Fancy Ring Design
February 12th, 2009

Despite working on some TV shows, I don't actually get to watch very much television. Something you may not know about me is that I am a big Law & Order fan, mostly of the older cast but some of the new stuff is pretty good. Lucky for me, the cable network TNT plays tons of reruns all day long.

So, earlier this year I noticed network graphics had changed, and the new ones were simply amazing. It seems the design studio TROIKA created the incredible work that very much inspired me. After playing around with the concept, I realized there were a lot of great techniques that I thought would be useful to share. Although the original design seems to use a lot of 3D, I'll be using just After Effects with a little bit of Particular in the upcoming tutorial. Release date will be soon.

Even the metallic ring is built in After Effects.

View Sample Video

The music and sound FX are from: Pro Scores and Designer Sound FX.
Check out our great Tools!

Andrew Kramer
POSTED:
16 years ago
154 Comments
AB
16 years ago
Yeah I love Law & Order too. Jack helps makes the show
Phillip
16 years ago
I am new on after effects and i've checked the Basic
ihavent learn anything there but it would be good if you could do some easier tutorials like just text come and dissapear
Sevenstringer
16 years ago
I had seen that logo and thought instantly of you and Videocopilot - thinking you had done that! Especially after I found out you were responsible for the creating those great effects on Fringe! Rock on!
Prodat TV
16 years ago
What a beautifull idea!!!
Marvin w.
16 years ago
Man nice mobile site, very superb. Im on my iTouch now. And this seems to be a great tut!!!
Cameron
16 years ago
Phenominal as always Andrew. I noticed when watching the preview and scrubbing through it that it looks pretty cool if you slow down the beginning of the formation, speed up the formation around the bottom of the ring and then slow the completion. What do you think? Maybe some time remapping?
boodahbellie
16 years ago
This looks to be an extremely awesome tutorial. I love VideoCopilot. You guys are amazing.
Gangadhar
16 years ago
Kool.......Amazing..........
Andre Prior
16 years ago
boohooo no more mobile updates pls... release this tutorial!!! ;D
everetts
16 years ago
Ooo i just want to touch it!
nice job!
andres_ros
16 years ago
Here is my go at the ring.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=melmVZrqEUg
Joel
16 years ago
I wish to thanks you like everyone has Andrew, i will be using this sort of effect for my school project so i hope you have it up soon.
Andre Prior
16 years ago
TimurKo, how did you do that? can you send ae project file??
Jimmyholster
16 years ago
Hey Andrew, thanks so much for giving me another reason to spend hours on my iPhone!! Haha just one thing though, is it possible to make the .mov sample files playable on the 3G iPhone? Mine says "unsupported movie file" or something......keep up the brilliant work Andrew!
Ace
16 years ago
Gee, you're unstoppable! That is simply amazing ^_^
ken c
16 years ago
Andrew you rock dude... keep it up..!
urbine88
16 years ago
hey andrew, something's wrong with the sample video, it only shows a green background, how can i make this thing work? thx, u'r the man!!!
WiRXMAN
16 years ago
Yeah, I saw this on tv a lot lately, and have to admit it is pretty cool.

This will be a cool tutorial to disect. Tnx.
ddplay
16 years ago
the best logo
Breyon
16 years ago
Andrew!, Thank You so much! I watch Law & Order everyday. I love the show. I was wondering how they did the ring animation myself. Glad to see you are taking this one on. I can't wait. You said a lot of it was done in 3D. Can you add some 3DS Max to it? Also, you should do one on the ABC Brand with the particle water effects. That would be tight!
Tom
16 years ago
Absolutley Amazing!

I cannot wait for the tutorial for this.
Joe
16 years ago
Yeah get rich Andrew and then
Post a tutorial on how to do it
LOL
andres ayala
16 years ago
I hope you get very rich! you deserve it along time ago...Keep the amazing work!

Greetings from Colombia!
pablo
16 years ago
thaths amazing!!!

you dont have an idea, but here in argentina, a lot of tv shows use your presets, projects and tutorials in the comercials!!!!! you are like THE teacher here!!!!
you are mi idol, im serious!
16 years ago
As i do this animation. Somebody please teach me. criacaoi7@gmail.com
16 years ago
Truly, can't wait for this tutorial.. fascinating stuff!
Tim
16 years ago
Just saw Troika's spot on their homepage. Yeah, this is definitely one of the top motion graphics studios. The work they did on the ABC promos is pretty amazing.

However, your ring looks great too. Nice job!
Andre Prior
16 years ago
man I hope the tut is coming soon... I could use it for a current shot
limpmar
16 years ago
AMAZING!!!!!
Thanks for sharing!!!!
Alejandro Ortiz
16 years ago
simply, way too cool
16 years ago
Hey Andrew, 1 Question...

