Help me create some realistic looking smoke

DecadenceFilms

DecadenceFilms

Active member
Please gentlemen.

Here is the scenario.

There is a static shot, low angle from the platform of a train station. It is focusing on a train as it departs into the background.

At this point a pair of shades drops onto the platform and we focus on these as they sit proudly in the foreground.

The idea is that this is the aftermath of an explosion that has taken place off screen and the victims glasses have blown onto the station. (it's comedic, not realistic).

I'd like some wisps of smoke to begin to waft in from the left of the screen, just after the glasses have landed.

I'm sure this isn't a particularly difficult thing to do, especially with some of the talent on here, but I would appreciate some advice on how to make it look convincing.

Thank you in advance. Rick.
 
1. real smoke on set

2. real smoke on a key

3 AE>particle playground>color it gray>fast blur>blend mode>opacity - tweak until happy.
 
you can get a fog machine at target for less than $30
or
bunches of incense and some black card.
or
a pack of cigarettes
or
detonation films has some recipes for smoke cookies
 
Cheers for the replies.

Obviously it would have been better to use a smoke machine but we were unable to get permission to use one at the train station, understandable considering present fears.

The footage is already in the can. The smoke isn't really crucial, it works without it, I just feel it might add a little to the film.

I'll have a play around with some partical creators.

I might ask for further assistance later...
 
can you post your footage and some hand drawn storyboard of what you want and I'll see if I can play with it...
 
Anhar,

How can I refuse an offer like that?

I'll stick the whole film (It's only 90 secs inc. credits) on rapidshare. It's an Mpeg 2 file to play on Quicktime/wmp. That'll help give you the context I hope.

The file is roughly 96 MBs.

All I want is for a few tendrils of smoke to creep in from the left after the sunglasses have landed. I think you'll understand what I mean once you see it.

I'll edit the post and put in the link as soon as it's uploaded.

Cheers.
 
ok downloading as I type, please excuse me if it takes some time since I am busy as always :)

Syntheyes and PFtack are softwares that calculate the 3D camera move directly computed from footage.

This then allows 3d objects to be composited to the live action footage, they "Match" because the 3d objects move in 3d space that is Identical to how the camera moved in 3d space in the real world.

take some of my examples of using 3D "Camera Match movers"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9UxR0yYYOw

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdDaqiV6WkI

Of course in those cases, the actors was placed inside the 3d world (usually the other way round) but works on the exact same principle.
 
OK, DecadenceFilms, I've done the first test and can be viewed here:

1st Test:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqM6wgEqs4E

Note:

I think when colour correcting the smoke element I may have made it a little too "White".

Also, I rotated the smoke to flow "upwards" because the smoke going across the screen in my view looked odd.

I've saved the seperate files, if you want any changes give me a shout. I'll try my best, getting the smoke to move the you want is difficult because its a simulation and hence you have as much control as "Rolling stones down a hill"

When your happy with the final shot then I'll upload the higher quality version.

Anhar
 
That was quick! Great job and thank you.

In terms of slight improvements:

I'd agree with you that it could do with being a little darker.

Also at the moment it feels as though the source is too close to the edge of the screen. I wonder if it is possible to slow the animation down a bit so that it feels more as though it is drifting along a bit, rather than pumping out?

I'll be able to duplicate the clip won't I? I envisage "layering" it if you like, have some coming in further into the background with some blur to match the focus and then a different tendril in the foreground to give it some depth.

Anyway, Thank you again. I really appreciate it. Tell me what you think of what I've said.
 
What I'll do is make the changes:

1. Move source further to the left.

2. Try and slow down the particles, if not good old slow down in post

3. I'll Give you the high quality uncompressed smoke element, then you can adjust the colour to your desired level, and also duplicate/ rescale, etc (once your happy with the changes)

Anhar
 
Ok, adjustments have been made.

2nd attempt/ with adjustments:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ule_UwdzCg

Note:

there is a very slight imperfection on the tracked data, i.e. I tracked the first few frames wrong, hence you will notice that the smoke does not track with the footage for a few frames, after that it merges correctly, of course you can spend as much time as you wish with the smoke element.

The uncompressed footage looks very good, but I'm guessing the youtube preview should give you a decent idea.

Note 2:

thats as slow as I could make the particles move!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top