ALL DESIGN TOOLS
95. Scene Re-Lighting
• Use normal-map to relight 3d scenes in AE
• Advanced lighting, reflection & Refraction
• Advanced lighting, reflection & Refraction
Posted on Aug 28, 2009
TUTORIAL NOTES:
No information available at this time.
246 Comments
Kate
10 years ago
This plug-in only works up to CS6. Is there anything else that will work with normal maps for cc versions of AE?
Ramses
11 years ago
were are all the tuts i use some as reference when i can remember something in particular... ?
Nate
12 years ago
BlurryPixel's Pixelcloud plugin also offers a relighting workflow although it does come with a price tag. there is a technique to utilise normal passes in AE however you will not be able to control it or animate it via the lights but rather through a colour mixer channel(photoshop technique) and therefore will not be as versatile as Normality. Pixelcloud is awesome but the pipeline for relighting is not as elegant as normality - the plus with pixelcloud, u can generate 3D motion graphics with depth maps - make your 2D images semi 3D. not 2.5D, not fully blown 3D, just semi 3D 
heres a promo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TV87pFtVEk
heres a promo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TV87pFtVEk
Ryan
12 years ago
Normality is no longer available 
The developer had philosophical differences with the shift to Creative Cloud. Does anybody know of an alternative to this plugin?
The developer had philosophical differences with the shift to Creative Cloud. Does anybody know of an alternative to this plugin?
Awesome Man
12 years ago
I just wanted to point out that it is actually kind of realistic that the light was on the wrong side of the water droplet thingy (That's a technical term). Because water refracts light, the brightest part of a drop is the part that is farthest from the light source. Where the light is pointing, the water refracts light away, and it is actually darker. Here is and example.
http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_564/129222458416uEsr.jpg
http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_564/129222458416uEsr.jpg
phil
13 years ago
"We don't actually want to look at it, we just want it to be there... That's exactly what my wife said to me the other day."
Manjunath
13 years ago
hey Andrew..thanks a lot for normality....ur awesome...am learing many things from u apart from my classes...thnks a lot...
YLEFURE
13 years ago
HELP PLEASE, i made my own blob in cinema 4d, when i use the 3d channel extractor it shows me my normal map but it adds a black background. HELP
Tessa
13 years ago
Hello Andrew!...I desperately need to create this drop, but the drop supplied in the project files can not be imported into after effects. It comes up with the message 'cannot be imported- this .mov file is damaged or unsupported'. How can I get my blob! please help!
Thank you
Thank you
Stefanos
13 years ago
I cannot download the normality plugin.. i dont know why.. seems the page is not working.
Thank u teacher for the free lessons
Thank u teacher for the free lessons
Furqan
14 years ago
i want know about the channel ID like logo animation and more images are included.. with the help of 3d max and after effect,,, so pl make some tutoril on it.... and give some example.. May God Bless you
supun lankage
14 years ago
Thanks for this great tutorials! so........thank y.......................................................................................................
Chet Tucker
14 years ago
Well, now I have to know what you talked about at the LA meeting, dude... ya big tease!
InfinityFire
14 years ago
Now the Normal map generator is available at the same site! For free! minning.de
mitchell
14 years ago
this stuff is great for learn more about after effects. I started doing kinetic typography, and now im doing this crazy stuff because of you and ur whole website. thank you very much!
Esteban
14 years ago
Dude, you are the best !!!!
Thanks for all this free tutorials !
Big hugs from Argentina !!!
Thanks for all this free tutorials !
Big hugs from Argentina !!!
Zaher
14 years ago
1000 word is not enough to thank you. you are the master 
thank you for this great tutorial
thank you for this great tutorial
samuel
14 years ago
good tutorials, I never seen this before you are a master 3d,
I'm learning with tutorials
thanks for your tutorial
I'm learning with tutorials
thanks for your tutorial
bcastello
15 years ago
Andrew,
Aside from the first few minutes, this is the most exciting thing I've seen in a LONG time. Could you add any further details about using Repousse objects to create normals? That way, the entire process could be done without needing a 3D program for modeling.
-bc
Aside from the first few minutes, this is the most exciting thing I've seen in a LONG time. Could you add any further details about using Repousse objects to create normals? That way, the entire process could be done without needing a 3D program for modeling.
-bc
Andrei Feheregyhazi
15 years ago
Ok great tutorial...but also great film Idea! Have you made it into a film yet? If not I might just have to steal it. That water blob...getting into all sorts of starting fires, raising a family...it has all the makings of an academy award winner.
Andrei
Andrei
Jc Stone
15 years ago
My name is Jc Stone. I come from the magic of China. I like Andrew's work very much. I will continue to monitor Andrew.
chainsawpenguin
15 years ago
"I don't want to get to technical" -- AK
To get very technical, a "normal" has a specific meaning in mathematics: it's a vector that is "orthogonal" to all of the vectors in the plane.
So, what the heck does THAT mean?
Imagine a dinner table. This is the surface, our plane. Within the dinner table, there are lots of vectors, going from one point on the table to another point. There are, in fact, infinitely many of these.
To create a normal, we have to produce a vector that is orthogonal to ALL of these infinite vectors.
On the dinner table, we set a candlestick. This is our normal vector. It's at a right angle to ("is orthogonal to" the entire plane.
So a normal map picks up the surface and maps out all of the vectors that are at right angles (sticking straight out of) that surface. Curved surfaces, of course, will yield a lot more of these. Picture a firehose with lots of spikes sticking out of it; each one completely perpendicular to the point at which it's attached.
Let me know if there are any questions about this explanation, and hopefully it will help you understand what a normal map is a little more clearly!