Are wee going to use CC Particles or just Trapcode?
Please Reply

-Ahmed
Per (Sweden)
16 years ago
Awesome man! You are the greatest!


/P
Ben
16 years ago
Love it! I personally would have gone with a 'dark gray' background but I noticed you've been brightening them up lately
RedBoy
16 years ago
Hey Andrew
make a tutorial for this one

Good Job!
Lewis N
16 years ago
ANdrew!!! is a GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vladimir(Balakovo-Russia)
16 years ago
FANX FOR YOUR JOB , ANDREW â???¥
Asri
16 years ago
dun say andrew is god..!!
nacho
16 years ago
nice, it will be great!!
Erick Guerrero
16 years ago
Hii!!! really awesome all the stuff you??´ve created over all these years.
Angel Ortiz
16 years ago
About time!
Now we're on the same page Andrew.
Looking forward to any and all of the broadcast tutorials you put out.
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!
TAKE THAT TROIKA!!!!!!!!!!
Oh and by the way... Here is the rocking heart of Troika named Craig Stouffer (Mr. Bandito)
http://www.lostproject.net/lostproject.html
john dangerous
16 years ago
I was looking at the net tuts website the other day where they had an ad for the new aetuts site. The funny thing is that the image for the tut on their page is a screen shot from video copilot. Lol, biters!
16 years ago
when I saw this TNT logo I was thinking it would be cool to see an andrew kramer tutorial on this.. can't wait. I'm also wondering what kind of jokes you have prepared. I'm guessing some reference to the movie the ring. you complete the tutorial then you die.
LT
16 years ago
Hey Andrew,

For the particles are you using a 4d fractal for the flow? just curious and though I would ask. It kind of looks that way. Can't wait for the tutorial.
Jim
16 years ago
that looked fantastic Andrew! ,your knowledge of ae is truly amazing
peter
16 years ago
i loved jerry orbach aka detective briscoe.
Jack Daniel Jenkins
16 years ago
I was watching those myself and wondering how to go about making something similar. Good timing, can't wait to see this one.

jd
16 years ago
cant wait! thanks!

www.AlcoVideos.com
16 years ago
TROIKA make a lot of nice things for E, fox, Animal Planet, nfl, ESPN etc

https://www.lynda.com/home/Player.aspx?lpk4=42495
16 years ago
What kind of software TNT use for 'tons' of animations all time?
16 years ago
The ring is made in ae and the graphics are clearly inspired by TNT's graphics as mentioned in the post.
dc
16 years ago
teach us 3ds max too, how you make the ring. thanks. God Blees Your Family
Clayton Light
16 years ago
I'm stumped. I can't wait to see how you built the ring.
AOzger
16 years ago
Oh never mind, the link does not work directly. Just go to the Author section and pick Troika Design Group.
AOzger
16 years ago
This is the Lynda tutorial:

http://www.lynda.com/home/DisplayCourse.aspx?lpk2=753
inviernoh
16 years ago
Great. Thanks for such tutorials. Really impressive.
tom
16 years ago
TnT network is using this same ring idea
Victor NY
16 years ago
Great Andrew!

look very 3D even you work on After Effect. I am one of your fan
I learned a lot from your tutorials.

thanks

Keep it up
Andre Prior
16 years ago
Cory, can you please provide a link to the lynda.com tutorial that you mentioned?
AOzger
16 years ago
Andrew, great find again. Thanks a lot.

How do you go by finding out who worked on what commercial? I kept thinking that effects was done in house in Turner Animation. How about the Target commercials, or the new Microsoft ones? Any input on that?
Adam Sklar
16 years ago
Wow! Andrew!
That looks amazing!
Kael
16 years ago
I've watched your sample video at least a dozen times now, and it still keeps my attention perfectly. I think it's funny how, when you get down to it, you're just keyframing the opacity of the logo - but it still took me five watch-throughs and a good deal of concentration to even focus on that.

Excellent, elegant, simple. Looking forward to this one.
Cory
16 years ago
For anyone that has a subscription to Lynda.com, they have a "Start to Finish" set of videos on how TROIKA made the ABC campaign Andrew referred to.
Alex Frost
16 years ago
Andrew, you're a GOD!!! I love your video school!!! Awaiting new tutorials by AE and 3DSMAX!!!
Best regurds!!!
16 years ago
WOW! SO fluid and organic, that would be an awesome tutorial too!
Sunny
16 years ago
andrew kramer the day you dont have a good tutorial is the day the world ends
16 years ago
Blog videos are not meant to play on mobile devices. I'm not even sure it will play on a computer.
Murat Ozgul
16 years ago
Attention to Andrew!!! Sample video doesnt work on iPod Touch 2G. Please check this problem.
Graffe
16 years ago
That is just incredible! can't wait for a tutorial on that one!
16 years ago
Seems to be very cool, looking forward for this tutorial! Anyway, Andrew, it would be great to make tutorial on animation like this one, but with some 3d work, you know for example some cool, nice looking glass or metal logo, or some plastic gadget with lcd screen and wires, that stuff...
16 years ago
Cool effect.

