View Full Version : Sci-Fi: CG madness
Andrew Brinkhaus
10-28-2005, 01:31 PM
So, Sci-Fi sounds pretty cool to me...Seems a little expensive on the effects side, assuming people are going to want "sci-fi" elements in their films. What software is everyone using to do FX work/CG animation for their films?
If I end up entering, all my work will be done in After Effects and Maya.
Shaun Patrick
10-28-2005, 01:36 PM
Primarily After Effects for us, though we might have to dabble into some 3D animation. Overall, I would say we're looking into practical on-set effects for the majority of our stuff.
limehouse
10-28-2005, 01:36 PM
AE and 3D max, if I try to do effects. It's perfectly possible to pull this off without CG, so maybe that will be the best route.
fixitinpost
10-28-2005, 01:43 PM
I'll be using Anim8or, Blender, possibly Lightwave if I can't learn Blender in time, Icarus, and AE.
AE for me. My 3D skills aren't great. If I do anything 3D chances are I'll utilize Blender 3D a powerful FREE piece of software.
MattinSTL
10-28-2005, 02:01 PM
I suck at CG so we're going to find a drifter and shove an alien puppet through him after he passes out from all the Ripple.
David G. Smith
10-28-2005, 02:17 PM
I don't know if I will be able to pull off the project, but for FX, all I am gonna need is 2D composites (mostly architectural replacement/enhancement) which I will do in FCP and Corel Photo Paint.
Larry Rutledge
10-28-2005, 02:35 PM
I'm doing my CGI with crayola's
David, do you have a link to Photo Paint? I was curious so I went to Corel's website but couldn't find the software (well it's not listed under products though search turns up a few tutorials...). Perhaps there was a recent name change?
limehouse
10-28-2005, 02:59 PM
I'm doing my CGI with crayola's
I recommend the 64 box. I did some amazing effects with it on my mom's car seat every summer when it got to be 102 degrees.
Brandon Rice
10-28-2005, 03:00 PM
I am horrible at animation/sfx so I am thinking of doing more of a psychological sci-fi movie. You know, I was just thinking, Signs, has almost no SFX. Just makeup and costume.
David G. Smith
10-28-2005, 03:09 PM
David, do you have a link to Photo Paint? I was curious so I went to Corel's website but couldn't find the software (well it's not listed under products though search turns up a few tutorials...). Perhaps there was a recent name change?
Yeah, Corel folded it into a newer product. Sorry, I do not remember the detals. The app is kind of a pain in the ass. I do have some links to some tutorials if you are interested. I gotta go through my favorites and dig them up. I PM them to you if you want.
Sad Max
10-28-2005, 03:09 PM
Lightwave for 3D spaceships and Director for playback graphics, baby.
If I can come up with story in the next week or so.
If I can't develop a script I want to shoot myself, maybe I can collaborate with someone here in LA and do some VFX for their project...
aw grasshopper
10-28-2005, 03:26 PM
David, do you have a link to Photo Paint? I was curious so I went to Corel's website but couldn't find the software (well it's not listed under products though search turns up a few tutorials...). Perhaps there was a recent name change?
Shaw - is this the link you are thinking of for Paint Shop Pro?
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Corel3/Products/Display&pfid=1047024307383
Grasshopper
crayolamarker
10-28-2005, 04:03 PM
I'm doing my CGI with crayola's
They kick zbrush and maya to the curb!
Norm Sanders
10-28-2005, 04:08 PM
I'll only do CG/FX if I know we can do it INSANELY well. I want it to look real, or not at all ... so with that, no idea what software we'd use, if any.
In a pinch, I'd probably look to hire out some 3rd party to do the FX ... I'd imagine there are some incredibly talented college students that would do something for free in exchange for credit & portfolio work.
krestofre
10-28-2005, 04:41 PM
Combustion is the only FX-type app I'm looking at using.
Merchants of Dreams
10-28-2005, 05:10 PM
I considered using SFX, but I decided to go against it. I'm gonna try to concentrate on my sound effects and working with my actors since SFX took a chunk of my time on my last one.
Andrew Brinkhaus
10-28-2005, 05:29 PM
Sounds good everybody...I have heard quite a few people say that they are going to do background replacement with space age buildings, etc. Does anybody know of a tutorial or site with information on how to do background replacement in AE? Im pretty familiar with the software, just havent thought too much about BR. Thanks.
CallaghanFilms
10-28-2005, 05:41 PM
I'm doing my CGI with crayola's
Yeah, but without "atomic tangerine" and "Indian red", your cinematography will suffer. Trust me.
GenJerDan
10-28-2005, 05:56 PM
David, do you have a link to Photo Paint? I was curious so I went to Corel's website but couldn't find the software (well it's not listed under products though search turns up a few tutorials...). Perhaps there was a recent name change?
