Heads Up!
December 19th, 2008

I've been planning a tutorial based on the heads up display (HUD) from the film Iron Man. After seeing the inspiring work by the Orphanage, I thought this idea could be useful in other forms as well.

Jet pilots, robots or even futuristic interfaces require visual screen information that looks cool and tells a story. Where would RoboCop be without his targeting system?

See Sample Video

Andrew Kramer
POSTED:
17 years ago
155 Comments
Benj
16 years ago
Not only Robocop, look at what happened to obadiah stane without his targeting system.
Derek
16 years ago
SWEET!! CANT WAIT
richard
16 years ago
finally.. the long wait is over.
exxxxccitttteed..
16 years ago
I like the depth of field work. Although, i've already done something similar that's a bit more complex. I created the assets in illustrator, and only used AE preset plugins to animate it.

http://vimeo.com/1518322

check it out and let me know what you think.
16 years ago
Wickey Woop Woop Yes, Goin to be good
joe
16 years ago
Looks like Aharon Rabinowitz did this tuts... Using Particle illusion and After effects...
Yeah
16 years ago
I can't read all posts around here ... so if i repeat something in my words bellow, excuse me. I will give you one important tip for this tutorial,
HUD REFLECTION IN SAM EYES, seem to me you forgotten this small but very important detail.

Regards from Serbia!
16 years ago
Andrew! Your Great!Thanks for these tutorials
BJ
16 years ago
oh schweetness!
Michael
16 years ago
When is this tutorial coming out????? Andrew help! LOL
Really waiting on this one!
Thanks
michael
Gale
16 years ago
Well, this is just what I need for my next movie. I would like to learn more about 3D animation. So if anyone knows any good site with cool video tutorials in 3Dmax let me know. And Andrew, good thing your surname isn`t Drew...
I`m member of a Trash association in Croatia, and we have Trash film festival every year. You could apply your movie ( the one with ninjas you were talking about in tutorials ). Reward is Golden Chainsaw and everlasting glory. You can visit us at www.trash.hr
In fact everybody is invited. The battle for the Golden Chainsaw continues...
16 years ago
Wow!! Sam is Back!.... cant wait for the Tut!
Rupchar
16 years ago
I can't wait for this tut sir! I have been looking for this very tutorial all over the net but no joy as of yet till you upload yours or someone beats ya to it I was kinda hoping that you would have this ready and uploaded by now so i could escape the joys of xmas with the inlaws lol hope you'll have this uploaded asap.

also I have taken the liberty of finding some examples you may or may not wanna check out

http://www.vimeo.com/1518322

http://www.vimeo.com/1912400

..am i ega..lol

Merry Christmas to you an all the bloggers.....even tho it was a few days ago lol :-s
Roy
16 years ago
hey Mr Kramer

That tutorial is mad and stuff, but i just saw "The Day The Earth Stood Still" and there are these spheres that come to earth, u would no wat i mean if u saw it, so im just asking can u make a tutorial on how to make those sphere, that is if u can, itll be really nice.

Thanx.
From Roy
17 years ago
I swear this man never sleeps! you are very inspirational. Thanks for all the great products and tutorials.

Hawke Taylore
Taylore Studios
http://www.TayloreStudios.com
http://www.AudioVisualConsortium.com
Lenny
17 years ago
Wow... That's very cool!
Michael
17 years ago
How long til we get to see the tutorial!
OMG i loved Iron Man! This should be so awesome!
spartanx
17 years ago
wow Andrew....this tutorial is so cool...if i make a 3d interior of the suit,a video with my head and project this sequence with the heads-up hud it would be just like iron man...wowww...please post it soon..but have a little vacation...and marry christmas...Andrew..thanx...actually i accidently browsed this website..i cant understand why there isnt any post or commercial in the big..vfx sites...this site is the coolest of them all...greetings from the rioting greece..!!!!!!!!!!!
Maxljub
17 years ago
It looks awesome. Will you create a tutorial for that?
17 years ago
Waiting for something like this since a long time. Thanks for coming back to 2D.
death87
17 years ago
Eagerly waiting for this tutorial....Thank you.
Mountaga
17 years ago
Hi Master, I'am from senegal west africa and I'm very glad to be part of videocopilot student.
I learned lot in after effect since I bought your dvd (twist, evolution and riot gear)and I think you're the best in after effect world.
I told my friend youssou wade to buy those dvd for me.
I wish you long life.
God bless and guide you master.
Happy new year
Juan Carlos
17 years ago
Man, ur the best!!!
I can??´t wait to see this tut.
Eric Harrison
17 years ago
Aha... I was wondering when you were going to make a tutorial like this. I would actually like to see a tut on something like when he was 'designing' the silver armor on that holographic table. Maby a 3DMax tutorial?

