Vampire Dusting

[Rigby]

I was wondering if anyone here knows how to pull off a vampire dusting effect? I doubt that the effects you see in Blade or on Buffy are obtainable. But there are a lot of creative people on this site so I thought I would ask. I would be happy just turning them into a puff of dust. I have Vegas and After Effects but I am new to both. I welcome any suggestions and I thank you in advance.

[BLUESPIDER]

Do a google search on how particles work. Those dusting effects are done using particles. I'm sure that AE has some highend particle making plugins. I honestly can't tell you exactally how its done because I've never really went that far using particles. Good luck!

[Shaw]

Interesting. Do you have a screenshot you could post? I'm just not entirely sure what it is you are refering to.

[ArkhamFilms]

Here's what was used for Blade: Trinity

http://www.turbosquid.com/FullPreview/index.cfm/ID/236794

hope that helps.

-CJ

[logan3000]

Hey Rigby,

This requires a 3d package. The tutorial is written specifically for Lightwave. But the principles can most likely be applied another package. I haven't personally tried it in another package but, in the past, I have used tutorials written for one program and used it in another. The only downside is that you'll need a model of the person you're vaporizing. But a little extra smoke, some motion blur, and a good mask in your compositor should hide a low detail model. Anyway, here's the link. Sorry for the long response.

Link to final movie:
http://www.brederock.com/BladeFX_Tutorial/Content/BladeFX_by_BredeRock_Final.wmv

Link to Tutorial:
http://www.brederock.com/BladeFX_Tutorial/index_eng.html

[logan3000]

Rigby,

Not to be a know it all, but the effects for most TV shows are achievable on a high end home computer with the right software. If you'll find a 3d package and learn it, eventually you'll be doing things you thought were impossible. Just remember that even the big effects houses have may have several professionals working on a single shot for days or even weeks. So be patient with each scene and stay on it until you're happy.

Like Peter jJackson said "Pain is temporary..film is forever"

[Rigby]

Thanks to everybody who answered my question; it was very helpful. Sorry I don't have screen shots to post, I'm just now learning to do it and it seems that I'll need to get a 3D application.

[michaelcorvin]

here are two examples of non-3D fx i did for a friend's vampire movie. i wasn't involved in the actual production - i was asked after the fact to make the vampires burn up. i used some stock fire footage, some fire footage i shot myself and masking and layers. if the actors had been shot on green screen, i'm sure i could have figured out some dusting effect but it would have to be a quick cut since it probably wouldn't look too "realistic". for that same reason, these clips were cut down in length later on.
http://www.e3productions.com/videos/movies/death_1.mov
http://www.e3productions.com/videos/movies/death_2.mov

[BLUESPIDER]

Intresting Michael. Did you use AE for compositing this? Did you photoshop the guys face or was that makeup?

[michaelcorvin]

I did use AE. no photoshop on this one. the actors were shot without make up. to get them to turn charcoal black there is a duplicate layer of the actors on top of the main one that i applied levels to. i had to mask out the actors from the background frame by frame (with help from AE's motion tracker). if this project ever gets finished i may touch these up. fix the motion tracking on the fire, try and make the fire conform to the angles of the actors faces, add some shine effects, etc.

[maverickprods]

It looked quite good, good job. A suggestion? On the second one, possibly have the smoke come from the collar area. or from the shirt. I, of course don't know if that is alot more difficult or not. I would assume so.

[BenB]

I always used AlamDV. Works great, great quality video, fast, easy, affordable. Nothing beats it.

[Sirius_Doggy]

Check out Rich Lee's short Precursor (http://www.rich-lee.com/shortfilms.htm). I think the effect you are looking for is at the end of it. Truely AWESOME!

[Nathyn]

Wow, I missed this thread. Came up in a Google search. LOL.

-Nate

[Tarzy]

Did you try Video CoPilot? This can probably be modified to suit your needs.

http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/disintegration/

You can also use After Effects to composite a skeleton underneath and disintegrate them right after each other for a more layered effect.

[Luis Caffesse]

You do realize this thread is 5 1/2 years old, right?
:)

[Tarzy]

lol, still coming up in seaches too :)
Thought I'd add something more updated.