To get very technical, a "normal" has a specific meaning in mathematics: it's a vector that is "orthogonal" to all of the vectors in the plane.
So, what the heck does THAT mean?
Imagine a dinner table. This is the surface, our plane. Within the dinner table, there are lots of vectors, going from one point on the table to another point. There are, in fact, infinitely many of these.
To create a normal, we have to produce a vector that is orthogonal to ALL of these infinite vectors.
On the dinner table, we set a candlestick. This is our normal vector. It's at a right angle to ("is orthogonal to"
the entire plane.So a normal map picks up the surface and maps out all of the vectors that are at right angles (sticking straight out of) that surface. Curved surfaces, of course, will yield a lot more of these. Picture a firehose with lots of spikes sticking out of it; each one completely perpendicular to the point at which it's attached.
Let me know if there are any questions about this explanation, and hopefully it will help you understand what a normal map is a little more clearly!
Photojunkie
15 years ago
Thanks for a great tut, have done a few of yours now and always exciting. Added some sound and messed with it a little, the orb came out really good.
Thanks again!
PJ
Thanks again!
PJ
Phyxsyus
15 years ago
i found a great open source normal map generator... with cuda enabled...
http://ssbump-generator.yolasite.com/
http://ssbump-generator.yolasite.com/
Lucas Kuhn
15 years ago
The new campaingn:
Oscar of best actor for Andrew Kramer!
Thanks Andrew, always a good way to pass time! Learning at Video Copilot, and listening the Andrew jokes!
Nice way you use to explain, and very nice effect! I never think that 3d lights could be so realistic at a 2d program! You're the man!
Oscar of best actor for Andrew Kramer!
Thanks Andrew, always a good way to pass time! Learning at Video Copilot, and listening the Andrew jokes!
Nice way you use to explain, and very nice effect! I never think that 3d lights could be so realistic at a 2d program! You're the man!
Jeremy
15 years ago
sorry i fixed my last problem i just mixed up twist and not sorry but i am curios what happened in the LA meeting?
Jeremy
15 years ago
adrew kramer is awsum but there is one thing that i find annoying when you download the project you cant just open the project and the names are diffrent wich makes it hard to follow along to in the tutorial
Michael K
15 years ago
looks like the technique used in the terminator.
It is pretty sweet though, for movie FX anyway.
It is pretty sweet though, for movie FX anyway.
Rob
15 years ago
Andy,
Rob again...I figured out the problem. There were two actually. In case anyone has the same problems I did, which made me pull most of my hair out:
First if you are using CS4, you will need to download the plug in to export AE projects for CS4, which you can get from Maxon's Website.
You will also need to check the "All frames" (duhhhhhh) button in the render settings. I only had "current frame" selected and didn't realize it. I came really close to throwing a coffee cup through my iMac! Anyway, problem solved and thanks again for the great tutorials on here!
Rob again...I figured out the problem. There were two actually. In case anyone has the same problems I did, which made me pull most of my hair out:
First if you are using CS4, you will need to download the plug in to export AE projects for CS4, which you can get from Maxon's Website.
You will also need to check the "All frames" (duhhhhhh) button in the render settings. I only had "current frame" selected and didn't realize it. I came really close to throwing a coffee cup through my iMac! Anyway, problem solved and thanks again for the great tutorials on here!
Rob
15 years ago
Andrew, I have been watching all your tutorials and learning a ton about AE, which I just started using. I have a question though:
I watched this tutorial and another I think from here or maybe somewhere else, (I don't remember. it's late and I'm tired) but anyway, I am trying to figure out how to bring in an animated 3D object from C4D and add the shininess and reflection like you did to the "liquid glob thing" in this tutorial.
I am having trouble figuring out how to do multi pass renderings to multi-layer files from C4D. Don't suppose you can help or at least point me in the right direction? It's driving me nuts. Only thing I can figure is to do each frame individually and that is just too much for me to deal with, in terms of what I am trying to accomplish.
Thanks in advance for any assistance and also for all the great tutorials here on your site.
Rob
I watched this tutorial and another I think from here or maybe somewhere else, (I don't remember. it's late and I'm tired) but anyway, I am trying to figure out how to bring in an animated 3D object from C4D and add the shininess and reflection like you did to the "liquid glob thing" in this tutorial.
I am having trouble figuring out how to do multi pass renderings to multi-layer files from C4D. Don't suppose you can help or at least point me in the right direction? It's driving me nuts. Only thing I can figure is to do each frame individually and that is just too much for me to deal with, in terms of what I am trying to accomplish.
Thanks in advance for any assistance and also for all the great tutorials here on your site.
Rob
tom
16 years ago
take a look at my screenshot as addition to the last post:
http://tenji.de/max.jpg
best
tom
http://tenji.de/max.jpg
best
tom
tom
16 years ago
great tutorial! thx!
but there is a better way to create nice, clean normal passes in 3ds max.. using mental ray...
just change the type from 0 to 2 in occlusion/reflective rollout
but there is a better way to create nice, clean normal passes in 3ds max.. using mental ray...
just change the type from 0 to 2 in occlusion/reflective rollout
Hat
16 years ago
This is probably one of the most complex tutorials ever. But the result is most definitely outstanding.
Hans Christian
16 years ago
Damn I love your stories Andrew! And thanks a lot for providing the way most exciting AE tutorials!
Roel
16 years ago
Stefan Minning added a normal map generator plugin to his website 'generator' very handy!!!
Bruno
16 years ago
Great tutorial. Great software to normality. Thanks a lot for sharing this knowlegde. I would love if you make a tutorial on the Toon features of normality.
Thanks.
Thanks.
damon
16 years ago
Seems like a cool way to possibly create a T-1000 effect from Terminator 2 or even The Invisible Woman effect in the recent(ish) Fantastic Four films
Nice Job Anyways!