I recall mailing you on this subject:

- - - -

/i/ by Eric Harrison
May 3rd, 2008 @ 2:59 pm

Iâ??????m back, and your back, and Iâ??????m sure youvâ??????e seen IRON MAN!!!

So go ahead and develop some tuts on that cool 3D Holographic interface,
The tut can include advanced tracking skils and filter/material settings to create 3D hollographic meshes and combine them with sprites and such, /i/
Roy
17 years ago
OMG that is mad cant wait for the tutorials
lawrence
17 years ago
Excellent, looks very good
Sunny
17 years ago
awesome cant wait, and have a merry christmas hope you get all the present you want
17 years ago
Sweet!!!

When is this coming out?
17 years ago
@Andrew Excellent work as always, I remember trying to do something like this a while back, after listening to the interview by fxguide. One method i tried to emulate was by pasting the HDU on the inside of a sphere, and rotating it, I tried it by using the ccsphere I think but I got stuck and it looked pretty weird. I would appreciate it if you would do something like that.
Adam
17 years ago
Brilliant, This is going to look really good. Andrew? Why not put up an Xmas theme for the site tomorrow?
17 years ago
Hey Andrew, very good ideia...please check out my reel

www.halexsieber.com
Suvir
17 years ago
hey andrew.. does rendering out in quicktime in ae lead to loss of quality as compared to the raw footage..

and i do see loss of quality of video if i work on after effects. but thats not the case in final cut pro, or avid... Why is that?
BBB
17 years ago
in an interview they said that everything was done in 2D. i think in nuke. so basicly if you have time you could do the same in AE.
Mikis 8eodorakis
17 years ago
Man, you are different. You always post tutorials, that people can actually use in their work.
Thank you for being a useful teacher
Pixelito Design
17 years ago
man hope tut is coming soon!
17 years ago
Quick tip, once all the graphics have been done do a pre comp without the live action footage. Once completed do a track on a eye. Using a sphererize or similar shrink the composed hud to eyeball size, via a null put the hud over the eye lower the opacity or using a blend mode put it in. Mask and feather and voila a proper hud reflection on the eye. Repeat for the other eye and hey presto reflections in the eyes.
17 years ago
YYEESSS finaly haw ben waithing soo long for this one.
17 years ago
Woow I can hardl wait this tutorial. I's very cool.
Adi
17 years ago
This'll be perfect for a sci-fi comedy series I'm doing. I pray I can adapt it to make a Dead Space-style interface...
17 years ago
Cooooollllll... Nice work man...
Waiting
17 years ago
When can we expect your 3D text tutorial and or your quickmatte plug-in?
17 years ago
Can`t wait for this tutorial, i like those "real life" tutorials much more than the motion graphics title tutorials.
DiiLMaN
17 years ago
WOOOW!!
AND SAM IS BACK!! i havent seen him since the "THE BULLET" DVD
Lewis
17 years ago
awesome, I've been looking for a good way to do a HUD, and when you do it, it's always a good way! Your tutorials always have more valuable tips than I can shake a stick at, and I'm talking about a big freakin stick!
Levi
17 years ago
Hey, I love your videos! You have taught me so much and I don't know where I would be without your tutorials. Rest assured, I have always credited you in my movies when I used knowledge reaped from your great tutorials. I hope you will soon make a tutorial on force field effects; it has been something I have been wanting to do in a movie.
17 years ago
This one's pretty sweet to:

