
17 years ago
hahahah!! I love at the end!
bwoogie
17 years ago
Wow that was great at the end!
Surf D Excellence
17 years ago
Terrific Techniques... Andrew ..... ur tutorials drives me crazy ...man .... Wishin u all d best for grand success of Videocopilot ..... THE BULLET ........... AWSOME...... MUST BUY DVD

Keep Rockin
17 years ago
As always thanks for the great tutorial! Can't wait to start watching it!
Bo
17 years ago
heh. I've never seen anything pointless in your stuff my friend. Hilarious maybe but never pointless good stuff man and thanks a bunch.
17 years ago
Hi there Andrew,

could you make another Tutorial on the advanced crash when Sam's flying over the car into the back of it?
It was SO hilarious, I coulnd't stop laughing for at least three minutes

Regards,
Lucas
17 years ago
Great driving skills from Tino, Right at 00:00:20 you can see how much fun he has driving the car.

It is a great Tutorial and I look forward to new ones.

Cheers,

Thorsten
www.StrongMocha.com
17 years ago
man i think i should take my neighbour and run him over would be easier .just kidding .very usefull .i learend couple of things in 1 tutorial.
Ben
17 years ago
Hey andrew I am going out to do some filming today and I will defiantly try this effect.
And any tips on how you did that last scene? I want to try and duplicate it.

Thanks for all these amazing tutorials it has really advanced my understanding of after effects.
17 years ago
Wonderful tutorial... but i already did this effect, without puppet tool and stuff...

you can see the result here:

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=OFs-0UuBX88&fmt=18

I'm not totally satisfied(the blend between 3d and real is not that good, but he, it was just a test)...

Keep on the good work
Some Guy
17 years ago
Wow! This was a great tutorial. So much useful information about keying and rotoscoping. The time flew so fast I can't believe it was 35 minutes long. For me it was more like 5 minutes. And that video at the end made me LOL.
17 years ago
Wow...talk about some patience. Besides The Bullet, this seems to be the most intricate of the tutorials.
Infaas
17 years ago
Cool
Finnishdude
17 years ago
I was just wondering, how much does a 3x3meter green screen cost? I was thinking of buying one. And does the RGB value need to be something like 0, >240, 0 ?or is like 150green good?
17 years ago
great tutorial, great tips and resources ... and a lovely girl!
Mike S
17 years ago
Awesome!!! You guys are great
Garrison
17 years ago
I've seen the clip before, and I still can't help but cry for Sam....
17 years ago
Hey Sam. Don't RUN but WALK to the ice cream truck and you can avoid mishaps such as thi. Now someone else get to take the hand of your acting bride.
This is a super sweet tutorial, the car deformation and glass particles are what sends this sucker to the top. great work once more keep it up.
KG
17 years ago
I love this tutorial !!!!
And i love this girl
prettiest ever seen
17 years ago
Yes! I can finally watch the video and get some sleep and feed my children, and hug my wife, and pay my mortgage bills, and eat food.. I've been camping out in front of the pc since yesterday :-]!
michel buying
17 years ago
cool andrew and that girl is hot alsow this tuorial is super hot lol go for it andrew tnkx
Suvir
17 years ago
wooooooooohoooooooooooooooooo
17 years ago
superb
jaime
17 years ago
Incredible as always Andrew.
What about Final Image Inc.? You leave the clients bussines to dedicate all your time to theaching us?
Recive a huge hug from Spain.
17 years ago
good stuff.
NicO
17 years ago
Haha couldn't stop laughin about that vid you made at the end.. hehe!
Baloo
17 years ago
Thank You Andreeeeeew ! The best teacher of After Effects that we can find on the net !
I'll try this new tutorial quickly !
Am i alone to think that this girl is more beautiful than everything ?

Baloo
tommie12P(Thorsten Miess)
17 years ago
35min! Yea! more time to spend learning great stuff in AE! But there??´s a lot to cover i think! I will check it out right now!!! GREAT GREAT GREAT !!!!! AWESOME! AMAZING!! that looked so realistic
17 years ago
awesome! great suff once again.
Sandy
17 years ago
Sir,want to give u a big hug....!!
17 years ago
Thanks Andrew
Rob
17 years ago
Awesome!! Thanks a lot Andrew this is an amazing tutorial!!
Astalavista
17 years ago
Thanks it's realy beautiful to see
Nina
17 years ago
Thank you very much for sharing with us!
17 years ago
Pretty sweet Andrew. Another great tutorial.
Rudi Meier
17 years ago
Thanks Andrew!

Rudi
http://www.revostock.com/ViewProfile.html?&ID=493
JoHnNy
17 years ago
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rabbit
17 years ago
Wonderful !
17 years ago
I love this site. Thanks for all the hard work you guys are doing.
Jeremy
17 years ago
Holy Chupacabra this is sweet!
Malte
17 years ago
Yeah!!!

Thank you so much Andrew!
joris strickx
17 years ago
long time means great detail. As we wouldn't expect less. Looks awsome.
17 years ago
First!

Yeah, Andrew you rock - and Thana too. And Sam maybe, because he don't wants my Ice-Cream :-/

Regards,
Lucas
17 years ago
ahhhhhhhhhhh
couldn't have waited more :p it's finally here, i'm gonna watch it right now