NEW TUTORIAL: Particle Shadows

July 7th, 2010

In this EXCITING new tutorial we'll learn a powerful method for casting realistic shadows with Particular. At first we will setup a simple scene using a custom sprite and then dive in to creating the Shadow illusion. I even included a quick demo showing you how I created the future balls in 3D Max.

This handy technique finally offers a simple way to create nice looking shadows for the things your already create with Particular with an added level of realism. The shadows are dynamic and fully customizable for hard or soft looking results. I hope this helps some of you out, I know it has been a great addition to my work.

The project file is available to download using AE CS4 & Particular 2.

Watch Tutorial

Andrew Kramer

POSTED:

15 years ago

97 Comments

Andrew

15 years ago

Question : Is there a workaround if your ground is not flat, like it's a dune or trash heap and the shadows need to follow that surface?

serajiyan brothers

15 years ago

Awesome! I???d like to know you did the last zoom in the composition

Rob White

15 years ago

Hey guys, I am a new AE user, so this may be elementary - but I'm looking to soften the edges of a shadow - just feather them back maybe 15%. I have 2 flat images in Zspace, and the shadow behind a picture flying into the frame looks great, except for the hard edges. So I don't want to change my Point of Focus, Light intensity, Positiion, etc. Is there a transform I am missing in the light itself, or the asset that will not change the opacity of my shadow, but just feather back the edges, as if I were just diffusing the light with a skrim or net or something. I've tried changing the light type to parallel, but again I'm new in AE so I don't know. Preleminary thanks for the help! -rob

Nat and Ty Show

15 years ago

Thanks Andrew, this is an awesome solution. Maybe a plugin could be developed using this, as well.

Jadesion

15 years ago

Thanks man, you really create some rocking tutorials and that helps me to think outside the box!

antonio

15 years ago

Andrew ur so great man! keep doin
we love u!!!

UrbanGrafix

15 years ago

Thanks Mr AK-108 !!
Guess what's dat ?

Arun

15 years ago

hey thanks for the tut andrew

this was wat i was exactly seeking... great one bro

Job

15 years ago

nice job m8!
Hope to see more from you.

wef

15 years ago

en en maya particle

15 years ago

Thank you Andrew for yet another brilliant tutorial. You are truly a brilliant artist.

Don

15 years ago

Thanks. Not just for this one but all of the tutorials. These really open up the mind to possibilities. As a guy just having fun with some software (TrapCode, Digital Juice, Adobe) they help me expand on what I thought I knew a lot about already.

Dante

15 years ago

HEY! Andrew!
thank you for another exciting tutorial!!!

Sem

15 years ago

I did everything well, the shadow turned out delicious. But when I tried to create a movement of the camera.., just cannot do it. Andrew, can you suggest something that made it work?
Sem from Chechnya.
P.S
I love all of your works?? Honestly, I learned to work in AE through your tutorials.
Thanks a lot!!!

Luca

15 years ago

Awesome! I'd like to know you did the last zoom in the composition (i mean with that depth of field really realistic). Ty ak

Rutger

15 years ago

Once again you have fed us with incredible techniques with an awesome result. Thank you so much Andrew, you really are awesome! (I just wonder how often you hear that on a dag?

)

luther

15 years ago

Come back to New York Andrew..

Erwin

15 years ago

Nice tutorial again

I have a question.. In the suretarget 1 tutorial u gave it a 3d look. a client is asking for a 3d text with sure target BUT with CS5 you can create a 3d text and then import it into AE. Hope you can make a tutorial about it cause the render times are crazy!! And when i make this 3d text a 3d layer in AE it actually flattens it. What would be the best way to import the 3d text from photoshop and use it in a 3d invironment with the Suretarget plugin??

Hope you'll take a look at it.
Cause importing 3d text and make it easy to use with suretarget would kick ass

Ravens666

15 years ago

During summer holiday me and my friends will be shooting a student short film with ghost theme..postproduction will be done in AE with some serious VFX...If we will satisfied with result I will post here a link for your critique folks.

Ravens666

15 years ago

Check my try to recreate AK's smoke trail with reflections too. The reflections use the same technique as shadows(without DOF and fading).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzFGmbcK1gE

Lasse

15 years ago

im gonna be honest and say that it have been a long time since i was exsited about a toturial here

give us something new and exciting.
i dont even know what to use this effect for

Max

15 years ago

Hey Andew great tutorial but I was wondering if you could do a Tutorial about how to make the balls that fly on the street because they are really awesome

Popov

15 years ago

yeah, thanks for the reply everybody.

- ANY TIMEEE

Jack

15 years ago

Hi

Is any one else having trouble with particals popping onto the screen. Iv tried the pre run setting but nothing happens.
They are born from the light as it moves but the particals need to be born before they get on the screen. ?

Chris

15 years ago

A tad bit off-topic, Andrew, but I'll ask anyway. I'm considering buying Particular 2 for CS5, but you said in an earlier post that you have three products under development. With your recent "Optical Flares" triumph, could one of those projects be a particle system? If so, I'll wait for yours!