Nice Job Anyways!
yunus
16 years ago
Hi guys my name is yunus from Kampala- Uganda in east africa, I love your tuts, i have seen one after agreat hustle becuase of the bad internet connections we have this side of the world, Im requesting if you can also provide tutorials in txt in plane images, that way, with our messed up internet, we can also have achance of learning from the pros.thx
Hithayathullah
16 years ago
IT`s a Good Think All Graphic Workers so Do more
projects and tutorial to us
projects and tutorial to us
sTEwii
16 years ago
Can u make a logo to for me??
I want it to stand "Dream pictures" and some cool effect.
Please send it to på Email : Smekarn_80@hotmail.com
I want it to stand "Dream pictures" and some cool effect.
Please send it to på Email : Smekarn_80@hotmail.com
Cruzin247
16 years ago
I am a new user of AE and i have to say all of the features displayed were so cool!!!
i will look into the basic tutorial being that im new but just wanting to say great tutorial and hopefully i will be at that kind of level when using AE in the not too distant future
i will look into the basic tutorial being that im new but just wanting to say great tutorial and hopefully i will be at that kind of level when using AE in the not too distant future
Joel
16 years ago
I completely agree. Imaginary friends are completely normal. Mine ride pink elephants that fly and squirt shiny bubbles out of their snouts 
Awesome work man. I usually render my fill lights separately, I can see this cutting my render times in half. Less time rendering, more instant control, my imaginary friends and I are very happy. Thanks dude.
Joel
Awesome work man. I usually render my fill lights separately, I can see this cutting my render times in half. Less time rendering, more instant control, my imaginary friends and I are very happy. Thanks dude. Joel
Heshan
16 years ago
Andrew...u are the best..no doubt...Goog Luck.
if u can please make tutorial"How To make Transforming Robot"
if u can please make tutorial"How To make Transforming Robot"
angel
16 years ago
THANKS A LOT. THIS TUT HELPED ME A LOT. I was able to create some sweet stuff thanks to this. U DA BOMB
Jonathan
16 years ago
You just rocked my world! I've recently been incorporating C4D in my mo-graph/compositing work and any level of lighting/refraction/texture sends my render time through the roof. Can't wait to incorporate this and have maximum flexibility post-C4D.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Carlos
16 years ago
Andrew me gustaria ver algunos tutoriales aun mas basicos que los que tienes aca, si fuera posible te lo agradeceria............
saludos
saludos
aaron
16 years ago
looks good can u make light sabers from it?(the tutorial seems to go on foreever)
Helmut Berga
16 years ago
Amazing tutorial Mr. Andrew, we like your site and your things. Also the favicon is fabulous! The V is for Video. Any Corel tutorial to come? Danke!
Derek
16 years ago
Hey great tutorial but, what ever happened to the Death Man lighting tutorial. I saw it in the blog from Febuary 2008, and it really looked awesome. Just wandering.
David Jara
16 years ago
Andrew
I have been a faithful tutorial follower for a long time. This is the most ABSURDLY AWESOME TUTORIAL you have ever made.
Many thanks!
I have been a faithful tutorial follower for a long time. This is the most ABSURDLY AWESOME TUTORIAL you have ever made.
Many thanks!
michael
16 years ago
hey andrew thanks very nice tutorial
lots of info and follow up but
cool saw how can I export from Cinema 4D to after effects?
wath kind of formats?
jpg or quick time or photoshop file
let me know
thanks
michael.
lots of info and follow up but
cool saw how can I export from Cinema 4D to after effects?
wath kind of formats?
jpg or quick time or photoshop file
let me know
thanks
michael.
DieuDesJeux.com
16 years ago
Hi Andrew ! I'm French and my english is pretty bad.
I just wanna thank you for this tuto. I understood every words you said...
Continue like that
Best Regards
I just wanna thank you for this tuto. I understood every words you said...
Continue like that
Best Regards
yos
16 years ago
Andrew you're great.
I would like to ask, is it possible to exract the velocity channel of an RPF rendred from 3ds max.
I used to work on combustion wich has this feature, and it was really great to make motion blur in very less time.
I would like to ask, is it possible to exract the velocity channel of an RPF rendred from 3ds max.
I used to work on combustion wich has this feature, and it was really great to make motion blur in very less time.
touffa
16 years ago
heyyy thnx for that... realy it's very usefull and it help to improve my skills on aftter effrct
Lou_
16 years ago
"my wife said the same thing" LMAO!!!!
Dude! wait til you see how I'm going to use what you taught in this tutorial!!! Sick!!!
You did some things in this tutorial that I don't think some people realize how it can be used!!!
wow!!!
maybe it's because this tut was "not very good" LOL!
that's actually the dumbest thing I have ever read my whole life! not to say how funny it was! LMAO!!!
Thanks AK!
Dude! wait til you see how I'm going to use what you taught in this tutorial!!! Sick!!!
You did some things in this tutorial that I don't think some people realize how it can be used!!!
wow!!!
maybe it's because this tut was "not very good" LOL!
that's actually the dumbest thing I have ever read my whole life! not to say how funny it was! LMAO!!!
Thanks AK!
VoxelCG
16 years ago
Great tutorial. BTW You can export as an RLA opposed to the RPF. It has a much smaller file size.
Cheers!
Cheers!
Davide
16 years ago
Very good tutorial, thanks for these clear explanation.
