Element Examples:
July 24th, 2012

Here is a clever use of our new Plug-in Element 3D by Serge Mustu using pre-fractured text in creative ways.

I even have more tutorials planned this week and also a 3D Tracking tutorial to talk about integrating 3D with live-action footage. More importantly though, we'll learn how to manage a scene with 3D tracking data and not have everything in weird places and crazy scale values. Should be fun as we push the limits of AE!

Element 3D is now available!

Reminder we are looking for experienced C++ Programmers if you would like to join our team!

Andrew Kramer
POSTED:
13 years ago
68 Comments
10 years ago
That was an awesome demo! well done
Jay
13 years ago
Dear Andrew and the gang.
I've been trying, but haven't cracked it. How did you do this? Also how did you get the text in the Fringe intro to assemble? Any chance of some quick tutorials?
Regards
Jay
Jay
13 years ago
P.S. mine just seem to slide in and out of each other.
Semen
13 years ago
Element 3D - a dark design:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0uCfE912iQ
Todd
13 years ago
First attempt with Element 3D.

https://vimeo.com/51762919
Derek
13 years ago
Blender 'Fracture' tool applied to extruded text results in unexpected changes to the shape of the letters. Holes get filled in, and random imperfections appear. I am quite new to Blender, and unable to figure out why it does this? Can anyone please lend some pointers to solving this issue. Thanks!
Domingos
13 years ago
Hi,

I come from Macau, I want to help my boss to buy a OF and Element 3D, but my company's workstation have not internet, just work, so no internet, I want to ask if I help my boss buy the plugins, but I know if need get the lic, the computer need go to internet, I want to know have other way I can help my boss to buy and download the plugins( OF and Element 3D), and give him to install by himself, and install to a no internet's computer.

thanks for your help!
Domenico
13 years ago
Great piece... anyone know how to prefracture objects in Maya?
13 years ago
cool like always.
13 years ago
Wow, that's an impressive little demo.
13 years ago
Sers, i buy this awsome plugin. and now i see this perfect tutorial with this amazing animation. but can i make it without cinema4D?

I didn´t find a way to animate it without C4D. Need help!
13 years ago
Hi, firstly brilliant plugin I still continue to be amazed by what we can create in a matter of minutes.
My only gripe and we may be missing something but there seems to be an obvious weakness with masks, from a traced logo such as the biohazard sign, any internal masks set to intersect or subtract do not render correctly, is there a simple fix for this, or a workaround?
Many thanks
13 years ago
We are updating the extrusion options in the next patch this week. You should be able to do things a lot better.
Tom
13 years ago
Dying for an Andrew Kramer tutorial on Camera Tracking in CS6, some of the values for position and scale are just not helpful at all. AK = Legend.
13 years ago
Hey All,
here is the tutorial I promised
In this tutorial we are going to create some scenes, that you can see above in the Vimeo video.
We use Cinema 4D, After Effects and Element 3D from Video Copilot for this.
Also there are some links to some plugins and add ons, that I mentioned in the movie.

Thanks for watching and have fun

Serge
13 years ago
Oops.. forgot the link: https://vimeo.com/46594786
Dan
13 years ago
First time using elements this is what we produced...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtVr7T54Bo8
13 years ago
Would be awesome if you watched this Andrew

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPPlQim2vac

I made it entirely in AE using Element and Trapcode.

I go to school in LA and would love to work with you sometime!
Kilmoun
13 years ago
What can't element do ? probably nothing...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPaM6bN3D70&feature=youtu.be

It's all element...
Andrew Krammer
13 years ago
This is so cool, I love the work you are doing, and you are inspiring many others to achieve things that we once thought was impossible.
Mr Steele
13 years ago
Great Job Serge Mustu!!! Do you have a tutorial? Thank you Video Copilot for another amazing plug in!!!
MR Steele
13 years ago
Great Job Serge Mustu!!! I am interested in how you did this... do you have a tutorial or a written explanation? I wanna do some of those fragmented effects with objects for a video I'm working on! Please let me know! Thanks again Video Copilot for another wonderful plug in to make us look great!!!
SAW
13 years ago
Hey Andrews,
is there any chance to get the project file(s) of your samples? Would be great! Cause I can easier learn on projects..THX
13 years ago
i dont understand why my model in after effect after getting from element is not sharp , it blury and not crisp. any ideas.
Dave Thomas
13 years ago
Andrew,

Could I suggest a feature whereby you can fracture the text inside of element? It's taking me long enough to learn AE and element to start on blender or 3ds max!