I like it when you post a sample video before the tutorial, gives me a chance to try to re-create the effect first and then see how close I was!

Good stuff.
Kam
16 years ago
This is really nice, but I think we need to do something about the text too. for example some shining light pass through or something else to make it more special. depends on your taste. please consider this in the tutorial Andrew.
16 years ago
That looks simply beautiful. Watching LOST last night I saw ABC does a similar effect with water droplets and their logo that looks good too - definitely going to have some useful techniques in something like this.
16 years ago
when I asked you to give me a ring you took it rather litterally ! so much work put in this.. next time I'll ask for you to call me ok?

all jokes aside Andrew, you da man !!
Looking forward to learn how to make something like this.
rob fike
16 years ago
Hmmm, video file isn't supported by iPhone.
Andre Prior
16 years ago
Andrew, I will name my firstborn after you! That tut looking awesome.
Debra
16 years ago
Have my babies, Andrew!
Peter Somers (TC-Productions)
16 years ago
Excellent !!
Looking forward to the tutorial!
Lawrence
16 years ago
Very beautifull, can't wait.

Lawrence
Vick1138
16 years ago
One ring to rule them all huh
Malezani
16 years ago
Please Antrew dont teach everyone this kind of stuff.
Its dangerous.Please please Dont try this at home.
We have reports for strange incidents arround the Globe.
Some how, someones try to manipulate people mines.
Dont Look This Ring, dont even try to decombose it
You have been warned....

PS1:You are f..... amazing....Keep Walking....
PS2:Forgive my poor English .I have Learn it from TV
of course not from "Law and Order" its obvious.
PS3:I prefer XBOX60 because it was a present.
PS4:Thank you very much,Teacher
May the Force be with ....my dad to keep pay my ADSL.
AleX
16 years ago
looks really cool
zozo
16 years ago
The first time I saw that spot I thought that is going to be VideoCopilot fodder!!

I am really looking forward to this tutorial!
16 years ago
Jesus Christ....
...that is definably mind-blowing.
Renzo
16 years ago
Hej Andrew,
What a great coincidence that I was just trying to create a simarly water look with particular just now (I failed horobly though

I got the idea (today!) from another Troika branding video for the ABC network. They used a water kind of trail to unify all of their footage in the promo. Check it out at youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2suUgR-gaA). The simalarities in color and style are striking!

Looking forward to the next tutorial!
Greetings from the netherlands..

PS. Thank you for that I'm unable to watch TV relaxed anymore... After watching all the tutorials I'm consantly trying to figure out what's happening on the screen and how they did it. grrr...
Matthijs
16 years ago
Amazing, cant wait!
16 years ago
Awesome stuff as always! Love it.
aspiring filmaker
16 years ago
Very cool, but is there a way to do it without particular? I think it might be a good idea to note on another way to do it for people who don't have it...(like me)

Thanks
16 years ago
Super Super sweet. I have been working on this myself with cinema 4D and its mograph tracer effect. The render times are crazy long though. I wanted to use particular but I couldn't figure the vines that accompany the particles. Yours looks damn close. I love it and the important thing is I am not locked to those long ass render times and texture setups.
Once again thanks for applying your talents to this amazing visual effect.
Jason
16 years ago
That's so crazy. Just yesterday I was watching a movie on TNT and started thinking about how they went about the fancy ring effects. I rewound my dvr and captured the video to my pc to have it around for later! You guys rock!
eladbari
16 years ago
OMFG! Andrew! U ROCK!!! :]
u Really managed to recreate it Perfectly! :]

I Really think that more "lifelike" demonstration and experiment in particle systems is needed.
especially all the physics section of it...recreating that randomness, and turbulence of particles is what i personally wanna learn.
thanx for doing this!
16 years ago
troika is amazing, i love their work. can't wait to see this tutorial!
16 years ago
Men thatâ??????s what I am talking about useful and creative elements and techniques and how to do them. Keep on doing it.
16 years ago
Looks great Andrew! Keep up the good work!
16 years ago
Why aren't you famous already??? you're a genius, kramer.
Designer3d
16 years ago
Genial!, very thanks for link
lifetype
16 years ago
that looks really cool canty wait to see how it was done ..
it reminds me of the abc one that spins and the paerticles come off it
Chuck Norris
16 years ago
Do want!
16 years ago
Once again my man, you never cease to amaze me. No offense but you should be sick more often, this looks fantastic. Keep it rollin my friend. Seems as if your a superhero come rain,sleet,snow or shine(or sick) Andrew is here all the time. YOU THE MAN

Thanks & God Bless
Daniel
Vic
16 years ago
Cool, that effect can be very useful in many area's! Thanks and keep up the great work!
kris
16 years ago
This is why I love your work Andrew Kramer. Don't ever change. Your my inspiration!
noddy
16 years ago
I agree with David and Russ as well "Oh my ship this is cool"

slick Kman, slick!
16 years ago
Andrew you are a beast (great designer and teacher) you are my role model when it comes to after effects bro
Mark Bowen
16 years ago
That looks really great, can't wait to see the tutorial for it.