Bur I've got a question: my "normality channel" (the layer with the normality fx applied) appears to be shifted on the right once I turn on the overlay mode. There is a problem with the effect or i my fault?
thank you
Bur I've got a question: my "normality channel" (the layer with the normality fx applied) appears to be shifted on the right once I turn on the overlay mode. There is a problem with the effect or i my fault?
thank you
Emil
16 years ago
hi, awesome tutorial, one question, are you planning to make any basic tutorials for 3ds max? it would be really helpfull
DD
16 years ago
Hi Andrew, yet again a great and amazing tutorial.
But I was wondering if you knew and would find it interesting, in making a tutorial about adding real time reflection to a 3D object. I know you touch on it briefly in this one. but a more serious 3D object like a car driving on a street or smilar scene with precis recreation of reflection. I have nothing against that sweet family of blobs in this one?).. But I have been searching the net for tutorials on this matter, But have never come across one with live moving footage reflection. every time someone mention it, it is with a HDRI still images and then using that for lighting and reflection in the 3D programs. I have always be curios on how they do it "at the movies". SO is there anyone else that would find a tutorial on this subject awesome and helpful, if Andrew would do it?
Anyway Thanks for all the inspiring and helpful tutorials on this site. video Copilot rocks.!
Thanks
from a Dude in.
Northern Europe
But I was wondering if you knew and would find it interesting, in making a tutorial about adding real time reflection to a 3D object. I know you touch on it briefly in this one. but a more serious 3D object like a car driving on a street or smilar scene with precis recreation of reflection. I have nothing against that sweet family of blobs in this one?
).. But I have been searching the net for tutorials on this matter, But have never come across one with live moving footage reflection. every time someone mention it, it is with a HDRI still images and then using that for lighting and reflection in the 3D programs. I have always be curios on how they do it "at the movies". SO is there anyone else that would find a tutorial on this subject awesome and helpful, if Andrew would do it? Anyway Thanks for all the inspiring and helpful tutorials on this site. video Copilot rocks.!
Thanks
from a Dude in.
Northern Europe
Eugene Samold
16 years ago
just wanna tell u that i love your stuff... bought every package. love your work. and alos might wanna track this kid down Andrew...he is giving free products from video copilot..........here is his website.
http://www.youtube.com/forsakentutorials
http://www.youtube.com/forsakentutorials
Dancing Pumpkin
16 years ago
Hey, altough I really apreciate what you are doing and you've been doing this really well all the time.
I would recomend you to at least add a difficulty level or an annotation how long the video is going to be.
This would help beginners like me very much. Thank you for taking the time to read my comment.
greetings from germany
I would recomend you to at least add a difficulty level or an annotation how long the video is going to be.
This would help beginners like me very much. Thank you for taking the time to read my comment.
greetings from germany
Jason T
16 years ago
I love this feature thanks for not only presenting it at DMALA, but also for making a tutorial and multiple blog entries.
So, I understand this will work with what you have shown, but is it also correct to assume that you could use it for textured 3d models and not just flat surfaces like the wall.
Would you bump map your normal pass and layer it with your actual texture for that to work?
So, I understand this will work with what you have shown, but is it also correct to assume that you could use it for textured 3d models and not just flat surfaces like the wall.
Would you bump map your normal pass and layer it with your actual texture for that to work?
michael
16 years ago
hey Andrew thanks allot
saw is the normality plugin is it only for SC4 or does it work with
AE? saw in Cinema 4D how were I export a 3D model
to after effects? because I try many times but it recognize
it as 2D? do you think you could help me with Cinema 4D
saw is the normality plugin is it only for SC4 or does it work with
AE? saw in Cinema 4D how were I export a 3D model
to after effects? because I try many times but it recognize
it as 2D? do you think you could help me with Cinema 4D
Neo Gio
16 years ago
I really wanted to know how to make the blobs :/ But a good tutorial none the less, that plugin is amazing.
Jared
16 years ago
Wicked! Saw the first fifteen seconds of this and I've already decided to make use of this technique to help automate lighting in a short animated film I'm working on.
The set and character animation is all hand-painted (in Illustrator). I figure I can create normal maps for those elements pretty quick in Illustrator too, using a quick render of a normal-mapped sphere as a color palette, and with that I'm hoping to light my characters right in AE-- it's a tech puzzle I've been working on for several weeks. Thanks for all the great tips, and wish me luck!
The set and character animation is all hand-painted (in Illustrator). I figure I can create normal maps for those elements pretty quick in Illustrator too, using a quick render of a normal-mapped sphere as a color palette, and with that I'm hoping to light my characters right in AE-- it's a tech puzzle I've been working on for several weeks. Thanks for all the great tips, and wish me luck!
Braden Larsen
16 years ago
Hey I was wondering on that blob thing you imported at the end of the tutorial how did you render it as a .mov format and still have a normal?
Scott
16 years ago
Andrew, this was fantastic! I didn't think I'd be interested but it really roped me in. Last year I worked on a show that combined 2D animation and 3D animation and had I seen this tutorial back then it would have had a dramatic affect on the look of the show. Good work!
Nick Carvin
16 years ago
Yes, Cinema 4D can export a normal map pass with .rpf's.
Thanks Andrew, you've taught me so much.
Thanks Andrew, you've taught me so much.
Byrone
16 years ago
You gonna love me, hahaha
Here is a normal map generator for mac, and it works!!!!
http://www.smart-page.net/smartnormal/fl10.htm
OOOOh YeaH!
Thanks again for the wicked work Andrew!!
Here is a normal map generator for mac, and it works!!!!
http://www.smart-page.net/smartnormal/fl10.htm
OOOOh YeaH!
Thanks again for the wicked work Andrew!!
Justin
16 years ago
Thanks for such an informative tutorial. These are the ones I like best: when you cover detailed basic usage of a standard feature or compositing concept that can be applied to a vast number of projects.
franKrulA
16 years ago
oh this one was very usefull. i like it!!!
ofcourse there are some detail question.
are there some experiences for OS X open source normal generators?
ofcourse there are some detail question.
are there some experiences for OS X open source normal generators?