Cheers bruv
13 years ago
Experimenting with E3D is producing some surprising results. The background for this title treatment started as a single pyramid. https://vimeo.com/46393697
Johnny U
13 years ago
A quick question... on average, how large are the model packs (for purposes of alotting GB to SSD space)?
Johnny U
13 years ago
Ahh. Plug-in about 80MB, shaders about 200 MB, each model set about 200 MB.
Thank you Toolfarm!
lurv10
13 years ago
How do I uninstall element?????? Please it just crashes after effects. I removed the plugin but it's still there! HELP!
Christian Michael
13 years ago
Contact support at support@videocopilot.net. They will be happy to help fix the problem.
Element 4D
13 years ago
This is completely off-topic but I just found one of my VFX test in my computer. I did this a long time ago when I wasn't as fluent as now in After Effects. Please everyone watch and comment on it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e28wNWMgdwU
Cedric_B
13 years ago
Hey Andrew !
Ok it's fantastic. Your plugin is amazing and I am a fan of your works, tutorials and plugins.... But honestly it would be better if every people who bought the plugin can work with element 3D. I mean I bought it and I cant work with it. Because it crashes all the time. See: http://www.videocopilot.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=89487
My computer, my AE version, my graphic card, everything is ok. I know VC developers are working on some updates but its not cool because I paid for it...
I hope you and the rest of the team will find a solution soon.
Thanks
Cedric
Jake
13 years ago
GREAT, look forward to this tutorial.
Randy P
13 years ago
How do I fracture text (or any object) in Cinema 4D. I've used "fracture object" and the "knife tool", but when I import it into Element 3D it is not fractured.

Is this an easy process that I am doing incorrectly?
13 years ago
Here is a tutorial on it.. https://vimeo.com/46594786
13 years ago
@chris : the best suggestion is to use megui http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=96032 and compress your movie with codec x264
Bob Orlic
13 years ago
Just curious is Element 3D Mountain Lion Compatible? Considering it was just released today.
Hector Montalvo
13 years ago
Hey, is the info@videocopilot.net email working
I send 2 email last week for information on element
for a TV affilied station and I have not get a single respond yet.
No even we will contact you soon.

Please contact my any one from video copilot
help me to make the station to buy the plug-in.
Richard oakes
13 years ago
when i import an object from blender the textures dont work that I apply , just the colour of the texture. can anyone help me please?
13 years ago
http://www.videocopilot.net/help/element/tutorial/basic/advanced_materials/

Check out this tutorial there are some tips for exporting and rebuilding materials.
Chris Francis
13 years ago
andrew may i ask your advice? im rendering a movie in sony vegas after it the file size is too large for uploads is there any way i can make it small? without decreasing the quality of film?
HUGO STRANGE
13 years ago
THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE !! "without decreasing the quality of film?"

Instead, ask your self:
1. how much quality lost are you willing accept!
2. Which software will lower the file size but keep enough of the quality of the video file to remain "Relatively" sharp/clear/clean..
13 years ago
Depends on the settings you originally rendered the video out on. I would suggest .mov with H.264 codec. File size should shrink, and quality should still be great. (Unless you already have it rendered out in H.264)
Christian Michael
13 years ago
You could try exporting in h.264 format. Depending on your screen size you will then need to pick the right preset. As an example if you have created the movie in 1080p (1920X1080) at 29.97 frames a second, you would choose HDTV 1080p 29.97. Or 25 frames or 24 frames depending on what you created it in. This should give you a good compression rate and a good quality on the web. Hope this helps
Christian Michael
13 years ago
@Charles, Looks like you were'a postin', while I was'a typin' :0)
Chris Francis
13 years ago
thank you charles and christian i think this info will be helpful to me... thanks guys..
cheswik
13 years ago
Thank you Andrew
Great plug-in
Made for 1 hour,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEdLHUcEiWU
  Of course a lot of bugs in my video
But this is just the beginning
13 years ago
Well done to Serge Mustu!