Hope you're a lot better now?

Best wishes,

Mark
16 years ago
Manific
16 years ago
nice work as usualy mr andrew!
Phil
16 years ago
epic
16 years ago
I can't wait for this!! awesome AK
16 years ago
Willem particular for sure...
16 years ago
Well bust my buttons!

That's pretty sweet!
Can't wait to see how you did the ring.

-David
TimurKo
16 years ago
My version of ring! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDc6_kRDt38

John
16 years ago
Looks good, but sample vid doesn't work on iPhone! that's a must on the mobile site!
David W.
16 years ago
Cool, cool, cool, and did I mention cool? One of the local TV stations has something similar, only instead of a ring they use their company logo. It's either ABC or NBC, I think.
illd
16 years ago
Cant wait to see the tut. I guess it will be another renderhog for AE
axellerator
16 years ago
It would be so awesome if we could see those samples with our mobiles too! Preferably iPhone.
16 years ago
@David

This is the best VCP comment I've heard so far:
"oh my ship this is cool."

I agree with David. Oh my ship, this is cool.
LuQQii
16 years ago
WOW!!!
16 years ago
Wow, that looks fantastic! Looking forward to learning more, thanks!
16 years ago
pretty nice cant w8
Bahaa
16 years ago
Hi Andrew,
It looks really awesome ..
Can you list which effects you used ?
Thanks very much !
dashzed
16 years ago
looks a bit like the tnt graphic. can't wait andrew, cant wait!
Chris D
16 years ago
God bless you indeed. You are a rockstsr Andrew. I couldn't tell you how much your stuff has helped me. I just got Riot Gear and Particular last night and I'm excited to get to work on them tonigt
Matt in MO.
16 years ago
I sensed this was coming when you mentioned TNT in the HUD tutorial.

Can't wait!
16 years ago
WOW! that is my favourite Kramer effect ever!
Tilman
16 years ago
That Ring looks like the sandwatch from Windows Vista saying "hang on a second"

Really Cool Effect!!!
barry barrera
16 years ago
Very interesting! cant wait for the tut...thanx....
dolcevino
16 years ago
I heve been learning german in school so sorry for bad english
dolcevino
16 years ago
Whath pc configuration you using?

I heve rendering problems to little RAM (2G)
16 years ago
very nice!!!!
Willem
16 years ago
This is by far the most beautiful tv-logo i've seen ever. Brilliant, tasteful. I just hope i won't need Particular.
Alex
16 years ago
Hi andrew.
thanks for sharing this material with the world.
greetz
16 years ago
Have you seen the Robot Chicken parody of Law & Order?? It's hilarious. At least i think so. Click on my name or just youtube it.
16 years ago
It's very fantastic .. waiting tutorial for this video
Modisana
16 years ago
Like I said on AE tuts the other day...Andrew Kramer is the man!.....
But seriously dude...jokes aside..you rock!
16 years ago
oh my ship this is cool.
snowhouse
16 years ago
great....thanx
VRO
16 years ago
HOLY!!! I WANT THAT!!
Daryl
16 years ago
That looked awesome. Cannot wait to see that one come through..
16 years ago
Wow! Really nice!
16 years ago
Great! Cant wait to see the tutorial. Very handy for animation my own idiommedia logo
lukasz
16 years ago
I really like how you used the flare, Looks really fancy.
16 years ago
Its gona be cool!
Ben Wotton
16 years ago
That looks really nice Andrew
Paulo
16 years ago
Excellent, just excellent!
Ricardo Mantovani
16 years ago
Composition of design and sound perfect, this is Kramer.
DaWG69
16 years ago
Wow very cool!!! Can't wait!!!
Pat
16 years ago
Wow, you truly are the master of AE!
16 years ago
looks awesome!
LGFN
16 years ago
You're still up???

Anyways, thank you for the sample; waiting for the tutorial!!!
Salmon Sandwich
16 years ago
WOW I've never seen a ring so fancy.
16 years ago
The ring was created in AE....???!!!
Andrew, You Rock.
Matt Dunwoodie
16 years ago
wow...very nice. i see u recreating alot of other studios stuff
Rafael
16 years ago
God bless you my friend ... you're great!!!!
Simon
16 years ago
Great! Thanx
16 years ago
Nobody can stop you !!!
Thanks