Rutger
16 years ago
Lol @ myu. guess you where in a pretty bad mood or you just need to follow the basic tutorials for AE... But don't say at anytime that AK's tutorials suck, cause then you need some serieus Basic Training lessons or just go somewhere else...
I haven't watched this one yet, but will do soon. I've already donwloaded the Normality Plugin and inserted into my folder, can't wait to start this one!
I haven't watched this one yet, but will do soon. I've already donwloaded the Normality Plugin and inserted into my folder, can't wait to start this one!
Alex
16 years ago
Quality of tutorials expression - (thisSite.AndrewKramer/eachNewLesson) (time 100)*2
In short excellent work and thanks for the years of great tutorials every increasing in their greatness!
In short excellent work and thanks for the years of great tutorials every increasing in their greatness!
Raul Sanabria
16 years ago
Hello Andrew... u're the greatest... but can u do a tutorial about RPF sequences (z depth, fog, id mattes etc...)
From Colombia whit love jajajaja
From Colombia whit love jajajaja
Jules
16 years ago
@Matthew Grunau
Stefan explains everything you could possibly want to know about Normality in his own in-depth tutorial on YouTube. Find it via his website http://www.minning.de
Cheers!
Stefan explains everything you could possibly want to know about Normality in his own in-depth tutorial on YouTube. Find it via his website http://www.minning.de
Cheers!
Morten Leirkjaer
16 years ago
Thanks 95 great tutorials!
I have a problem that is been bugging me for a while, Whenever I import a file made in after effects to Avid MC, the colors seems a bit "milky". I work on a mac, So I usually export as uncompressed Quicktime. What is the best way to export from AE to Avid ?
I have a problem that is been bugging me for a while, Whenever I import a file made in after effects to Avid MC, the colors seems a bit "milky". I work on a mac, So I usually export as uncompressed Quicktime. What is the best way to export from AE to Avid ?
amin 3d
16 years ago
holoo.i love you andrew.please tutorial morph: morph car to robot(movei transporter) pleaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssss andrew.
Marc
16 years ago
I don't want to be a smart ass and maybe it would take to long, but I think it could be helpful for many people if you show how to blur or maybe blur and sharpen the stuff, which you composite into footage.
Matthew Grunau
16 years ago
This is my new favorite tutorial. The amount of possibilities for practical purposes as well as VFX is staggering.
I hope it will work with Lightwave. Yes, some of us still use it. Yes, I am ashamed.
Andrew, in the last part of this with the blobby thing I noticed the reflections of the cab and trash can were backwards. Cab was on right, trash can on left. Is there a way to flip the reflection only, and not flip the object?
This reminds me of the underside of the ship in Phantom Menace as it was cruising over the desert. It wont work if the ship/blob is moving towards the camera or if the camera itself is moving in relation tot he object, but for a static shot, even one from the back of a truck where the object stays in place, this would work wonderfully. Again though, I think the reflection may need flipped on the horizontal.
Anyhow, a fantastic tutorial with tons and tons of applications and possibilities.
M
I hope it will work with Lightwave. Yes, some of us still use it. Yes, I am ashamed.
Andrew, in the last part of this with the blobby thing I noticed the reflections of the cab and trash can were backwards. Cab was on right, trash can on left. Is there a way to flip the reflection only, and not flip the object?
This reminds me of the underside of the ship in Phantom Menace as it was cruising over the desert. It wont work if the ship/blob is moving towards the camera or if the camera itself is moving in relation tot he object, but for a static shot, even one from the back of a truck where the object stays in place, this would work wonderfully. Again though, I think the reflection may need flipped on the horizontal.
Anyhow, a fantastic tutorial with tons and tons of applications and possibilities.
M
Hpozo
16 years ago
Bien fome el tutorial, el mas fome de la pagina, se nota que andas con poco tiempo.
Saludos y Suerte
Saludos y Suerte
Slappy Air Force
16 years ago
Love your site! We were really digging your tutorials at work, thought you might get a kick out of the fact that the government is now blocking them on their network! They got afraid we might learn too much!
Scotty2DopeMB
16 years ago
first and foremost.....i truly appreciate the work you do. i have purchased every product, except the bullet...sorry...but was more than pleased with every disc/download. i will continue to horde all your elements until you die. i simply love them. anyway...you prob get a lot of these...but i would love to see a depth charge of a tut about matching camera movement between cinema4D or 3DS, and aftereffects...if any expressions exist. thanks again, and for the love of pete, whoever pete may be....MAKE A FREAKIN MOVIE ALREADY!!!!
<A HREF="http://calimaneduard.x10hosting.com">eduardc_4d</A>
16 years ago
one question Andrew.....are the things you've shown us in this tutorial any similar to what you did to create the initial blob in the Fringe intro? i'm assuming you've created it in 3DStudio Max using Vray Renderer, could you give us some info on how to create that extraordinary scene, maybe in AE 
hehe? you're a myth to all of us
hehe? you're a myth to all of us
dobreffandras
16 years ago
That's a cool tut, but me wasn't very new, because a few weeks ago Maltaannon made a similar tutorial with his own plugin. It wasn't so long, but I've seen this first in that tutorial.
so guys check out his tutorial also:
http://maltaannon.com/
It's Youveelizer
I found Maltaannon's page on the VC blog, when Andrew showed us the 3d text
These guys are fantastic and they are helping us a lot!
Thanks Andrew and the other people who are making tutorials.