You keep plugging your need of a C++ Programmer.... Something tells me you have a new and powerful AE Plug-in coming soon!

Somehow, I think I am excited to see what you guys can come up with next!
joey
13 years ago
when will the new release is coming out? will it improve ssao or shadows?
13 years ago
having troble setting up the background solid with the light ,how are you setting up your lighting.
James
13 years ago
C'mon Andrew. Just put that "Fracture" button into the multi object folder and save us all the time and hassle!
Bonus would be seeing those beautiful Element text bevels shatter as well...
Andi
13 years ago
Lots of things are impossible. In fact the majority of things.
13 years ago
Imagine that narrated by the midget from Twin Peaks.
Agustin
13 years ago
Can the project from the tutorial "the jungle" be redone with element 3d? Using models from plants and 3d text?
Christian Michael
13 years ago
sure agustin, gor for it. We look forward to seeing how it comes out :0)
13 years ago
how do HDRi / image maps work with lighting can you import cinema 4d lighting / HDRi set-ups
with your 3d made models?
tryign to find a quick way to interact C4D and element.
BTW its really nice seeing 3d models in AE
Orhan
13 years ago
Oh man, I'm currently studying C++ and DirectX, bummer.
I wish I can learn OpenGL as well.
Bruno Silveira
13 years ago
Amazing like always

Bruno from Montevideo, Uruguay
Ivander
13 years ago
Andrew,

Can't you use DirectX instead of OpenGL ? (ditching the osx, I know), be we would gain realtime raytracing (shadows,real time depth of field, real refractive index, refractions, etc).

Take a look at this ultra fast DirectX demo, even the bokeh effects works super fast.

http://www.rigidgems.sakura.ne.jp/index.html
13 years ago
Oh yeah, sure, let's rewrite years of work into DirectX from OpenGL. No probs.
Ivander
13 years ago
Sometimes Phil, in order to go to the next level, you need to take the high jump.
13 years ago
There are a lot of amazing tech demos for all sorts of technologies but there is a lot more to consider when making a product. The tech demo you linked to requires that you have Direct X 11 on windows machine and a GPU that is fairly new.

There are some advantages to DX but half of our customers are mac users who would be excluded instantly and many of the windows users don't have a compatible DX11 card...

DX and OpenGL are very similar actually and we are only scratching the surface of what is possible with OpenGL...
Ivander
13 years ago
Well, you've already surpassed anyone's else OpenGL implementation by a large margin (Zaxwerks ProAnimator, The Foundry's AtomKraft for instance, both super slow), so I guess we can expect cool things.

I wasn't sure you can do shadows or reflections using just OpenGL, but your last statement is encouraging.

Tnx for replying
Carl S.
13 years ago
Andrew please come up with a better solution for casting shadows from element onto footage.

I think I have seen all of the alternatives like particle shadows and what is on the forums and to be honest they don't look very realistic.
Looking forward to what is up your sleeve.
13 years ago
Hey! Nice Work, Serge Mustu. Element has so much potential! Looking forward to the upcoming tutorials....
13 years ago
Simply WOW............ nothing is impossible
13 years ago
Nothing is impossible when we have Video Copilot!
13 years ago
What about a tutorial "How to Prefracture a 3D Model and importing it into AE / 3DElement" ?
13 years ago
Essentially you just make a model, run a fracture script on it and export it as an obj, followed by importing it into element and BAM.. You got it Afterwards it is all up to the multi-object system and you to animate it.
Bill
13 years ago
Check out the author's page on Vimeo. He says he'll post a tutorial soon.
13 years ago
I'm sure he'll make a tutorial. I just hopes he includes fracturing imported objects in blender. I can't seem to get any imported object to fracture. It crashes Blender every time.
Dmanw71
13 years ago
Justin,

Here is a tutorial on fracturing objects with the cell fracture add-on in blender. It is more stable than the fracture add-on in 2.63. It should be part of Blender 2.64 that is coming out soon but you can download a test build to try it out. The tutorial explains where to go to download it.

