Refraction fx in AE
August 28th, 2009

One of the things I demonstrated in at the LA presentation was the use of normal maps in After Effects to simulate realistic refraction and reflections. The technique is very fast and very powerful using a free plug-in called Normality.

Stefan, the developer even worked in a few solutions based on some feedback I sent over. He really built a great tool, in fact there are so many possibilities that I have been working very hard developing this new tutorial to demonstrate several examples of what is possible.

SIDE NOTE: I Just finished the new build of QuickMatte for Windows and Mac so I'm going to try and get that out shortly.

Andrew Kramer
POSTED:
16 years ago
62 Comments
ShaunnD
13 years ago
HAAAY Andrew!!!! Where's the tutorial??? I wanna know how to do this without the hours of fiddling around. Please at least show a screenshot of your settings. I've been messing around for hours on a 3d scene and i'm not even close.
SAI
15 years ago
I Think it may be done in 3d softwares and composited in ae...
16 years ago
Cool. I am the kind of guy that wastes a lot of time re-rendering until I get the lights where I want, very useful stuff here. You can save time with this plug in and like this you can be a little bit 'normal' and don't spent all the day in your computer. haha...
ShoeToad
16 years ago
Another giant leap from VC. You guys should have been on the moon.

- ShoeToad
16 years ago
Flight of the Navigator used to play on repeat at my house about 20 years ago! haha.
Mishig
16 years ago
Andrew, which is the best one: After Effects or Motion?
16 years ago
@Luarasi: Youveelizer is used for texturing, Normality does lighting. Quite different.
Luarasi
16 years ago
Maltaannon introduced similar plugin called Youveelizer. I think it does the same thing. I prefer the free one.
S. Brandt
16 years ago
Dang!
Between Andrew and Stefan, I wish I knew a quarter of what you guys know put together.
It's like Disneyland for technoids.
16 years ago
HAHAHA oh wow, Flight of the Navigator! that is so weird you posted that, just last week I was trying to remember the name of that movie!

Can't wait for the tutorial
Kai
16 years ago
awesome!
I'm downloading the plugin right now.

It's great when you post about free resources and tools, for those of us who don't have any money to spend on software.
Keep up the good work!

Kai
16 years ago
Normality is I think a good plugin.
I hope that Andrew could make a tutorial about it so I can understand what the function of it is?
PS: Do you need to make 3d models in 3d max to use the normality plugin?
Michal Piatek
16 years ago
I remember that effect in The Matrix applied to the mirror which causes Neo to be offline... now its so simple to make... its not even made in real 3d application.
Lindsay
16 years ago
I am a recent convert to the world of After Effects and I'd have never made the leap without the brilliant tutorials and community here. Kudos to you Andrew. Adobe should buy you a new car every year for the work you do supporting their wares. Just curious, since my budget is pretty much a page full of mocking laughter, how do you rate Blender as a 3D program? Free is the only thing I can afford, after seeing how much 3D Max and similar programs cost that won't be changing very soon either. Thanks for everything!
16 years ago
I've been using normality for years now. I actually expected it to show up here sooner.

Great plug-in!

--
Kevin
zin_onos
16 years ago
Also can't wait for the tutorial about stefan's great plug-in. Keep up the good work Andrew & Stefan!
Daniel
16 years ago
I would just ask Andrew Kramer on a Issue that could be super cool, compared to Normality plugin. if he could make a tutorials about Render Pass for compositing (normal, difuss, spec, bump) example 3dmax ---> AE.
wuw !...
16 years ago
@Eric: Oh yeah, I remember that! Color cycling animation was the best!

Hmmm... sounds like a good idea for a new AE plug-in!

(Just kidding...
Gulliver
16 years ago
BTW Everyone!!! You can render a "Normals" pass on a photoshop 3D model(CS4). Now finally you can use the After Effects lights to actually light the interactive 3D models from Photoshop and animate the models as well!!!!

This solves SOOOOOOO many problems and solves, what I believe to be, the biggest hindrance for using Photoshop 3D models in AE.

Hmmm. Photoshop 3D Integration...interesting idea for a tutorial...

Thanks AK
16 years ago
The Silver bubble in the image is from fringe, isn't it?
Lee
16 years ago
Andrew, this kind of looks more like reflection than refraction. I think having a moving car in the bubble (just like behind it) would help make it look more transparent.
Eric
16 years ago
Did anyone ever design on Deluxe Paint IV for Amiga?

This reminds me (although vastly superior) of the gradient fill option that was availabe in DPIV. It performed a linear gradient based on the shape and contour of an object that was more natural than Photoshop's has ever been. I remember using that effect to make a mountain range as well as natural metallic surfaces. Ahhh, color cycling animation... those were the days: OF HEADACHES AND FRUSTRATION!!!!!