http://vimeo.com/1518322
17 years ago
Great! I can't wait to see it!!
17 years ago
OMG waiting for the tutorial! It should be very helpfull for my newest video!
Thanks you andrew for free teaching
http://es.youtube.com/user/flashman7
17 years ago
ohh my god i tried that like a month ago and mine looked crappy but its good to see you brought it up thats great ,funny how our i deas so close. i cant wait for it.
Keys
17 years ago
Sweet!! big fan of video copilot can't wait merry christmas
Oscaryop
17 years ago
Yeah! Let??´s do it!!!!
17 years ago
Sam is back!!! We havn`t seen anything with him for a long time but it seems like Sam is back (It sounds like a movie title, doesn` it......SAM IS BACK!!!!!!)
17 years ago
Sam Loya to president!
Shadow2
17 years ago
nice! i actually tried my luck doing a still image copying the Iron Man cockpit view, but it didn't turn out this nice... great job, are we to expect a tutorial soon?
17 years ago
boss................ Really great. But boss please working with thinking particle and dynamic video tutorial. Please.......... boss. I think You really know thinking particle 3.0, Great dynamic and world kind of realistic movie also work with post production thinking particle only and its special effect so dynamic so please make some tutorial with thinking particle this phyx too hard i think.
Bader Ahmed
17 years ago
welcome back Sam

Nice Fx
hacker911
17 years ago
give me that!!!!
17 years ago
As always - wow. You the man!
Bo
17 years ago
nice dude. Ironman turned out to be one of my favorite movies. This should be a fun one to play with
17 years ago
Looks like VIDEO GAME.
I love it
17 years ago
Nice work Mister K.

If we track his eyes, Sam could probably roll his head as much as he wants. Now if we could only figure out how to make it so he could turn his head... Can Sam rotate his head 360 degrees?

Looking forward to it.

Martin
Madhurima
17 years ago
Wow!!!
Eagerly waiting !!
17 years ago
Nice do Andrew!
I'm really interested by this tutorial! working a lot on visual effects like this one...
Can't wait...
Thx Andrew.

Chris
Haxn
17 years ago
I guess you are about to post it... I was also thinking of taking advantage of that technique
timmy
17 years ago
i am always impressed by your timing...

when i am working on a project that needs glitchy stylistic vfx... you come out with twitch ... when i need some sound design elements ... designer sound ...

pro scores ...etc .. and etc. and the greatest thing is...

your products are affordable... in price ... but priceless in value!

you are THE most reputable resource a design student could ask for ...



thanks from Tim @ Expression College For Digital Art

peace
Christopher Oliver
17 years ago
I've been meaning to ask Andrew. Why the name Videocopilot? or then again it's probably that simple and it just flew over my head. lol. Love the website love the tutorial.
17 years ago
cant wait for this tutorial
17 years ago
nice
Joseph
17 years ago
wow..i love ur tuts andrew!!!!!
AB
17 years ago
Very nice!
Brandon
17 years ago
I thought the SAME exact thing this morning while I was in the shower! I was like really really wanting you to do this tutorial! Maybe there was some telepathical thing going on this morning!

Anyways I am so excited for this tutorial! I can't wait for it! And I hope you make it look awesome!
lyndon
17 years ago
Holy Shish kabob! It's SAM!!!
AndrewisGOD
17 years ago
Yes the heroes effects are amazing.Andrew please make some of them !!!!!!!Thanks and merry christmas
17 years ago
Looking forward to it, Andrew!
Luc D.
17 years ago
Sweeeeeeeeeet!

We ask for super hero tutorials, and we get 'em. AK rocks, and Sam of course. Hi signed picture still sits on my desk.
AndrewisGOD
17 years ago
Nice Andrew cant wait.....Make more science fiction tutorials
los
17 years ago
Man, I needed this 2 weeks ago.

Cool stuff I loved Ironman!

Sam...is....iiiiirrrroooonnnnnnn-man.
17 years ago
lol..sam in iron man..wawawhahwhahw..so funny..
17 years ago
andrew will create roBoCob that will destroy our world..
17 years ago
thousand thumbs up for u andrew.

youre MY BEST DIGITAL MANIPULATING TEACHER !!

I LOVE VIDEOCOPILOT SO MUCH!!

anything is possible for u in after effect!haha.
Cody
17 years ago
Sweet! That looks interesting. But you should call the sample video, SAM Ple video. I know it doesn??´t make any sense but I love the joke behind it.