Gee

15 years ago

Bloody brilliant!!

Steve

15 years ago

your tutorials are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mystic7

15 years ago

Damn, I was so close! But my grid got completely messed up so the shadows were no where near aligned with my balls. But I always get it on the second try.

At 55 I will probably never get good enough to get a job doing this, but it sure is fun and keeps the brain from going to waste. Cheers!

Daniel

15 years ago

Nice tutorial!
Thanks to your website i made this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRz8VkwNwX8

Javed.A.Shah

15 years ago

Hi Andrew,

All I can say is that you are the best!!!

I have a request for a tutorial and I will give the website reference:

http://www.amteq-group.de/

http://www.time4ever.com/

Please can you make a tutorial to make such particle animations???

Thank you.

Warm Regards,

Javed.A.Shah

Aleksander

15 years ago

That's great!
Btw maybe you could add like, sort of a mini-tutorial on creating those reflective balls in both AE and 3Ds?
That would be nice!

Big Mic

15 years ago

Cant wait to get on this one! Thanks Andrew!

Morten Enoksen

15 years ago

Would be nothing withut Video Copilot!
Check out my page

http://hadselvgs.com/martin

Ã¶mer tatlÄ±sÃ¶z

15 years ago

thanks Andrew

Aerandir

15 years ago

You do tutorials... LIKE A BOSS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NisCkxU544c

zymzym

15 years ago

Of course it's great... It always is.

KarlTheBest

15 years ago

definitely one of the best tutorials I've seen here

(and I've seen 'em all)

Nosome

15 years ago

Very bad, Andrew!

Laws

15 years ago

Sick tutorial as always Andrew, was just wondering though how did you create the zoom effect with DOF in the example video during the tutorial, i think the example video was called ball_zoom. would be ace to know.

Bob K

15 years ago

This is absolutely superb, Andrew. This truly bridges the VFX and real worlds, for the small-operations/budgets, more tightly than, perhaps, ever ...

Nick

15 years ago

I am amazed by how much Helpful information Video Copilot has supplied me with in the 2 years I have been a visitor. Keep up the freakin awsome work.

Ahmed

15 years ago

Amazing tutorial as always from you Andrew am one of many fan's in Iraq that we like what you created and the best project that your site having its really Awesome man
and i have request if you can make us some thing amazing about the soccer World Cup in Africa some thing no one think about it plz

Thanks man you the best

kamal98

15 years ago

i can never be the first to comment well what ever. WOW this is the best tutorial ever Andrew Kramer does it again thanks men really appreciate the hard work.

Dot

15 years ago

Thanx for the tutorial but what about the other tutorials you promissed like the Shatter glass and the 3D stereoscopic tutorial?
thanx again

Jason

15 years ago

Wow! i did not knw that was possible !!!!!!thanks Andrew Kramer thoese balls look like thoes roll up droides in the star wars episode I lol

Jonas W

15 years ago

Oh these future balls, always a problem!

Olivier

15 years ago

Woooooooooooooooooohoooooooooooooooo.... It came out finally... euh.. may I know when the tutorial on Payment plan is suppose to come please??

Popov

15 years ago

I don't know how to create "zoom and focus" thingy effect. I turn the BG in to 3D layer, accept shadows an all that to off, orient it to camera, but cant get it right?

I have to get the BG layer to 3D, right?

DJAyzed

15 years ago

Finally!

Thx so much Andrew Kramer

Andrew Kramer

15 years ago

Thanks Dan!

Nic

15 years ago

Stupid question: Trapcode effects have to be purchased right? Using CS5 and I don't see those other then those on the TC website. Sorry for asking.

Nic.

goldorachox

15 years ago

thank's Andrew come in brussel drink a beer with us ^-^

zammm

15 years ago

this is great tutorial ))!

rogier righART

15 years ago

hmmm...pretty advanced stuff Mr Kremer....this will take a couple of views to sick in.....you are a madddd Maddddd Mannnnnn.

Thanks for sharing!!

Dan Sollis

15 years ago

Awesome tutorial Andrew! I created a demo similar to this a few months ago and posted it and the source files on the Trapcode site. Mine wasn't as cool as this though - I hadn't thought of using Depth of Field to soften shadows or fading them using the near fade options. Brilliant - you're a genius!
Oh - and if anyone's interested in my demo anim and project files (it does cast shadows on a 3 sided shape which is interesting I guess), you can see it here: http://www.digitaldistortion.net/rsrc_particularShadow.html

MrMaCHO

15 years ago

Andrew,
You look at things that don't exist and think how can I do that. This is a very special gift. Then you make that gift available to the world. Words fail to speak how special that is. Thank you for all that you do.

Mr.PeTeR

15 years ago

Awesome!

Keep it up!