(And why don't you upload tuts on creativecow? I can see only what you a long time ago made.)
so guys check out his tutorial also:
http://maltaannon.com/
It's Youveelizer
I found Maltaannon's page on the VC blog, when Andrew showed us the 3d text
These guys are fantastic and they are helping us a lot!
Thanks Andrew and the other people who are making tutorials.
(And why don't you upload tuts on creativecow? I can see only what you a long time ago made.)
Hannes Paulsson
16 years ago
Indeed very interesting! When I was wathing it, i though, couldn't you use this to make som pretty cool fake-3D inside AE? I acually made a short tutorial about a thing i came up with.
Would be cool if you watched it.
http://www.videocopilot.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33
Would be cool if you watched it.
http://www.videocopilot.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33
Tamir
16 years ago
just wanted to confirm that, yes, with c4d you are able to include the normal map in your render. then you just extract surface normal in ae. great stuff!
AB
16 years ago
Brilliant tutorial Andrew Kramer.
I really love the humor. You certainly know how to make informative and compelling video tutorials.
I really love the humor. You certainly know how to make informative and compelling video tutorials.
Sergey Shkoda
16 years ago
I seriously laughed when I saw this comment in the movie "not very Good" )))
Thank you, Andrew! You give not only a lot of knowledge, but also to charge a good mood!
)))Thank you, Andrew! You give not only a lot of knowledge, but also to charge a good mood!
E. Drake
16 years ago
This is a decent tutorial... I have a question, Could you show how you would combine two different title sequences from your set seamlessly? (Without just cutting from one to another.)
Charles
16 years ago
Andrew,
I like twhat you've done with the particles in the upper banner of this page. Just wandering how did you manage to effect the trapcode particles with the normailty plug-in? (everytime I drag and drop the normality onto trapcode i get a blank screen.)
Help!!
C
I like twhat you've done with the particles in the upper banner of this page. Just wandering how did you manage to effect the trapcode particles with the normailty plug-in? (everytime I drag and drop the normality onto trapcode i get a blank screen.)
Help!!
C
Jay
16 years ago
Google is down right now, but at least Andrew Kramer is still going strong ! Thank God!
JnT Ent.
16 years ago
So hey, after seeing this, is it possible to wrap that footage in a world-like dome-ish fashion (which would probably be done in any 3D program?), export that into AE
ctx
16 years ago
man you got talent.. and humor nice.. thanks a lot for making the fx world more interesting..
nice.. thanks a lot for making the fx world more interesting..
BREATH
16 years ago
Greetings to Andrew,
Very interesting lesson, cognitive.
I have a question - unless to draw this drop (or this unit) in 3D Max not easier and in the same place to visualize? It is not required any sorcery with Normal Maps. In what of advantage of your way?
Thanks.
PS - Forgive for bad English (#%&!en translator)
Very interesting lesson, cognitive.
I have a question - unless to draw this drop (or this unit) in 3D Max not easier and in the same place to visualize? It is not required any sorcery with Normal Maps. In what of advantage of your way?
Thanks.
PS - Forgive for bad English (#%&!en translator)
james
16 years ago
haha!!!
"We don't need to see it, it just needs to be there..." awesome tutorials, love the jokes!!!
"We don't need to see it, it just needs to be there..." awesome tutorials, love the jokes!!!
Björn
16 years ago
FANTASTIC TUTORIAL !!!!
Thank you so much, for this.
Greetings from Germany.
Boelk
Thank you so much, for this.
Greetings from Germany.
Boelk
Derrmm
16 years ago
I found this tutorial extremely useful. I'm going to redesign my companies logo with this.
BTW, the video died on me at about 25min, right before he starts to make a new compositions of the New York scene.
BTW, the video died on me at about 25min, right before he starts to make a new compositions of the New York scene.
osama alchikh
16 years ago
very good tutorial it's really helpful , thank you very much
do you have more.....?
do you have more.....?
Jorge Escamilla
16 years ago
I follow your site closely, watching the tutorials as they come out and trying to emulate them in AE. I must say, this was one of the most entertaining -I cracked up a couple of times, and I'm sure the tips about using normal maps will come in handy for many projects.
Keep up the great work.
Keep up the great work.
ykwia
16 years ago
guys, what is normal map in 3ds? it makes the same work like rpf files, or there is an difference? or it is something completely different?
Julian
16 years ago
Win! I used this tutorial to amp things up a notch using a depth map from crazyBump and a normal map simultaneously. It produced realistic depth of field effects around the outside of my image, check it out!
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h274/Aeonhem/brick_M50-00-00-00.jpg
Obviously I'm a Windows buff
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h274/Aeonhem/brick_M50-00-00-00.jpg
Obviously I'm a Windows buff
JigglyWiggly
16 years ago
This is a 100% kickass product.
Once again my name is Rodney Reynolds and this has been another review, until next time take care.
Once again my name is Rodney Reynolds and this has been another review, until next time take care.
kelleymuro
16 years ago
Tutorial just skipped and went to the beginning right as you were applying the plugin to the blob example.
Charlie Brown
16 years ago
Extreme situation?...lol...I think it's pretty normal here!...and really sad! Well, this is my first comment ever since i started to wathing You in 2008.
So I would say : Thank GOD for Andrew....ohh but that wouldn't make sence cause God is only one!
And btw:
http://www.stream.cz/video/352025-minuta-sexu-charlie-brown
And there is gonna be an icon in top right corner for better quality
So I would say : Thank GOD for Andrew....ohh but that wouldn't make sence cause God is only one!
And btw:
http://www.stream.cz/video/352025-minuta-sexu-charlie-brown
And there is gonna be an icon in top right corner for better quality
laksjd
16 years ago
bit hasty at some points but there is just so much time and you've got a lot to tell, so I guess that is alright. We'll have to be kind and rewind (occasionally).