Okay don??´t kill me, because of my terrible english.
I love your website! I hope you will never stop teaching us cool things like that
Thomas
17 years ago
Hell Yeah! Awesome
17 years ago
Saaweet dude! Some nice "bleeps" and "bloops" sound effects would make this an ever cooler shot!
Matt Paull
17 years ago
that would be tottaly awesome
17 years ago
The method is pretty open ended, you can add reflections, additional elements, interactions, targeting etc. Just depends how much work you want to put into it. I for one am looking forward to a little free time this holiday, so I'll leave the fine details up to you
Kreasj
17 years ago
Dude...this....is...awesome! I really need this. Hope it's not in 3D max or anything...just in After Effekts...right?
17 years ago
Also I'd try and project his face on a 3D object and have the camera move along all 3 Axis's. That was it's a little more interesting.
17 years ago
You should see some of the classes over at fxphd.com. They did a whole quarter on UI displays last quarter and this quarter had a class that worked on creating a UI that was similar to Iorn Mans.
dex
17 years ago
good one, but it's gonna be better if you shared your approach to FRINGE series intro
l.dowler
17 years ago
thats pretty amazing.
you should pack more stuff in there like the original, so its really high tech!
Cityboy Studios
17 years ago
If I can change my font size to 75 point I would. I have been looking for a well explained HUD for over a year now. I just wish and hope you added interaction between the actor and screen like they were adjusting the dials. That would be icing on the cake.
17 years ago
sweet cant wait/
bANKS
17 years ago
pretty
Pixelito Design
17 years ago
OMG!!! Thats awesome! Hope its done soon. Got 2 Weeks off, perfect time for a new tutorial
Josh M
17 years ago
Can't wait for this tutorial. Loved Iron Man and all the effects and it will be cool to do some similar effects that were in the film. Thanks for all your hard work!
17 years ago
Cheers Andrew for ruining my day, I have been working on something similar for the last couple of weeks Doh!!!

I have been waiting to get my hands on a HD camera to film the live action element.

The graphics have been developed. And tracking with out stickers on the head. Using a two lights one red on right and blue on left and using the catchlight in each individual eye as a tracking marker. Then in layer setting the pan behind tool to a null object so if the eye moves left the icon moves in 3d space left. This would be for individual icons but when the whole head moves the whole interface moves.

I was even going to use the lighting technique from of your previous tutorials

Seems like you beat me to it, well I look forward to your results. That is meant in good spirit. I really like your work .

If you could include opening icons in the HUD in z space I have been trying to work out controllers but to no success.

Look forward to seeing this,


Happy Christmas

Rich
ali
17 years ago
10 thumbs up
Tom
17 years ago
Awsome!!
I was searching about this earlier when the movie came out. Can't wait to see youre tut!
Thanks.
17 years ago
I love all of your tutorials, they are so helpful! I would love to see a tutorial to mimic the end credits of iron man as well!
17 years ago
Awesome Can't wait to see it!
17 years ago
If anyone don't know what Andrew is talking about, just check out this clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?vNGpsxNH58g
Phil
17 years ago
Your tutorials are so inspiring! I love it! Hope you will release it today, cheers from sweden.
17 years ago
that's so great mr.androw we love your work .. .!
Morten Enoksen
17 years ago
No way! I was JUST stopping the DVD on my TV, just to take a look at the interface!
17 years ago
Sounds great. As all other of your tutorials, this would be very useful.
Chris
17 years ago
Sweet, you read my mind. I was looking at putting together a video playing with this effect--now I guess I can wait a little longer!
SZ
17 years ago
Awesome idea! I love to watch your tutorials !
17 years ago
Anything is possible...
Phill
17 years ago
Looking good so far, but i think what really sold the Iron Man version is the Reflection of the display in Tony Starks eyes, nothing in the eyes make it look flat and dead
17 years ago
Looking forward to the new tutorial!
I just love rss feeds for this!
Great work, great products, great tutorials !
the man
17 years ago
awesome!!
Infaas
17 years ago
I can lend you the suite if you want, Andrew.
17 years ago
Andrew,

Not sure if you and your readers keep up with the fxguide.com. They put out a great podcast with an interview with Dav Rauch from the Orphanage called Behind the HUD of Ironman. Hereâ??????s a link to the MP3 file.
http://www.fxguide.com/modules/fxpodcast/files/fxg-080508-ironman.mp3

You can see a list of all their podcasts here:
http://www.fxguide.com/fxpodcast.html

Looking forward to the new tutorial!
Nikolaus
17 years ago
ah, Sam is back. Will he be the next terminator with nice HUD
illd
17 years ago
Looks cool!
I think the hardest part is letting reflect the lights on Sams (of course gorgeous) face...
debotel
17 years ago
i ALWAYS wanted to do this!!!