I will support you anyway

15 years ago

andrew you are so talented ...... i dont even know how you even figure this stuff out !! i wish i was as good as you haha . keep up the good work

Pavanrzx

15 years ago

awesome tutorial 8)

check out this video Andrew
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EJVa1RWXHw

NiklÄvs

15 years ago

THANKS ANDREW!!!! THIS IS SO COOL!
You inspired me to download 3Ds Max

Lirik

15 years ago

ahahah suupper good ..thnxx andre kramer for this great tutorial

Jack

15 years ago

Thanks Andrew.
I drew some inspiration and made this over the day.
Youtube is processing it now...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLVxtPSY5wc
Enjoy, feedback from anyone would be awesome.

illd

15 years ago

lol@ the white Larry Bird. Bird wasn´t white - He was half mustache half man!

MARUTHI

15 years ago

hi andrew....thank u very much for introducing action essential 2....with tat elements i did a short film ....it was selected for international short film festival...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j045yMp_eiM

man_sokpisey

15 years ago

full of creative techniques
form cambodia

15 years ago

Thanks Andrew.
I can't wait to see it (as soon as I finish up my work here)

Max max

15 years ago

Thank you for the little 3D extra in 3DS max ^^

JÃºnior

15 years ago

Thanks, amazing

Andrew how much memory ram do you recommend for editing at 1920x1080? I'm having trouble about it, it becomes very slow.
would be a good tutorial on Integration of 3D objects in video using Boujou, for example.

Aung Ko Ko

15 years ago

Thanks Andrew! how about ur payment plan tutorial? long waiting.

Throck

15 years ago

You always come up with techniques we can actually use.

John over at Motionworks posted that terrible comment about how you're sabotaging the industry.

I think you're the best teacher a guy could ask for.

Tincho de la Fuente

15 years ago

Excelent! Thanks Andrew! Good Luck from Argentina! See you

Prateek Kumar

15 years ago

Hey Andrew, I had a quick question. Will you switch over to After Effects CS5 anytime soon because some people (like me) do not have a 64-bit operating system. If you could answer back that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Hammam

15 years ago

Well.
I think it's so much easier doing it on 3D max without much of time.

but you're the AE boy anderw. Thanx.

Mohamed Zakzouk

15 years ago

yes I'll watch it now
I love you man

Keninchina

15 years ago

what I like is the 3D Max tut as a bonus! Getting something awsome for free and finding out there's a bonus, you just made my week Mister Kramer!

nGAGE

15 years ago

Just Brilliant! Nice tut.

clancy30

15 years ago

cool am gonna check it out now.

Highdefw

15 years ago

As always, much appreciated.

Next Level Designs

15 years ago

hey andrew, how are u doing. quick question ... if we used the idea of the relighting tutorial where u designed a 3d light source and it relighted the road surface ... can we not relight it as shadows as well ... like a darker light ... but then again ... it might take longer to render as well using that technique ... lol sorry for the waste of time good night and thanks

Matthew Sabia

15 years ago

YES!!! Thank you Andrew!

Rick

15 years ago

This is cool, as are all of Andrew's tutorials. But what I really want to know is this, how did AT&T make the commercial with all of the huge silk rolls falling off of national monuments, buildings, etc.?

Abhu

15 years ago

awesome andrew
you never disappoint
check out this video that me and my friends made:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7lEAnQQSzc

andi

15 years ago

what a load of balls

Calla van Loggerenberg

15 years ago

Wow dude! I Dig the Depth Of Field

cody

15 years ago

awesome Andrew Kramer, thanks

Jolai

15 years ago

So f**king great!

Hicham

15 years ago

Love it, they keep getting better.

Jon

15 years ago

Wow this looks amazing, finally a 3D tutorial!

ANDREW

15 years ago

coooooooooooool thanks Andrew

Greetings from Egypt

P.S : my name is Andrew too

Serg

15 years ago

Very good Andrew! and if to start insects
Thanks for this tuts and idea

Marcos

15 years ago

Pressing F5 in browser since morning!
Finally!
Thank you!

Daniel Harrison

15 years ago

wow, great thanks MR.Kramer
actually I would love to see more things like this..

ReddAnselmo

15 years ago

Nice technique mr. AK!

Jack

15 years ago

Awesome, thanks alot, really useful!

Dan Evans

15 years ago

Great one Mr K!

adam

15 years ago

hmmmm, having trouble getting to the tutorial...

adam

15 years ago

YEAH! thanks for this!

Tutorials

159. Saber Plug-in

Create High quality energy & light beams

156. Classic Car 3D Text

Extruding Text & Adjusting Bevels

Blog Show

Search & Destroy

Using various roto and split-screen effects we transformed a two-man SWAT team into a full squad for this demo scene. Sam Loya reprises his role as the "guy who probably gets killed", in this exciting industrial saga. The main goal of this scene was to film everything as if we had a dozen guys instead of just two. Don't just shoot things that will be easy to composite later, push the limits and make the scene more dynamic. Stay-tuned for tips on using the new Roto-Brush in AE CS5 as well as other split-screen and masking solutions that can be achieved in all versions of After Effects. Watch Scene

View All Blog Shows

Plugins

Stock Footage