Create a Breathtakingly Awesome Rain Scene - Part 2

In part 2 of Alex’s massive tutorial we finish the tutorial with the construction of the last scene.

Preview

RSS readers: click post title to view preview video at AETUTS.

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Preview

Requirements:
Trapcode Particular (download the trial version here)
Trapcode 3D Form (download the trial version here)
Trapcode Shine (download the trial version here)

Optional:
Trapcode Horizon (download the trial version here)
Twitch (download the trial version here)
T_Distorto from Foundry Tinderbox 1 collection (download the trial version here)

Step 1-95

Are in Part 1 of this tutorial.

Step 96

Create new composition (Composition->New Composition). Name it ‘Scene-2′, use preset ‘HDVHDTV 720 25′, set 20 seconds long.

Step 97

Download the equirectangle image below from Flickr (this photo is licensed under a Creative Commons License from Vitroids)

Step 98

Import image into your project (File->Import->File). Place it in the timeline. Hit ‘S’ and set scale value to 56%.

Step 99

With layer selected hit ‘Enter’ and type name ‘BG’. Next, apply Trapcode ‘Horizon’ (Effect->Trapcode->Horizon). Tip: if you don’t have Horizon plugin, check out Carl Larsen’s ‘Cube World’ tutorial, you will learn how to make the same thing without the ‘Horizon’ plugin.

Step 100

Create new Camera (Layer->New->Camera). Use 35mm preset.

Step 101

Create new ‘Null’ object layer (Layer->New->Null). Rename it ‘Camera null’, swith on 3D for this layer.

Step 102

Parent Camera to the ‘Camera null’ layer with pick whip.

Step 103

Now we create “floor” for our text and particles. Create new solid (Layer->New->Solid). Name it ‘Floor’, make it comp size. Switch on 3D for this layer.

Step 104

Apply ‘Grid’ to this solid layer (Effect->Generate->Grid).

Step 105

With ‘Floor’ layer selected hit ‘R’ button, this reveal Rotation options. Rotate it 90 on X-axis.

Step 106

Go to the ‘BG’ layer, twirl down Horizon ‘Orientation and Distort’ submenu. Then hold down ‘Alt’ click on the ‘Z-rotation’ of the ‘Floor’ layer, take pick whip and parent this value to the ‘Y – rotation’ of the Horizon plugin. This make synchronize rotation of our floor and background.

Step 107

Change ‘Y orientation’ of the Horizon to 61. Adjust ‘Floor’ layer position.

Step 108

Adjust scale and position of the ‘Floor’ layer, just to fit better to the scene perspective. You can uncheck ‘Constrain Proportions’ swith to try different values for Scale.

Step 109

From the project window drag & drop ‘drop’ composition to the timeline, shut off visibility (click on the eyeball).

Step 110

Before we go on, let’s check our future rotation. Select ‘Camera null’ layer, hit ‘R’ button and change ‘Y rotation’ value from 0 to 180. Readjust ‘Floor’ layer Scale and Position.

Step 111

After adjustments change back value of ‘Camera null’ Y rotation again to 0. Shut off visibility of ‘Floor’ layer.

Step 112

Create New Solid (Layer->New->Solid). Name it ‘Rain fill’, make comp size.

Step 113

Apply ‘Trapcode Particular’ to this layer (Effect->Trapcode->Particular). After that, go to the Options and change ‘Pre-run’ value to 100%.

Step 114

Adjust ‘Particular’ settings as shown below.

Step 115

Move your Current Time Indicator to the 4:00 sec, than hit ‘B’, this set beginning of our composition from 4:00 second. We need this for our future particles layers. Turn off temporary visibility of the ‘BG’ layer. You must receive result something like on screencap below.

Step 116

Now we must make some color correction for our ‘BG’ layer. Swith on visibility for ‘BG’ layer and turn off for ‘Rain fill’ layer. Now apply ‘Brightness & Contrast’ effect (Effects->Color Correction->Brightness & Contrast) to ‘BG’ layer. Adjust settings.

Step 117

Next apply ‘Tint’ effect (Effects->Color Correction->Tint). Adjust settings.

Step 118

Next apply ‘Curves’ effect (Effects->Color Correction->Curves). Adjust blue channel settings.

Step 119

Next apply ‘Levels’ effect (Effects->Color Correction->Levels). Adjust RGB, Red and Green channels settings.

Step 120

Finally apply ‘Fast Blur’ (Effect->Blur & Sharpen->Fast Blur). Place it between ‘Horizon’ and ‘Brightness & Contrast’ effect. Set amount to 50%

Step 121

Now let’s add some text to the scene. Grab Horizontal Type Tool (Ctrl+T). Type ’spoonfed motion graphic’, I use Century Gothic font.