now i can show my mom i am robo cop or the terminator!
now i got proof >
Hope this will be on soon, cant wait to make my own targeting system with after effects and try it out on my car
Shadow
17 years ago
Looks very very nice. Mr.Kamer you are The BEST
17 years ago
Extremely cool.. I've been working on something similar for the last few weeks, your timing could not have been better... keep up the excellent work Andrew...
Dustin James
17 years ago
I hope you do find time for this tutorial... I realize it is a pretty simple concept... but to watch you do it would be amazing. It is difficult sometimes to come up with just the right composition for these kind of tech/layouts.

Can't wait.
17 years ago
Cool, but I can't really see how I'll use it in a future movie
noddy
17 years ago
aaawwww, Sam is back... that's so sweet [sniff sniff]...
17 years ago
Looks really awesome! I have never actually watched the movie Iron Man, but I have heard a lot about its CG. Can't wait for the tut!
Moca MX
17 years ago
Allways wanted to do this but never made it look realistic, very glad to see you are making a tutorial tnx
steveblacker
17 years ago
Very cool - I'm in the middle of designing some GUI elements for a short film I'm working on. I was just watching Mark Coleran's reel for inspiration - this tutorial should help, too. Go Andrew!
pipa
17 years ago
I thought that HUD in IronMan was done in 3D
alex from germany
17 years ago
I saw the film "Iron Man" 3 days ago and i thought "it would be mad if video copilot make a tutorial for the heads up display". Thanks Andrew
17 years ago
wow you are the most productive tutorial maker
they're the easiest to understand and in such detail you are truly amazing
ben says...
17 years ago
ok andrew. new level of coolness...
Ben
17 years ago
Awsome Andrew!! Post this tutorial and take a big X-mas break!!!
Mitch Webb
17 years ago
Oh Sam Loya! Where would Video CoPilot be without him?
17 years ago
rss works without problems here, mayde a problem with the reader?
Sandy
17 years ago
gr8 idea, it will be awesome to have the tut ASAP.
thnx in advance.
noone
17 years ago
hellz yeah.
Vers
17 years ago
Sam is Back! Looks great!
bahaa
17 years ago
i can only say that'S great !! ^^
Workshed
17 years ago
Man that is sweet, i was watching this just last night on the DVD special features. The only thing i think would really sell it now is some sort of mild fisheye type distortion and for the elements inside the HUD to move with the heads movement.

Take a break, have a good xmas!!!
alex
17 years ago
sam got his own ironman suit???
Some Guy
17 years ago
Wow! I love your VFX tutorials!
Thorsten Miess
17 years ago
Thanks for beeing so active in tutorial production. Your the world wide leader in the AE Tutorial Industry!
GREAT!
Mike
17 years ago
Sam i so funny guy
Waiting for tutorial !!
It will help me a lot!!
Luis
17 years ago
Roscoe, Sam is a reflection on the screen!
riki
17 years ago
There's something wrong with your RSS Feed, each day or so it seems to re-flag old posts, which makes it really easy to miss new content like this.
Jason
17 years ago
Can't wait, but I am still waiting for the camera moves tutorial you talked about at the same time as the organic mesh tutorial.
isi123
17 years ago
Andrew! Your Great!

No breaks???

Thanks alot for these tutorials.
17 years ago
Very cool idea.
17 years ago
Robocop without his targeting system....probably dead

Another excellent tut, I tried creating a computer screen but I just couldn't get round to doing all the little numebers and letters, so I gave up. This tutorial will help many, many people...me being one of them

Great one!
Jan
17 years ago
meow!
Roscoe
17 years ago
Shouldn't the numbers be reversed so Sam can see? Or is he a numbers savant? Haha! Just teasing! Looks awesome!
17 years ago
Nice!
17 years ago
nice!
crash
17 years ago
cool+++++
Mark Lee
17 years ago
aren't you meant to be taking a break?

Look forward to that tutorial though...
Fredrik
17 years ago
Awsome! Can't wait!
Ben
17 years ago
OH my god!! Hope you can post it today Andrew!! Its so fun and exiting to watch tutorials! I always learn so much!!
Fabrizio
17 years ago
This website simply ROCKS!!!
Thanks for the efforts.