Opening a Portal

S

sagemaster

Active member
Hey all, I've got another effect question. How would you do the following in AE: A guy (Wizard, Magician) "draws" with his hand/arm a big circle in mid air, and as he does so, a portal opens as he draws. When completing the circle, a full round portal is opened, which he then steps through and disappears.

Anyone know of a tutorial on this? Everytime I try searching the net, the word "portal" throws everything off, and gets me a ton of results for Internet Portals, and not the kind of portal I am looking for.

Any suggestions? Tutorials? Step by steps that anyone can give me?
Thanks!
 
Well, this is what AE was made for (not really, he he, for that and a lot more).

Few words pop into my head when I think of this,

1. Fractal Noise, animate the evolution big time,
2. Colorama, to create a nice interesting color for it,
3. Levels, to boost te contrast of the look
4. Masks

- Derrick
 
Thanks for the response Derrick_SA! Yes, those are all things I completely agree would be great for this effect,.. I'd even like to incorporate Trapcode Shine into it, to have beams of light coming through the portal. But specifically, my problem is the technical "how" area. My skills are basic, (though growing - thanks in large part to Andrew Kramer,.. without whom all would be lost). But if there were a specific tutorial showing the step by step how to, that would be fantastic. I just can't find one.
 
Grow some wings!

Grow some wings!

Tuts are great, but you can't rely on them forever (otherwise your never really making anything, just copying :huh:) The idea behind tuts is they teach you the skills you will need for when you have your own specific shots.


Anyways, first you'll want to create your "portal". Create a new solid, then add fractal noise. Customize that as you'd like adding any effects (such as shine or star glow or w/e). Then put your video layer over it. Your going to want to create a mask (set it to subtract) where his hand is going. Keyframe the mask shape and he goes along. Then when your wizard steps in he should disappear!

This is a very rough outline of what needs to be done, but I trust you can get the rest :)

Just keep trying things until you get the look you like. I hope that helps!

- Jake
 
Thanks for that JakeB. I totally agree, and that is what I am trying to do. But I do find that as this sort of thing is not my "day job", and I am not sitting in front of the computer doing this sort of thing day after day, hour after hour, it can be difficult to remember absolutley everything. (plus, I am probably markedly older than most of you young sprites - I'm an old dog trying to learn new tricks by comparison:laugh:). But yes, I do strive to apply what is learned from tutorials.

Thanks for the explanation you provided, I am going to give it a try. I think my main problem is workflow,.. I know the things I need to make it happen, but which to do first, what needs to be above what, and what needs to be connected to what is where it tends to get away from me. But time, practise and experience will take care of that eventually. I hope. But I greatly appreciate your input.

Hawk Teflon, yes, ideally I would like the portal to "draw" in as his hand moves, and have a pulsating, glowing, (whatever) "line" begin to appear as he starts, and follow his hand around until the "portal" is complete when his hand gets back around to the beginning.

Thanks for all the input! You guys are awesome! I love this place.
 
Instead of doing it in post, it might be easier to use a practical portal. All you need is a Virgin to sacrifice, drink a little blood, say a few incantations to the Dark Lord, and there you go. Just be sure not to leave it open too long.
 
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