Is it Virtual Painter? If so, it's a plugin for Paint Shop.
crayolamarker
10-28-2005, 05:58 PM
I have no plans to use CGI as of right now.
GenJerDan
10-28-2005, 06:09 PM
I'm using this contest as an excuse to learn how to do CGI. That way, I'm a winner no matter what. :)
Think I'll go barf now. :grin:
ecarr
10-28-2005, 06:12 PM
i'm trying to write something that doesn't require any cg, or very little. if i do though, it'll be in lightwave for 3d stuff, and after effects.
KingVidiot
10-28-2005, 07:11 PM
As anyone who even dabbles in 3D knows, it's a real time killer. Sketching, modelling, rigging, texturing, 5 million test renders... ouch! It's a powerful tool but it usually needs a crew since we're all not like Jeff Lew (Killer Bean) or Raf Anzovin (Puppet).
That's one of the reasons I went back into 2D and video.
If I have the time, I'll try to do some stuff using Animation Master. It's a sweet program if you can wrap your head around it. There is pretty much nothing else like it, and their basic feature set has always been ahead of Softimage, Maya, Lightwave, etc. No primitives (unless you really want them), no UV mapping crap, no morph targets, and no goddamn polygons. A cinematic quality character can be as small as 700 spline patches at mere kilobytes (not 80k polys at 20 MB).
There is no simpler way to rig and control a character in any other program at any price. They practicallly invented pose sliders, re-usable actions (motions), and they work very well with BVH motion capture data. Who needs (or can afford) Massive?
And no, I don't work for them. I'm just a fan who has used them off-and-on for about 10 years.
If I come to my senses, I'll stick to practical shots with some chroma key.
David G. Smith
10-29-2005, 01:39 AM
Is it Virtual Painter? If so, it's a plugin for Paint Shop.
I don't think so, Photo Paint is a stand alone app.
David G. Smith
10-29-2005, 01:42 AM
As anyone who even dabbles in 3D knows, it's a real time killer. Sketching, modelling, rigging, texturing, 5 million test renders... ouch! It's a powerful tool but it usually needs a crew since we're all not like Jeff Lew (Killer Bean) or Raf Anzovin (Puppet).
That's one of the reasons I went back into 2D and video.
If I have the time, I'll try to do some stuff using Animation Master. It's a sweet program if you can wrap your head around it. There is pretty much nothing else like it, and their basic feature set has always been ahead of Softimage, Maya, Lightwave, etc. No primitives (unless you really want them), no UV mapping crap, no morph targets, and no goddamn polygons. A cinematic quality character can be as small as 700 spline patches at mere kilobytes (not 80k polys at 20 MB).
There is no simpler way to rig and control a character in any other program at any price. They practicallly invented pose sliders, re-usable actions (motions), and they work very well with BVH motion capture data. Who needs (or can afford) Massive?
And no, I don't work for them. I'm just a fan who has used them off-and-on for about 10 years.
If I come to my senses, I'll stick to practical shots with some chroma key.
I'm sorry, but is that English? :huh:
GenJerDan
10-29-2005, 01:55 AM
I don't think so, Photo Paint is a stand alone app.
Ah. It is bundled with CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 12.
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Corel3/Products/Display&pid=1047022690654&cid=1047024458655
Bentrandom
10-29-2005, 01:04 PM
I plan to use practical effects, Maya, AE and possibly Flame.
Matulis
11-02-2005, 12:20 PM
I'm planning on throwing a little bit of everything into my sci-fi soup: Photoshop, iStopMotion, Motion, Vue, Shake, duct tape, baling wire and a few rubber bands. Oh yeah, and some sort of story...
Beat Takeshi
11-11-2005, 07:23 AM
I will be busting out the Lightwave and Combustion to get our effects. Like in this old DVD intro I did: http://www.puffinfilms.com/DVDintro/DVDintroFINAL.mov
I think I'm gonna keep it simple. Special effects add a pass/fail component to the movie, and I'm more a fan of building organic sci-fi (cheaper ideas) anyway. Can't wait to see the boom boom that you guys come up with, though.
Man, someone's using flame. That's cool. I've used combustion before and it rocks.
Ralph Oshiro
11-12-2005, 05:43 PM
Lightwave. After Effects.
Rich Lee
11-13-2005, 02:37 PM
if i can get my shit together...need some free time...
XSI, Boujou, and After effects...photoshop should be a given...
depending on content, i might throw in a little realflow...
Young-H._Lee
11-13-2005, 06:03 PM
totally wish I had some time, sci-fi is my thing...have to finish my gangster film first
watch out here comes rich lee
MojoTrancer
11-14-2005, 10:59 AM
If I was smart I would have decided on a Gattaca-type sci-fi flick. But the only idea I latched on to is anything but. But I plan on using a "2 1/2D" solution as much as possible. I'm a lot stronger with photoshop and After Effects than the 3D stuff. Studio Max will be used, but mostly for projection mapping onto really simple geometry.