ALL DESIGN TOOLS
149. Solar Atmosphere
• Create a powerful sun effect in After Effects
• No 3rd Party Plug-ins Required.
• No 3rd Party Plug-ins Required.
Posted on Apr 23, 2014
591,014
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Advanced 3D Light Rays
Create 3D Light Rays inside After Effects
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Shockwaves!
Create a powerful shockwave effect without 3rd party tools
31:00
Solar Atmosphere
Create a powerful sun effect in After Effects
24:30
3D Replicator
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TUTORIAL NOTES:
value+lookAt(thisComp.activeCamera.toWorld([0,0,0]),position)[0]
value+lookAt(thisComp.activeCamera.toWorld([0,0,0]),position)[1]
value+lookAt(thisComp.activeCamera.toWorld([0,0,0]),position)[2]
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130 Comments
Richard Oliver
5 years ago
Hello, quick question... If I want to have the sun over another lighter background layer like a daytime video, how would I do that? I'm at the colorization part (18:55) and the whole comp is being colorized when using the curves adjustment effect.
Kate
5 years ago
I'm kind of new to this so apologize, I feel like this is a simple shortcut command I'm missing. At 22:40 he hits a key and makes the axis arrows appear over the fire element to move it around. How do you make these arrows appear?
GABRIELLA KROUSANIOTAKIS
5 years ago
Amazing! NASA quality! Just went through this and used the VR Color Vibrance and it looks insane. Thanks Andrew!
Kata
6 years ago
Hey,
my expressions that I copy exactly dont seem to work, I get the error message saying "this is not a function" :/ does anyone know how to fix this?
my expressions that I copy exactly dont seem to work, I get the error message saying "this is not a function" :/ does anyone know how to fix this?
Sandjah
7 years ago
i put a polar coördinates on the torch comp so i could make the flame effect for a round globe in case anybody is interested
Hrant
8 years ago
My Glow Layer is not getting oriented towards Camera...
I click on it and hit transform and auto-oriented and then choose towards Camera but nothing changes...
anyone had this problem and can help?
I click on it and hit transform and auto-oriented and then choose towards Camera but nothing changes...
anyone had this problem and can help?
Wamala Alfred
8 years ago
I am just grateful for the tutorials, I am just starting this thing of animation but this web is building me up on a highest speed that now I can do more than enough a beginner can do. I won't forget Andrew, you are the best and your team.
But can I get also a website where I can get video tutorials teaching 3D Max?
Any one please can help me with that if you know any
But can I get also a website where I can get video tutorials teaching 3D Max?
Any one please can help me with that if you know any
Richard Duncan
8 years ago
I love this tutorial but I'm having a couple of problems and would appreciate any help.
I went for the full star map instead of just the crest but the torch layer is moving up instead of out from the center. I want it to radiate out. Any tips?
The other is that I wanted to make the BG layer a real image from astronomers but the adjustment layers affect the color of the background and I want to isolate the BG Real layer from any adjustments.
This is for a design project in a astrophysics course and I'd love any suggestions.
I went for the full star map instead of just the crest but the torch layer is moving up instead of out from the center. I want it to radiate out. Any tips?
The other is that I wanted to make the BG layer a real image from astronomers but the adjustment layers affect the color of the background and I want to isolate the BG Real layer from any adjustments.
This is for a design project in a astrophysics course and I'd love any suggestions.
Tim
8 years ago
Hi Andrew tried tutorial 149 and with cs3 and cs5 I get errors when trying to use expressions. what gives??
SPARTACUS
9 years ago
Hi Andrew,
Could it be there are one or two Video Copilot/Heavy Metal fans out there?
Could it be there are one or two Video Copilot/Heavy Metal fans out there?
Lee
9 years ago
Question at video mark 9:23 how did you scale the layer down what shortcut key? Thanks for all your amazing tutorials
cosmoLV
9 years ago
More and more we can see a production class tutorials and technics - pleasure to watch! 
Marco Reale
10 years ago
I hate you! 
I didn't know about the orientation part for CC Sphere of this video and I needed it two weeks ago and I realized it manually with a lot of expression between sequences
Well, I'm proud about myself but this one is really easier to do.