Step 122

Move it to the very bottom of the screen. Fit text width to the comp width (adjust scale or font size values).

Step 123

Pre-compose text layer (Layer->Precompose). Name it ‘Mograph text’.

Step 123

Switch on 3D swith for ‘Mograph text’ composition. Also grab Pan Behind Tool (hit Y) and move composition Anchor point to the bottom of the text.

Step 124

Now let’s create reflection of the text. To create this I used Andrew Kramer’s free preset: ‘Easy Reflection’ for After Effects. Apply ‘EasyReflect_Blurred’ to the ‘Mograph text’ comp (Animation Presets->Presets->__-Videocopilot-__->Easy Reflections->EasyReflect_Blurred). For more info how to install presets go to the www.videocopilot.net/presets. Adjust settings.

Step 124

Adjust position of the text.

Step 125

Go to the Project window and duplicate ‘Mograph text’ composition (Edit->Duplicate). After that place it to the timeline and repeat for this composition Step 123.

Step 126

Hit ‘Enter’ and rename it ‘AETUTS text’.

Step 127

Go inside ‘AETUTS text’ composition (double click on this composition if you in CS4 or ‘Alt+click’ if you in CS3). Change text to ‘aetuts’. Change font size.

Step 128

Apply ‘EasyReflect_Blurred’ to the ‘AETUTS text’ comp (Animation Presets->Presets->__-Videocopilot-__->Easy Reflections->EasyReflect_Blurred). Adjust settings.

Step 129

Now select ‘Camera null’ layer, hit ‘R’ and change value for ‘Y rotation’ to 180 (this will be end of our rotation inside rain drops mass). After that adjust Position and Orientation options for ‘AETUTS text’ composition.

Step 130

Change ‘Y rotation’ value of the ‘Camera null’ back to 0. Now click on the ‘Position’ and ‘Y rotation’ stopwatches. Set values on 4:00, 7:00, 10:00, 18:00 seconds as shown below. Check out your animation with RAM preview (hit numpad 0).

Step 131

Change ‘Y rotation’ value of the ‘Camera null’ back to 0. Now click on the ‘Position’ and ‘Y rotation’ stopwatches. Set values on 4:00, 7:00, 10:00, 18:00 seconds as shown below. Check out your animation with RAM preview (hit numpad 0).

Step 132

Turn on visibility of the ‘Rain fill’ layer. Duplicate it (Edit->Duplicate). Rename ‘Rain MID’

Step 133

Readjust setting of ‘Particular’ ‘Rain MID’ layer. In this layer we will use Particulars ‘Aux system’ to create fake drops splashes. This is a particle system within the particle system. Aux particles can be emitted from the particles in the main system; either continoulsy or when the particles collide with bounce layers. For more info check Particular help.

Result.

Step 134

Duplicate ‘Rain MID’ layer (Edit->Duplicate). Hit ‘Enter” end rename it ‘Rain BIG’.

Step 134

Duplicate ‘Rain MID’ layer (Edit->Duplicate). Hit ‘Enter” end rename it ‘Rain BIG’.

Step 135

Readjust particular settings for this layer as shown below.

Result.

Step 136

Now go to the Project window and duplicate ‘drop’ composition. Place it to the timiline and rename composition ‘drop rotation’.

Step 137

Move your Current Time Indicator to 5 second, from this time our ‘drop rotation’ composition will apear. Shut off temporary visibility of the rain layers. Adjust scale of the ‘drop rotation layer’ layer. I set 29%.

Step 138

Hit ‘[‘ button to move and start ‘drop rotation’ layer from the 5 seconds.

Step 139

Open ‘drop rotation’ composition (double click on the layer in CS4 or Alt + double click in CS3 version). Change size to 600*600 pixels and duration of the composition from 3 seconds to 7 seconds (Composition->Composition Settings).

Step 140

Select Adjustment layer on the timeline (click on the layer), than press ‘Ctrl+A’ and with all layer selected change length of the layers to 7 seconds (with left mouse button hold and drag edges of the layers to the right).

Step 141

Move Current Time Indicator to the 2 seconds on the timeline. Select solid layer and go to the Form ‘Fractal Field submenu’, click on the stop watches for ‘Flow X’ and ‘Flow Y’ set values 0. Go to the ‘Transform World’ submenu and click on the ‘Y rotation’ stopwatch. With solid selected on the timeline hit ‘U’ button to see all your keyframes.

Step 142

Hit ‘Pg Up’ button (Page Up) once and change ‘Flow X’ and ‘Flow Y’ values back to 95.

