Comments

Rory Cooper wrote on 5/7/2009, 10:29 PM
Bluff titler is is good value for money and easy to use

pull in a eps layer extrude that and map your graphic “ I found coral eps better and cleaner than psd”
you can layer your eps so you can build a 2 or 3 level logo animate the 3 levels independently and combined “all keys” very easy
it also has cube map = ray trace and cast shadows_light properties_ ransparency levels etc

but you need to get Bixorama with Bluff to generate the cube maps …a few extra bucks.

And Bixangelo for setting motion path…a few extra bucks
I did a BIKEXPO clip recently used Bluff…changed wingding icon to a chain link and created a 3d chain spinning around looping in 3d very quickly

I use it also for flat text animation as well very easy and versatile

A Brilliant 3d extrusion app and text gen is Boris Graffiti has a lot more options but a steeper learning curve
Extrudes BMP files…very cool as you simply convert your layers to solids and save…no fiddeldidly
Keep your logos [TIFF] for mapping and your extrusion BMP the same size and you can also use the tiff as a bump..as all elements are SS ..bang.all fits ….extra cool

When it comes to animating logos with Boris RED you have the added Bonus of heaps of fx abilities
Jay Gladwell wrote on 5/8/2009, 4:15 AM

Check out ProAnimator.

farss wrote on 5/8/2009, 5:01 AM
Truespace, it's free.
Bryce, it's free. Yes, I know it's for building landscapes however it uses greyscales as height maps for 3D objects. Think outside the square and you can make it do lots of things. You can also waste a lot of time having fun with it....
As Jay suggests Proanimator is very good but not free. Also it needs closed paths to extrude things like logos and as far as I know cannot extrude bitmaps.

Bob.
Jay Gladwell wrote on 5/8/2009, 5:35 AM

"Proanimator is very good but not free. Also it needs closed paths to extrude things like logos and as far as I know cannot extrude bitmaps."

This is true. Your images (logos, etc.) need to be vector graphics.

No, it is not free, but the results are excellent.


farss wrote on 5/8/2009, 5:49 AM
"No, it is not free, but the results are excellent."

Agree 100% and it's very easy to make changes to your animation when needed.

Bob.
Rory Cooper wrote on 5/8/2009, 5:55 AM
Hows that ray tracing in the truespace pics….downloading hope it not to tricky to get a handle on

Jay I had a squizz at proanimator site…really looks good the posing instead of keyframes makes sense for speed and not to bad for pricing
Is this also a stand alone? As I know zaxworks used to be a AE plugin but it seems that it is now also a stand alone

Jay Gladwell wrote on 5/8/2009, 5:58 AM

It comes as a stand alone for Vegas. Outputs files as .avi or.mov and then brought into Vegas as any other footage might be.


farss wrote on 5/8/2009, 6:13 AM
"Hows that ray tracing in the truespace pics….downloading hope it not to tricky to get a handle on"

It's a full blown 3D program, complete with physics. It is hard to get a handle on ANY 3D program. I play with it from time to time :)

I suspect for what you're wanting to do Jay is on the money, Proanimator is the go. I've only trialed it, got a few things done with it but never had enough need for what you seem to, to justify the expense. If I did I'd buy it in an instant.

As Jay also said, it don't work in Vegas but I didn't find that any issue.

Bob.
Rory Cooper wrote on 5/8/2009, 6:18 AM
Thanks Jay this really looks useful

One more thing can one comp video onto any surfaces in Proanimator?

I saw some sample clips that had video and it could have been composed afterward in AE or other NLE’s that does motion tracking

Bob I have a little 3d experience which will make it easier .The problem is that 3d apps vary from one to the other in methods, but some things are constant like W E R keys and so forth

So if you get something that is great and for free it worth investing a few late nights



Jay Gladwell wrote on 5/8/2009, 6:21 AM

"It is hard to get a handle on ANY 3D program."