Thanks a lot as usual.
Marco.
I didn't know about the orientation part for CC Sphere of this video and I needed it two weeks ago and I realized it manually with a lot of expression between sequences
Well, I'm proud about myself but this one is really easier to do.
Thanks a lot as usual.
Marco.
Mike M
10 years ago
Hi Andrew!! I loved this, it really put my gears in motion and taught this old dog some new tricks... now what would it take to get a quick hint or tut on how to do this like you mentioned in Element? I am just now trying to learn it and have an idea where to start but not sure if I am right! Thank you!
Bloodangel123
10 years ago
You should make a tutorial on the flaming mockingly symbol from Hunger Games. I'm not sure if that's all in After Effects or not, so let me know.
Bloodangel123
10 years ago
You should make a tutorial on the flaming mockingly symbol from Hunger Games. I'm not sure if that's all in After Effects or not, so let me know.
Sissy
10 years ago
Hey Mr. Kramer,
first of all: Really cool stuff you make!
And then: How about an electric orb and a water orb?
You know, you need them. You already have fire, light and glas.
So now, you need water and electric.
Kind regards from Germany,
Sissy
first of all: Really cool stuff you make!
And then: How about an electric orb and a water orb?
You know, you need them. You already have fire, light and glas.
So now, you need water and electric.
Kind regards from Germany,
Sissy
Shan King Khan
10 years ago
How to put text in this layer sorry but i don't know i just downloaded project file please help me
Bluecatz
10 years ago
I'm using the latest version of AE, CC 2014. Right from the start, some of the settings displayed within the Fractal Noise effect aren't the same. For instance, under type, there isn't an option for dynamic. Am I doing something incorrectly, or has the software changed that much?
Jonathan
10 years ago
when i dupliacte my glow later and put it above it wont apear above, but apeared behind the sphere object, so then i can not make a inner glow effect. help anyone?
Ana Robles
10 years ago
Thanks a lot for sharing.
Thanks for not to be afraid of teaching others... you know the most valuable on this is the one you can't tech, your own art and creativity and yours is wonderful.
Thanks for not to be afraid of teaching others... you know the most valuable on this is the one you can't tech, your own art and creativity and yours is wonderful.
Mario
10 years ago
Hi,
first of all, Mr. Andrew Kramer. Wow! Thank you for the brilliant tutorial.A question to you all:
I have an old Quadro4000 (2 GB GDDR5 RAM, 256 CUDA Cores)
The GPU has "3D Klassic" logic as just bored at the setting for the 4 were CPU cores (8 virtual) operating at full capacity (100%) "149. Solar Atmosphere" worked for me 14 min. 31 seconds lasted. From Adobe Creative Suite 5.5, the GPU is also supported. I use the Adobe Creative Suite 6 and happens in After Effects with the GPU almost nothing. How can that be? The settings are made in Ray Tracing on GPU. The graphics card supports CUDA and OpenGL 2.1.2. When setting a render: Is it even on Classic3D Save as h264 to 8.81 Mbit / s Max 11.72 Mbit / s and Ray-Traced 3D (27 min 48 seconds - Samples pro Frame : 8 ) and adaptive threshold for samples: 24, The ray-tracing quality: 5, smoothing filter: Box
The question that I just point it because what brings a new quality graphics card to buy or rather a stronger CPU? Because if I have to stand Classic3D, then I'm the one with the faster CPU than the GPU. Here I also Raytraced3D, then I need to a longer and the result is not much better, but rather worse. I simply look bad in the transitions gradients.
Now my question to you all:
1.) What graphics card and what CPU you use?
2.) How long did you use for "149. Solar Atmosphere" calculated?
Once in Classic3D and once in Raytraced3D as with my settings?
3.) What graphics card would you recommend me?