http://www.blendernation.com/2012/07/20/cell-fracturing-tutorial/

Here is a simple example I made with fractured text.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbcyZG4Nago&feature=plcp
13 years ago
Dman,
Thank you for the link and your example. I'll have to test it out. Although the video didn't show any objects that were imported, I'm assuming that the imported objects have to be very very low poly count. I'll have to run some more test. Thanks.
Josh
13 years ago
Hey, you can import incredibly hi-poly obj files into Element. I ran a test by using rayfire to shatter a hi-poly object into hundreds of pieces in 3ds max, imported the obj into element without breaking a sweat. set the obj to group 1 and 2. turn on multi object, and scatter the pieces in group 2 however you want. then just animate between groups 1 and 2, add some lights, turn on ambiant occlusion and depth of field, maybe motion blur, and voila. spend like ten minutes render time and you'll get a video just like the one serge made above. ruin is a good plug in to shatter things in maya, rayfire is amazing plugin to shatter in 3ds max. not sure about blender or c4d tho.
Josh
13 years ago
*quick note, i meant make two duplicates of your obj in element, and set one to group 1, the other to group 2. then animate between them.
Champ
13 years ago
If I had a knowledge on C++,I will work free for VC!!
Daluz
13 years ago
Hey Andrew, so ELEMENT 3D not going to have a trailer or teaser?
Its give us a lot of inspiration...;(
Rosemary
13 years ago
Hi...I wanted to say that can u make a tutorial based on text transforming into sand.
Imran Khan
13 years ago
Super, Awesome, Excellent, Mind blowing, Cool Effect.
13 years ago
Funny how most people seem to not read the entry, claiming that VCP made this video even though it is stated that it was the work of Serge Mustu... Anyhow, it was a very clever use of Element!
voltz
13 years ago
Hi Andrew, I really want to have this Element 3D plug-in. Since the day you announced it. And I already have the budget. But I think I need to upgrade and buy a new video card like GTX 580. The thing is I'm not sure if my motherboard(Z68MA-D2H-B3) will match the GTX580. I'm working in a production company and our I.T. guys here are not sure if the GTX580 will run smoothly with my motherboard because the specs of the GTX580 is too high for my board. I hope you or your team can help. Or somebody out there can give your opinion. I really appreciate it. Thanks a lot.
-Already post this issue at the VC forum but no answer yet.
Tomi_si
13 years ago
you should be fine whit your Moterbord. Couse it suports PCI xpress x16. Sorry but your it guys schould be able to finde it out whit googling it.
voltz
13 years ago
thanks Tomi_si!
voltz
13 years ago
Coool!!!! as always.
Nikolaus
13 years ago
Hey Guys

This video isn't from Video Copilot. It's from Serge Mustu. Great work!
Farshad
13 years ago
Are you sure ?
Nikolaus
13 years ago
Lol, yes Look at the left up corner... Can you read?
Orhan
13 years ago
He was poking fun at you. Andrew mentions Sege in his post.
13 years ago
and yet, many, many people didn't get that this was made by someone else!
Farshad
13 years ago
Oh yes Nikolaus , i see it now , thanks
JOHN RONALD
13 years ago
You WORKS Always Awesome Dude.
Mariano
13 years ago
Hey guys, I bought Element and love it - but there are a few feature suggestions I would like to make - I didn`t find a specific thread in the forum...does anyone know if it exists?
Benjamin Oluwatoyin
13 years ago
Whao! this is soooooooo coolllll....
13 years ago
You guys at Video Copilot did such a great job on Element 3D. I hope that you make a lot of sales!
Praveen Juge
13 years ago
nothing's impossible!!
Emil Smedius
13 years ago
It's probably using the transform plugin from greyscale gorilla, looks neat!
Ian
13 years ago
Why would Andrew use a Greyscale Gorilla plug in to advertise his own product??? It's obviously made with Element 3D!
Farshad
13 years ago
how much volume is this clip in HD quality ?
efflam
13 years ago
SO coolish, i want some VFX examples!
Farshad
13 years ago
Very Good ?? Neon become Lights , thanks
Byron
13 years ago
Another SWEET video by videocopilot
13 years ago
this is by Serge Mustu... so perhaps "Another SWEET video by videocopilot plug ins!"
Byron
13 years ago
Yes yes, exactly. I feel like an idiot. I just clicked the video and didn't read the comment. Great job Serge Mustu.