Step 143

Move Current Time Indicator to 5 seconds on the timeline, adjust settings. Next hit ‘Page Down’ button, change values for ‘Flow X’ and ‘Flow Y’. Select ‘Y – rotation’ keyframes and hit ‘F9′ to make it ‘Easy-Easy’ type.

Step 144

Go to the ‘Scene-2′ composition and adjust length of the ‘drop rotation’ layer (click on the edge of the layer and drag it to the right). Check your animation with RAM preview.

Step 145

Select ‘drop rotation’ layer, go to the beginning of it (hit ‘I’ button). Press ‘S’ button and click on the Scale stopwatch. Go to the 7:21 second on the timeline and change scale value to 39, than go to the 10:00 seconds and change scale value back to 29. Make all Scale keyframes “Easy-Easy’ type. Check your animation with RAM preview.

Step 146

Let’s now adjust camera movement. Select ‘Camera’ layer, click on the ‘Point of Interest’ and ‘Position’ stopwatches. Set following settings:

Step 147

Next go to the ‘drop rotation’, hold down shift press ‘P’ button. Click on the Position stopwatch. Set settings as shown below. Make all keyframes ‘Easy-Easy’ type.

Step 148

Move Current Time Indicator to 10:22 seconds. Next grab ‘Rectangle Tool’ (hit ‘Q’ button) and draw Mask shape on the ‘drop rotation’ layer.

Step 149

Hit ‘M’ button twice to reveal mask options, click on the Mask Expansion stopwatch, and change value at 10:22 to -150; at 10:23 to -50; at 10:24 set 0.

Step 150

Now apply ‘Turbulent Displace’ to ‘drop rotation layer (Effect->Distort->Turbulent Displace).

Step 151

Adjust effect setting and set keyframes for Amount and Size options.

Step 152

Select two ‘Size’ keyframes, right mouse click and from pop-up menu select Keyframe Assistant->Exponential Scale. Now check your animation with RAM preview, we make very realistic drop splash!

Step 153

Create new composition (Composition->New Composition). Name it ‘INK precomp’ set settings as shown below.

Step 154

I used ink footages from Andrew Kramers ‘Riot Gear’ collection, Drop_03.mov, Drop_04.mov, Drop_09.mov. Import your footage into your project (File->Import->File). Place it on the timeline and switch on 3D for all layers.

Step 155

Adjust Position, Scale, Opacity values for this layers.

Step 156

Select Drop_04.mov layer and apply ‘Shift Channels’ (Effect->Channel->Shift Channels). Set ‘Take Alpha’ from ‘Luminance’.

Step 157

Next apply ‘Fill’ (Effect->Generate->Fill). I used color #D4FFFF.

Step 158

Select all Effects in Effect Controls window (press Ctrl+A), copy (Edit->Copy), than paste to others layers (Edit->Paste).

Step 159

Create new Adjustment layer (Layer->New->Adjustment layer). Name it ‘Fading’.

Step 160

Apply ‘Linear Wipe’ to ‘Fading’ layer (Effect->Transition->Linear Wipe). Change settings.

Step 161

Move Current Time Indicator to 02:15 second and click on the stopwatch of the Transition Completion. Than go to the end of composition end set 45%. Select keyframes and make it ‘Easy-Easy’ type (with keyframes selected hit F9).

Step 162

Go to the ‘Scene-2′ composition. Move your Current Time Indicator to 10:23 seconds. Place to the timeline our ‘INK precomp’. With layer selected hit ‘[‘ button. Switch on 3D for this layer, adjust Position and Orientation. Also change blending mode to Screen.

Step 163

Apply ‘EasyReflect_Blurred’ to the ‘INK precomp’ (Animation Presets->Presets->__-Videocopilot-__->Easy Reflections->EasyReflect_Blurred). Adjust settings.

Step 164

Select ‘AETUTS text’ layer and apply ‘Fast blur’ (Effect->Blur & Sharpen->Fast Blur).Set amount to 15.

Step 165

Move your Current Time Indicator to 10:00 seconds and click on the Fast Blur amount stopwatch. Than go to the 10:24 seconds and change amount to 4.

Step 166

Go to the beginning of the composition (press ‘Home’ button). Select ‘Mograph text’ layer and apply ‘Fast Blur’ (Effect->Blur & Sharpen->Fast Blur), change amount to 20.

Step 167

Select ‘drop rotation’ layer and all rain layers change blending modes to ‘Add’.

Step 168

From the project window grab Defocus.png file and place it into the timeline. Change rotation to 180. Change blending mode to ‘Screen’.