4.) A Happy New Year 2015!
first of all, Mr. Andrew Kramer. Wow! Thank you for the brilliant tutorial.A question to you all:
I have an old Quadro4000 (2 GB GDDR5 RAM, 256 CUDA Cores)
The GPU has "3D Klassic" logic as just bored at the setting for the 4 were CPU cores (8 virtual) operating at full capacity (100%) "149. Solar Atmosphere" worked for me 14 min. 31 seconds lasted. From Adobe Creative Suite 5.5, the GPU is also supported. I use the Adobe Creative Suite 6 and happens in After Effects with the GPU almost nothing. How can that be? The settings are made in Ray Tracing on GPU. The graphics card supports CUDA and OpenGL 2.1.2. When setting a render: Is it even on Classic3D Save as h264 to 8.81 Mbit / s Max 11.72 Mbit / s and Ray-Traced 3D (27 min 48 seconds - Samples pro Frame : 8 ) and adaptive threshold for samples: 24, The ray-tracing quality: 5, smoothing filter: Box
The question that I just point it because what brings a new quality graphics card to buy or rather a stronger CPU? Because if I have to stand Classic3D, then I'm the one with the faster CPU than the GPU. Here I also Raytraced3D, then I need to a longer and the result is not much better, but rather worse. I simply look bad in the transitions gradients.
Now my question to you all:
1.) What graphics card and what CPU you use?
2.) How long did you use for "149. Solar Atmosphere" calculated?
Once in Classic3D and once in Raytraced3D as with my settings?
3.) What graphics card would you recommend me?
4.) A Happy New Year 2015!
Bruce
11 years ago
What is that song in the background at the begining and end of this tutorial.
Thanks
Thanks
brandon
11 years ago
can you set the default video sound to like 25-30% instead of 75%? it's loud MAN! lol thanks.
KC
11 years ago
I'm wondering if any one knows how to create an actual star instead of the top half of one? Just trying to figure that out
rj
11 years ago
I cant get pass the camera control part how do I get the note pad thing to come up for the expressions. I tried typing them in but wont work
Ed
11 years ago
Awesome tutorial! For those having problems with the Glow layer, take a look at this video and it'll explain everything you need to know as to why your glow layer is showing up IN FRONT of your Star Map layer. http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/tutorials/understanding-2d-and-3d-layer-order-in-after-effects/
Ekram
11 years ago
I can't get past where you make the elipsis glow thing. Everytime I do it the planet wont show.
Paola
11 years ago
Thank you so much for this amazing amazing tutorial! Your are great and I love all your work!!
Josh
11 years ago
For some reason, the Glow layer does not show behind the star map layer when I set it to Orient towards camera. Any advice?
hamoudi
11 years ago
hi andrew can you do a tutorial about amazigh logo (you fin it on google images)....thanks man.
Cornelius E Jordan
11 years ago
Hey Andrew when I made the first white solid a 3D layer it did not turn my elliptical mask all white. Help?
Me
11 years ago
I need someone to make me this thing. I want the effects, audio and the text. I will pay you through Paypal or what ever works for you. Email me.
persian_jigar123@yahoo.com
persian_jigar123@yahoo.com
Cindi
11 years ago
Hey Andrew,
Thanks for your awesome tutorial! I create this solar atmosphere effect for our upcoming game project"Lost In Nazca". As a producer and new bee of AE, feel pretty cool to create such effect.
We purchased Motion Pulse sound FX. It's going to be a plus to have these sound FX in our game, or in any other projects.
We really like your solar atmosphere tutorial sound FX. Which sounds did you use for this piece.
Thanks!
Thanks for your awesome tutorial! I create this solar atmosphere effect for our upcoming game project"Lost In Nazca". As a producer and new bee of AE, feel pretty cool to create such effect.
We purchased Motion Pulse sound FX. It's going to be a plus to have these sound FX in our game, or in any other projects.
We really like your solar atmosphere tutorial sound FX. Which sounds did you use for this piece.
Thanks!
Gregory Birger
11 years ago
Hey Man! (Andrew that is) Thanks so much for making such incredible tutorials! You're the reason I know how to use AE!
Brian
11 years ago
Hi, my name is Brian and I have a Video Copilot addiction. Thanks for the amazing tutorials and products. I have been messing around with these tutorials for a few years now. Anyway Because of the many new products recently I couldn't stop myself and I threw this together yesterday. http://youtu.be/YNcgxlepROE
Thank you!