A big "Amen" to that! I don't use it enough, and every time I do, I have to "learn" it all over again. The learning curve is kind'a steep, but not insurmountable, as some for me are. There are some 3D programs I've had to walk away from because they were way too complicated for my pee-sized brain.


Jay Gladwell wrote on 5/8/2009, 6:23 AM

"One more thing can one comp video onto any surfaces in Proanimator?"

Sorry, I'm not altogether sure I understand your question. Bob would probably know.


Rory Cooper wrote on 5/8/2009, 6:39 AM
Well say I have a revolving cube can I use a different video clip as a texture on each ?

Jay Gladwell wrote on 5/8/2009, 6:44 AM

No. I've not seen anything that would allow you to do texture mapping (is that what it's called?).

Download the demo and see how it works.


TheHappyFriar wrote on 5/8/2009, 6:58 AM
Well say I have a revolving cube can I use a different video clip as a texture on each ?

You can do that in Vegas already:

(not linked so it's not a youtube video)

The simpler/cheaper the app, in general the less it can do. There's a few notable exceptions (blender, bryce, others like that). I'm pretty sure AE/Boris can do that, but those are more expensive then the stuff talked about in this thread.

Once you get in to a 3d app you're talking more learning then just checking a few boxes & typing some text.
richard-courtney wrote on 5/8/2009, 7:15 AM
You can put a video on any surface (UV mapping) in trueSpace. I have made a
home theater set and had the screen show a video and had the ambient light vary
with intensity with the picture.

The surface does not even need to be flat can be round. (ie: Christmas decoration)


Text or logos are done with "extrude".
Stringer wrote on 5/8/2009, 7:15 AM
Has anyone had experience with http://www.ulead.com/c3ds/runme.htmUlead® COOL 3D™ Production Studio[/link] ?

It looks like a good value at $80 if it works..

No Vista ...
Jay Gladwell wrote on 5/8/2009, 7:18 AM

Yes, I tried Cool 3D and found it to be very disappointing for what I (my clients) required. As in most other cases, you get what you pay for.


richard-courtney wrote on 5/8/2009, 7:21 AM
Blender has a book "Essential Blender" that really helps. Also there is a
"Dummies" book. Blender will do text as extrude but uses postscript only
and a logo would have to be a hand made mesh.

Between Blender or trueSpace for free apps......trueSpace.

Haven't tried the others.
Laurence wrote on 5/8/2009, 8:09 AM
Another vote for Bluff Titler here. It really is quite an amazing program. It uses the GPU on your graphics card too, so you can see your animations right away. I strongly recommend it.

http://www.outerspace-software.com/blufftitler.html
TeetimeNC wrote on 5/8/2009, 8:11 AM
Stringer, I've been using Cool 3D on and off for the past five or so years. I've done a few "cool" things with it but have been searching for an alternative since Cool 3D is getting very long in the tooth. Biggest problems: awkward interface, very slow renders, and no HD, and doesn't work on Vista.

Just yesterday I finally pulled the trigger on Swift 3D v5. Although it is normally more expensive than I would want to pay, I found a new legal copy on Ebay with "make an offer" enabled. I was able to get it for $85. I think list was about $250. Although I don't have it yet, I expect Swift 3D will do everything I need it to do. Mostly I like to do simple 3d motion graphics - occasionally something with text. I like that Swift 3D is vector graphics that can be used to generate SWFs, but also raster AVI or MOV versions.

EDIT: Here is an example of the type of 3d motion graphics I've done with Cool3D. This was made as a "template" - every where you see a photograph, I used a green panel in the original Cool3D motion graphic. Then, whenever I use this in a video I just chromokey in a new image. This was more work than I care to admit in Cool3D - I believe it will be much easier in Swift 3D.

http://www.vimeo.com/4547129

EDIT2: I can't seem to get the player to embed here, so you'll have to follow the link.

Jerry

Has anyone had experience with Ulead® COOL 3D™ Production Studio ?