Step 169

Create new solid (layer->New->Solid). Name it ‘vignette’, comp size, color black.

Step 170

Grab ‘Ellipse Tool’ and create mask on the ‘vignette’ layer. Adjust mask settings.

Step 171

Create new composition (Composition->New Composition). Name it ‘dof 2 map’. Set settings as shown below.

Step 172

Create two solids like we did before: Black and White solid (Layer->New->Solid, repeate twice for each layer).

Step 173

Create two solids like we did before: Black and White solid (Layer->New->Solid, repeate twice for each layer).

Step 174

Grab Rectangle Tool and draw mask on the White solid.

Step 175

Now click on the stopwatches of the ‘Mask Path’ and ‘Mask Expansion’. Adjust settings as shown below.

Step 176

Go back to ‘Scene-2′ and place from project window ‘dof 2 map’ composition into the timeline. Shut off visibility of the layer.

Step 177

Create new Adjustment layer (Layer->New->Adjustment layer). Name it ‘DOF’.

Step 178

Apply ‘Lens Blur’ effect to ‘DOF’ layer (Effect->Blur & Sharpen->Lens Blur). Adjust settings.

Step 179

Move your Curent Time Indicator to 4:00 second, click on the ‘Iris Radius’ stopwatch. Adjust settings as shown below.

Step 180

Switch on visibility for rain layers and place ‘drop rotation’ layer above ‘Rain fill’ layer.

Step 181

Now we make our ‘freeze time’ effect. Move your Current time Indicator to 6:15 second. Select ‘Rain fill’ layer. Go to the Particular settings. In the Physics submenu click on the stopwatch of the Physics Time Factor. Adjust settings as shown below.

Step 182

Move your Current time Indicator back to 6:15 second. Select Physics Time Factor and copy to others rain layers (Edit->Copy; Select layer; Edit->Paste).

Step 183

Let’s add final touches. Create new solid (Layer->New->Solid). Make comp size, red color. Place it above ‘BG’ layer. Change blending mode to Overlay.

Step 184

Grab Pen Tool and draw mask. Adjust settings.

Step 185

With layer selected hit ‘T’. Hold down ‘Alt’ and click on the Opacity stopwatch and add expression: wiggle(5,20).

Step 186

Duplicate layer (Edit->Duplicate). Change solid color to #A20BD4 (Layer->Solid settings). Adjust mask shape position.

Step 187

Create new Adjustment layer (Layer->New->Adjustment layer). Than rename it ‘Glow All’.

Step 188

Apply Glow effect (Effect->Stylize->Glow). Adjust settings.

Step 189

Create new composition (Composition->New Composition). Name it ‘Scene-Final’, use settings as shown below.

Step 190

In the project window select ‘Scene-1′ and ‘Scene-2′ composition and place it to the timeline.

Step 191

Move Current Time Indicator to the marker #1. Next select ‘Scene-2′ layer and press ‘[‘ button, this move start of the layer to the Current Time Indicator.

Step 192

Select ‘Scene-1′ layer and hit ‘T’ button. Move your Curent Time Indicator to the 14:17 seconds and click on the Opacity stopwatch, next move Time Indicator to the 14:21 seconds and change Opacity value to 0. Make last keyframe ‘EasyEase’ type (with keyframe selected press F9).

Step 193

Go inside ‘Scene-2′ composition. Move your Curent Time indicator to 4:00 second. Go back to the ‘Scene-Final’ composition, select ‘Scene-2′ layer and press ‘*’ on the Numpad. This will create marker on the layer at this point of time.

Step 195

Now move your Time Indicator to 14:17. Next move whole ‘Scene-2′ layer to match Time Indicator position with layer marker.

Step 196

Create new Adjustment layer (Layer->New->Adjustment layer). Name it ‘distortion’.Place it below ‘Scene-1′ layer and adjust layer length as shown below.

Step 197

Apply ‘T_Distorto’ effect (Effects->Tinderbox 1->T_Distorto), as alternative you can use ‘Vector Blur’ effect (Effects->Blur & Sharpen-> Vector Blur). Adjust settings.

Step 198

Move Current Time indicator to the beginning of the ‘distortion’ layer. Click on the ‘Position’ and ‘Strength’ ‘T_Distorto’ parameters stopwatches. Adjust settings in the timeline as shown below.

Result at 15:05 seconds.

Step 199

Finally, you can increase brightness of our drop. Go inside ‘Scene-2′ composition. Select ‘drop rotation’ layer, apply ‘Brightness & Contrast’ (Effect->Color Correction->Brightness & Contrast). Set brightness amount 50.

That’s it. Hope you find this tutorial helpful and useful! Have a nice day!