Thank you!
Steve
11 years ago
Andrew and crew - Love ALL your tutorials - One question with "Solar Atmosphere", when I create the STAR MAP COMP I'll go to make it 3-D it disappears. I'm sure it's something simple, but I just can't get past this point.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Bjilla
11 years ago
my frame rate keeps slowing down so i can't preview the video well, i don't think its my specs
specs:
AMD Radeon HD 8650
8gb RAM
AMD A10-5750 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics (4 CPUs),
2.5Ghz
Windows 8, 64 bit
specs:
AMD Radeon HD 8650
8gb RAM
AMD A10-5750 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics (4 CPUs),
2.5Ghz
Windows 8, 64 bit
vegard
11 years ago
Great tutorial
Will there be a follow up tutorial, covering how to do this in Elements 3D? I´ve added the Star Map as the Custom Layers Mask, but I do get the same result as CC Sphere.
Thank you
Will there be a follow up tutorial, covering how to do this in Elements 3D? I´ve added the Star Map as the Custom Layers Mask, but I do get the same result as CC Sphere.
Thank you
francoisgfx
11 years ago
Nice tutorial.
quick note though, the fact that your are working in 32bits is not the reason you should use Add as a blending mode. Actually because you are dealing with light (fire) you should always use Add no matter the bit depth (8, 16, 32).
But if you use Add, you should work in linear color space (maybe with sRGB workspace since your are producing for the web)
cheers,
F.
quick note though, the fact that your are working in 32bits is not the reason you should use Add as a blending mode. Actually because you are dealing with light (fire) you should always use Add no matter the bit depth (8, 16, 32).
But if you use Add, you should work in linear color space (maybe with sRGB workspace since your are producing for the web)
cheers,
F.
Erwann Masson
11 years ago
Hey guys! Here is what I obtain with this wonderful tutorial:
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img836/9229/uyoo.png
I need your help because my solar "atmosphere" is not as bright as Andrew's one, even modifying contrast and brightness of Fractal Noise layers in the Star Map composition... And because I'm using CS5, I can't open Andrew's project.
Please, help me if you know how to improve this point.
Thank you guys, and thank you Andrew Kramer and Video Copilot to bring us such great tutorials and products!
Erwann, from France.
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img836/9229/uyoo.png
I need your help because my solar "atmosphere" is not as bright as Andrew's one, even modifying contrast and brightness of Fractal Noise layers in the Star Map composition... And because I'm using CS5, I can't open Andrew's project.
Please, help me if you know how to improve this point.
Thank you guys, and thank you Andrew Kramer and Video Copilot to bring us such great tutorials and products!
Erwann, from France.
Logan
11 years ago
Hi Andrew
i love your tutor very much, it help me a lot in AE.
Well i have some problem when i doing it, how to have the "expression Rotate" after i open a CCsphere in rotation X, Y and Z? just stop there, should i download some things first? thank you
i love your tutor very much, it help me a lot in AE.
Well i have some problem when i doing it, how to have the "expression Rotate" after i open a CCsphere in rotation X, Y and Z? just stop there, should i download some things first? thank you
???
11 years ago
Hey Andrew!
Please tell me how to download the tutorial.
I am a 15-year-old Chinese boy
I very like AE and MAYA, but I am not good at using it
Can you help me
Thanks
Please tell me how to download the tutorial.
I am a 15-year-old Chinese boy
I very like AE and MAYA, but I am not good at using it
Can you help me
Thanks
Abalam Anderson
11 years ago
Hey Andrew!
Please help me. I'm stuck at 10:30.
When you say to right click the ' Glow ' and transfor it so it's facing the camera, I do that and it doesn't do anything ? Literally ?
Btw, I'm using cs4.
Thank you for anyone's help!
Please help me. I'm stuck at 10:30.
When you say to right click the ' Glow ' and transfor it so it's facing the camera, I do that and it doesn't do anything ? Literally ?
Btw, I'm using cs4.
Thank you for anyone's help!