Love your little anecdotes! Have you ever read Terry Pratchett? You two share the same kind of humor!
Have a great weekend with said wife!
Bye,
Love your little anecdotes! Have you ever read Terry Pratchett? You two share the same kind of humor!
Have a great weekend with said wife!
Bye,
lahd
16 years ago
Thanks Andrew For your Every Tutorials and this tutorials is Very very very Nice than Others
. Thank You From Afghanistan Kabul.
. Thank You From Afghanistan Kabul.
Esteban
16 years ago
Andrew, i have to say it in this way:
S P E C T A C U L A R tutorial!!!!
Really, thanks for sharing it, by the way, at the end, when you talk about the blob family.. I began to laugh in a very crazy way... so my parents was in the kitchen and i hear that my mom says to my dad, "I think he really needs psychiatric help"..
I Just kidding, but i really began to laugh in a very crazy way!!
Greetings. E³.
S P E C T A C U L A R tutorial!!!!
Really, thanks for sharing it, by the way, at the end, when you talk about the blob family.. I began to laugh in a very crazy way... so my parents was in the kitchen and i hear that my mom says to my dad, "I think he really needs psychiatric help"..
I Just kidding, but i really began to laugh in a very crazy way!!
Greetings. E³.
peepeeland
16 years ago
Thanks for the great tutorial! Just one thing...: A waterblob like that would magnify light to the side opposite the light source, so instead of a darker part in the center of the shadow, there would be the magnified light in the center.
Prodat TV
16 years ago
VERY USEFULL
YOU ARE INSANE AK!!!!!
What a crazy thing IT'S AWESOOOOME
Sorry I'm speechless and Stefan are the best
I'm gonna trying to do this tuto with some music notes over my city!
What a %*#
YOU ARE INSANE AK!!!!!
What a crazy thing IT'S AWESOOOOME
Sorry I'm speechless and Stefan are the best
I'm gonna trying to do this tuto with some music notes over my city!
What a %*#
Phil Rey
16 years ago
Hey, great tutorial as always and funny, too...
BUT: can you add something like 'chapters' or 'sections' for different steps to choose in the player because I always have to watch more than one time to keep up with you.
Phil
BUT: can you add something like 'chapters' or 'sections' for different steps to choose in the player because I always have to watch more than one time to keep up with you.
Phil
James Wicks
16 years ago
I followed the tutorial exactly, but when I applied Normality, I got this error message: After Effects error, invalid filter.
CS3
OS X 10.5.8
PowerBook G4 1.67 GHz
2 Gig Ram
Anyone else get this?
Best,
J
CS3
OS X 10.5.8
PowerBook G4 1.67 GHz
2 Gig Ram
Anyone else get this?
Best,
J
Himesh Tanha
16 years ago
Thanks Andrew For your Every Tutorials and this tutorials is Very very very Nice than Others
. Thank You From Afghanistan Kabul.
. Thank You From Afghanistan Kabul.
Nic
16 years ago
Awesome, Andrew. Simply awesome. More of that sweet 3D/AE integration. Love from Sweden!
Cameron
16 years ago
What happens if you have two layers, with the reflection set to each other? Could you make a hall of mirrors?
Danny Commander RX
16 years ago
your tutorials are going to help me become rich!!!.. I truly apreciate what you guys are doing.
RX
RX
Chris Phillips
16 years ago
I've done years of After Fx stuff so I'm usually pretty hard to impress but this was off the hook. Nice work dude. I always find taking 3D renders and putting them into a comp a pain in the ass cos i always have to go back to the 3D program and change the lighting and tweak stuff. This is jaw droppingly convienient.
I always find taking 3D renders and putting them into a comp a pain in the ass cos i always have to go back to the 3D program and change the lighting and tweak stuff. This is jaw droppingly convienient.
MarkMayrProductions
16 years ago
great tutorial! covered alot!
but for some reason i just keep thinking that when your home alone editing a video you narrorate it like its a tutorial even when its not. and you talk yourself through the process. haha, i dont know why, but im pretty sure you do.
but for some reason i just keep thinking that when your home alone editing a video you narrorate it like its a tutorial even when its not. and you talk yourself through the process. haha, i dont know why, but im pretty sure you do.
chuckarama
16 years ago
Disappointing... I come for the tutorials, but I stay for the Sam. Couldn't you have just mapped Sam, turning him into a mimetic polyalloy, able to create knives and stabbing weapons? Now that would have been a sweet tutorial!
BLue DRagon
16 years ago
Hi, nice vid, just wondering, would your water blob really make a shadow? If it is transparent (ish)
procton2000
16 years ago
I liked it when you had the music coming in and out now and then during some tutorials instead of just having an intro and outro. It Sort of enphasized some moments who no one else would choose to enphasize! Underlining moments where nothing's really going on just gave it that unique special unpredictable flavour!...that's just too cool! ^___^
Anyhow...you're the man for sure.
Nuff respect!
Anyhow...you're the man for sure.
Nuff respect!
MakinaDesiqn
16 years ago
Woww.. nice one..
but did you even finished the tutorial ???
well watever. cool FXs
but did you even finished the tutorial ???
well watever. cool FXs
masters
16 years ago
check this
Andrew tutorials are great
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhGKm4PeN9w
Andrew tutorials are great
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhGKm4PeN9w
ptispielberg
16 years ago
hey! Andrew, i'm french, could you make a tutorial on modeling a ship or droid star wars plz? :s I'd love to make this, thanks
Lee
16 years ago
I was just thinking about Normal maps in After Effects only yesterday, but the normality site is under construction...