Thanks for sharing this info!
16 years ago
My God, great effect!!!!

awesome!!!!!!!!
Jonathan Johansson
16 years ago
Hi Andrew! I love your site! You have learn me very much! Please can you do a tutorial about CROWD REPLICATION? How to do a army of 50 extras?

http://www.cvfx.co.uk/crowRep_bgExt.html
leef
16 years ago
Whoa man! My inefficient & archaic methods of bouncing items between AE & Modo for scene-refraction may finally be upgraded!
ali
16 years ago
time with us is short and the life is not too long so keep visiting videocopilot.net to get more out of your life............hows that andrew.
16 years ago
Cheers Andrew! If there's anything I can do to help with tutorial, just let me know!
Qw3rtium
16 years ago
He's keeping eye on us ;D
16 years ago
Hey Stefan Minning! Welcome buddy.
Awesome! Flight of the Navigator I was like 8 years old when that came out! I've been wondering how to create refracting light in AE for a minute. I need to generate a force push refraction ripple effect for something I'm working on right now, and that plug-in might just do the trick!
16 years ago
Andrew I was and after I went home I downloaded the Plug-in and let me tell you everybody who is reading this comment. This is the Best free plug-in I have ever used! Andrew thanks for the mentioning it!
16 years ago
@Fadiisber: Obviously, yes.

But the point of Normality is that it is much faster and more interactive... no waiting for rendering means you can be more creative.
Zin_onos
16 years ago
Looking forward for quickmatte!
Fadiisber
16 years ago
hi i think this thing can be made in 3d applecation with more control ..... ??
16 years ago
@P1stolK1ng

People use the software they feel comfortable with.

Just give the various packages a try and find out which one satisfys your needs.
andrew lee
16 years ago
Thanks Andrew, looking forward to that
16 years ago
Pretty cool. Nice example too :p I have that movie on VHS still. One of my favorite 80's sci fi movies, along with The Last Starfighter.
P1stolK1ng
16 years ago
Andrew, may I ask you why you use 3DsMax so often? I thought the industry standard for CGI in "normal movies" and animation films was Maya? (Or atleast software made by the company itself, based on Maya) Or is that not true? Im getting more and more in to 3d work, and at my school they teach Maya because it is by far the most used 3D package out there.

Regards, PK
16 years ago
Sweet, I've been trying to figure out how to implement something like this into an energy orb like the one it 3d light casting. Awesome stuff as always man, thanks for all you do for the video community.
mr next
16 years ago
Its pretty cool ; awesome work man
16 years ago
Cool, looks like the blob from the intro you made from Fringe.
16 years ago
@ Elliot: This wouldn't replace good 3D work at all, instead it is a relighting solution for enhancing 3D renders. But when you combine the near-real time speed with the live-updating of a compositor, you get instant results that might otherwise cost a lot of test rendering in 3D.

@ Andrew Lee: I'll be providing info on creating normal maps with the standard 3D max renderer. I'll also provides some tips on exporting from other 3D apps too.

@TwentyFourBecks: I haven't watched his demo yet, but his preset seems to be based on the revisionsfx.com RE:Map plug-in which is specifically for changing image textures 2-dimensionally. (Which is a pretty cool feat!). However, Normality is designed for re-lighting using AE lights and adding reflections/refractions.
16 years ago
Wow, looks great! looking forward again and again
andrew lee
16 years ago
Interesting, however I still cannot figure out how you do a normal pass in Max. I've discovered that is I used VRay it would be possible but strange as it may seem I don't have Vray. Hoping your future tutorial for this will demonstrate how to generate normal passes in Max and a few other 3D programs of course.

Keep up the great work and yes, can't wait to see this QuickMatte plugin.
16 years ago
Well, I tried the plugin out a couple of months ago. The most exciting feature is definitely the instant shading - lighting in AE.

Malta Annons demonstrates quite good what you can achieve with his Youveelizer plugin - which almost has the same features as Normality, in exception of the lighting compability.

Take a look at the videotutorial on his page. Ironicly i find the original composite - that came out of his 3D-software - still better looking than his post-processed final result in AE. His 'light-matching' feature is nice though.

Looking forward for Andrews results.
16 years ago
not very Good...!
Elliott Montello
16 years ago
Its pretty cool, i just cant really see a good use for it because anyone with any sence would do their 3D work in a 3D program...but never the less its still good to have the option i suppose, if you wanted to composite water. Anyway cant wait to see what this QuickMatt is like thanks again AK
Qw3rtium
16 years ago
A free plug-in? Definitely gonna check it out right away. I hope you blew their minds in LA.
And I can't wait for the tutorial and the QuickMatte!
16 years ago
can't wait to see the plug-in!
16 years ago
i needed this like 2 days ago. man this is awesome. wow.
ShellReDux
16 years ago
that's totally awesome. We love you Andrew!
Fonzie Productions
16 years ago
I love Flight of the Navigator. It's the first thing that came to my mind when I saw that screenshot you posted above
Joshua Rodrigues
16 years ago
Very Cool
The Rover
16 years ago
OMG HE DID IT!!!!!

so you can put the reflections on the car now!! amazing mr kramer.. amazing.

and is this same scene you always put on here in New York?
16 years ago
awesome ...
M.h
16 years ago
Graet Andrew !
Ray
16 years ago
Andrew,
you are pumping out some really cool stuff!! even my camels are getting excited!
Gareth
16 years ago
If it wasn't for the lack of people screaming WTBacon I'd swear that was real, amazing what can be achieved in after effects kudos to Stefan on a truly jawdropping plugin
16 years ago
Cool, Nice effect as always.

..repeat comment edited.
Daniel
16 years ago
Really cool!
Waiting for QuickMatte!
Sounds really cool

Regards from The Netherlands
16 years ago
Looks great. Is there anything you cant do with AE!?