Daniel
11 years ago
Can you help me please HOW DO I GET FROM FRAMES TO SECONDS LIKE YOU ANDREW!?!?!?!
Zafar
11 years ago
yeah that is great but i love the motion pulse trailer andrew if you make a tutorail on that that will be alot help ful thax for all your hard work man...
Ryan C. Reed
11 years ago
@ Mateo fairly sure he'd be under a non disclosure if he were working on it. The guy's a genius I'd be surprised if he were not involved in some fashion.
Mateo Sedano
11 years ago
Hey ANDREEEW!! please answer me this!! it's BURNING IN MY SOUUL!! are you going to particiate in JJ ABRAMS' STAR WARS film?!!?!?!?!?
PLEAAAAAAAASE SAY YEEES!!
PLEAAAAAAAASE SAY YEEES!!
JMan
11 years ago
For some reason I am struggling with the expression.
Have not struggled before. For the life of me I can not figure it out.
Maybe my eyes are poor.
Have not struggled before. For the life of me I can not figure it out.
Maybe my eyes are poor.
Van
11 years ago
Great tutorial! I am definately wanting to see how this would be possible utilizing Element 3D and some objects.
Great tips and tricks with F-Noise.
Great tips and tricks with F-Noise.
Anton
11 years ago
Hi Andrew, please make tutorial how to make a realistic tornado)))) trying to do Houdini did not understand how to render)))) did in FumeFX turns bad))
Dr_Stef
11 years ago
I Made this with it after seeing the tutorial.
(Srry no sound)
http://youtu.be/7B5LQg-z9wg
I Love the possibilities with some of these techniques
(Srry no sound)
http://youtu.be/7B5LQg-z9wg
I Love the possibilities with some of these techniques
E11World
11 years ago
This is why this site is THE best (and GreyScaleGorilla guys) for VFX tuts. High quality tutorials with a good amount of extra info and sense of humor. Always love what you bring Andrew and your products help everyone so much. God bless you!
Jamie
11 years ago
Probably a silly mistake, But I'm stuck at 10:22, I can't seem to get the white solid behind the Star Map layer... What did I do wrong and am doing wrong? Any help would be great! Thanks
WilliamWeng
11 years ago
How you can make the Glow perfectly attach to the sphere? I tried several times and there is always a gap between the glow and the sphere.
chrisl70
11 years ago
Merci Beaucoup pour tous vos tuto et plugin super sympa a des prix abordable
Merci infiniment
Bien le bonjour de france
Merci infiniment
Bien le bonjour de france
Brian L.
11 years ago
thanks yet again for an awesome tutorial, AK. I'm proud to be a Vitamin D deficient follower!
Ray
11 years ago
It would be awesome if you can make a second part to this tutorial showing how you did the element 3D version of this effect.
MT
11 years ago
Hey Andrew and awesome tutorial. I was a little disappointed with the skin-cancer joke though..
SPARTACUS
11 years ago
This is so inspiring! I figured fractal noise and CC Sphere were the starting points but the depths of detail used to achieve this final movie is outstanding. Lovely touch at the end with the exposure effect. Icing on the cake. Many thanks for keeping the fire burning….
Majd
11 years ago
you are insanely WOW!! MAN
I love how you use all the simple stuff to create something crazy!!
btw, I know my name is kinda weird XP
anyways thanks very much for your tutorials
I love how you use all the simple stuff to create something crazy!!
btw, I know my name is kinda weird XP
anyways thanks very much for your tutorials
Phil Lister
11 years ago
Great tutorial! One thing...can't get the expressions to work. Can you post them, so they can be copied and pasted. I keep checking, but no matter what, they won't work. I get a warning. I am using CS5, does that affect them?
Shawn
11 years ago
This is fantastic, and I love the little bit that wasn't edited out around 26:30 
A little insight into the effort it takes to get these tutorials just right!
A little insight into the effort it takes to get these tutorials just right!
Mike
11 years ago
Andrew this is an amazing tutorial. I learned so many great techniques I had no idea about. Thank you so much.
Fatphilly
11 years ago
This tutorial is HOT! Not as hot as Andrew in yoga pants, but still pretty hot.