Iman
16 years ago
whats up man ? have you been fired?
you make a tutorial every day. thanks.
it's amazing man.
you make a tutorial every day. thanks.
it's amazing man.
Jamal Tamimi
16 years ago
Thank you Andrew you help thousand of people and open to them carrier doors
good jop man
thank you
Jamal from jordan ,,mideleast
good jop man
thank you
Jamal from jordan ,,mideleast
Grimpo
16 years ago
can't seem to get the plugin to behave the same way. and has anyone figured out how to use the nvidia plugin?
chinaBoy
16 years ago
thanks AK, you are great man. i watched your all tutorials , so i became a AE fans , best wish to you.
Shade
16 years ago
Hey everybody! FXDesigner from Turkey... Nice tut again Andrew, i feel myself lucky cuz i've been watching u for a while and learned a lot. Thanks...
Komutan2003
16 years ago
Hi Everybody!! From Turkey.
Thank you very much for your projects andrew.
You are perfect!!!!
Thank you very much for your projects andrew.
You are perfect!!!!
rishiinamdar
16 years ago
This was a fantastic tutorial really....
So many different techniques.....
Normal maps are not a new thing but you certainly don't get such a detailed tutorial anywhere else
So many different techniques.....
Normal maps are not a new thing but you certainly don't get such a detailed tutorial anywhere else
matt
16 years ago
Another great tutorial Andrew! Thanks.
Does anyone know of a decent Normal map generator for OS X as I've done the search as Andrew suggested and couldn't find anything decent for the mac that offers previewing and batch file conversion? Any help would be much appreciated.
Does anyone know of a decent Normal map generator for OS X as I've done the search as Andrew suggested and couldn't find anything decent for the mac that offers previewing and batch file conversion? Any help would be much appreciated.
Brian
16 years ago
Incredibly amazing! Thanks for another fantastic tutorial. I can't wait to try out the plug-in.
sgt. Lazarus
16 years ago
Your tutorial gave me an overwhelming feeling of reverence and admiration produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, and the like...
...Added to this a native English suffix formerly used in the formation of adjectives concludes me to say, that was awe...arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrg (transforming into the hulk) rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh), that was really...
...Cool (damn Americana strikes Again).
Just buy the DVD Man!
...Added to this a native English suffix formerly used in the formation of adjectives concludes me to say, that was awe...arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrg (transforming into the hulk) rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh), that was really...
...Cool (damn Americana strikes Again).
Just buy the DVD Man!
sgt. Lazarus
16 years ago
Pretty cool.
Hey Greatness, can you ban the word awesome from this site plz!
Its just that us brits spent nearly 2000 years refining the language (we cut off heads and stuff, it was wonderful) and this guy comes along, lets call him Sam, and he keeps trying to steal it!
'Dude thinks hes making Planet of The Apes on Youtube'.
Hey Greatness, can you ban the word awesome from this site plz!
Its just that us brits spent nearly 2000 years refining the language (we cut off heads and stuff, it was wonderful) and this guy comes along, lets call him Sam, and he keeps trying to steal it!
'Dude thinks hes making Planet of The Apes on Youtube'.
David R
16 years ago
@ Hey Nick T,
Maltaannon's preset is great for changing UV textures but Normality is for Relighting. They are very different but probably something that could be used together.
BTW, Normality is at version 3.1 and it has been available for over 2.5 years so I'm pretty sure it was available before maltaannon's preset
Maltaannon's preset is great for changing UV textures but Normality is for Relighting. They are very different but probably something that could be used together.
BTW, Normality is at version 3.1 and it has been available for over 2.5 years so I'm pretty sure it was available before maltaannon's preset
Nick T
16 years ago
The only thing i dont like is that this resembles Maltaannon's youveelizer plugin, and i think that came out before the normal plugin.
Warfy
16 years ago
Really interesting !
Thanks.
Have to try to create normal maps on photos to see the render. Guess it won't be a 'creating 3D from simple 2D shot' miracle but who knows...
Thanks.
Have to try to create normal maps on photos to see the render. Guess it won't be a 'creating 3D from simple 2D shot' miracle but who knows...
pera7
16 years ago
great stuff there . . . but you can do that for two minutes in 3d prog . . .
i cant wait to see 100's tutorial . . . who knows what is gone be !!!
i cant wait to see 100's tutorial . . . who knows what is gone be !!!
Geffen
16 years ago
Great tutorial, as usual. I was just wondering if you realized that instead of typing "BG" for the red background layer, you typed "GB"? keep up the great work.
keep up the great work.
Juan
16 years ago
Awesome as always you amaze me andrew, keep on blessing people like me with your amazing tutorials... greetings from PERÚ!!!!!
Miguel
16 years ago
You're the best, Andrew, keep it up!
And loving the random stories in your tutorials as always. xD
And loving the random stories in your tutorials as always. xD
Spencer
16 years ago
And we JUST finished making a huge stone wall like this for a film. *suicide*
Great job.
Great job.
FixMIx78
16 years ago
Hey Andrew,
this was a fantastic tutorial with a fantastic plug-in. You're starting to get a little bit hasty at some points but there is just so much time and you've got a lot to tell, so I guess that is alright. We'll have to be kind and rewind (occasionally).
Love your little anecdotes! Have you ever read Terry Pratchett? You two share the same kind of humor!
Have a great weekend with said wife!
Bye,
Fx
this was a fantastic tutorial with a fantastic plug-in. You're starting to get a little bit hasty at some points but there is just so much time and you've got a lot to tell, so I guess that is alright. We'll have to be kind and rewind (occasionally).
Love your little anecdotes! Have you ever read Terry Pratchett? You two share the same kind of humor!
Have a great weekend with said wife!
Bye,
Fx
