lightning fast animation in element 3d

www.it-ebooks.info Lightning Fast Animation in Element 3D Master the intricacies of Element 3D, the fast-rendering Adobe After Effects plugin Ty Audronis BIRMINGHAM - MUMBAI www.it-ebooks.info Lightning Fast Animation in Element 3D Copyright © 2014 Packt Publishing All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews. Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express or implied. Neither the author, nor Packt Publishing, and its dealers and distributors will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this book. Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all of the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Packt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information. First published: March 2014 Production Reference: 1190314 Published by Packt Publishing Ltd. Livery Place 35 Livery Street Birmingham B3 2PB, UK. ISBN 978-1-78355-938-1 www.packtpub.com Cover Image by Pratyush Mohanta (tysoncinematography@gmail.com) www.it-ebooks.info Credits Author Ty Audronis Reviewers Adam Geoffrey Anderson Jeff Lange Acquisition Editors Vinay Argekar Subho Gupta Content Development Editor Vaibhav Pawar Technical Editors Edwin Moses Faisal Siddiqui Copy Editors Shambhavi Pai Stuti Srivastava Project Coordinator Sageer Parkar Proofreader Ameesha Green Indexers Mariammal Chettiyar Monica Ajmera Mehta Rekha Nair Tejal Soni Graphics Yuvraj Mannari Production Coordinator Komal Ramchandani Cover Work Komal Ramchandani www.it-ebooks.info About the Author Ty Audronis has a rather unique background in the media world. He's often asked how he got into the eld. Well, it's a bit of a story, but he'll be as brief as possible, narrating it in his own words. I had the great benet of having a father in the semiconductor industry and an overachieving (to say the least) family. So, my family was the rst of all my friends to have a computer in 1980 (well, maybe 1981, I'm not sure). When other kids were fooling around, I was out hooking up neighbors' computers and showing them how to use them. I was only seven (or eight). In the mid 80s, my father hired me to do some quality assurance (QA), and illustrations for his software. This was my rst paid graphics gig (laughable by today's standards). I used "Dr. Halo" on a monochrome computer, but still, that was a huge advantage over other kids. At the same time, I was learning music and programming, and doing anything where I could mix art and technology. Remember that Star Trek: The Next Generation episode where that kid got hold of a cool laser thing that meant he could sculpt anything he liked? That was me, tech and art all the way. After some difculties in the music world after high school, I joined the Navy. I forgot all about art for the time but stayed with technology. I was stationed in Japan and served aboard the USS Independence (CV-62) from 1992-1994 in a helicopter squadron. No, I wasn't a pilot or anything glamorous (just a lowly E-3). I got hurt in a typhoon off the coast of Guam and was retired. The Navy began to pay for my college fees, and I decided to be a lawyer. I won many debates, and got a national bronze medal for informative speaking. However, my mentor for the debates told me not to be a lawyer. She said that I debate effectively but I couldn't stand people lying. She said I'd have a heart attack before 35, so I went into marketing. www.it-ebooks.info Why is all of this relevant? Because inadvertently, I found art again. I gured, "I may as well learn about animation and production, because I'll need to tell them what I want in their language." So, I took a computer animation class. This is really where my career took shape. The class was taught by a man that was to become my mentor, Rick Vertolli. He and his assistant (Randy Wall) shaped my animation skills, and resparked my desire to create. After that class in Wavefront (yes, way back then, our workstations were Silicon Graphics "Indy" machines), I found myself interning for Rick over the summer and rewriting the text book to be used in Lightwave and later, Maya. This was the rst taste I had of writing how-tos. Over the years, I became Rick's assistant, lectured several times, and was the full-time lab assistant. I changed my major to a special major in Computer Generated Special Effects. I also won my rst award in animation during this time (a "Rosebud"). After working with Rick, Randy, and Chris Ficken as an intern and lab assistant for four years, I was recruited by frog Design as a design technologist. My knowledge of programming and graphics was unique and was in high demand during the .coms. Those were the days. We had our desks in a circle with a model train and slot car track with every video game system on the market, coffee time at 4 PM, soccer in South Park (in San Francisco) at 5 PM, and unreal tournaments across the intranet (against other frog ofces world-wide) at 5:30 PM nearly every day. Yes, we worked hard but we played hard too. Sorry, I digress. At frog, I got to work with some of the world's best companies, had access to design, animation, web development, and just about every toy a geek artist could desire. But then, .com turned into .bomb and layoffs came. I still remember lunches on Bryant St. in San Francisco and going up and down the street to auctions in Web MD and Pets.com (to name a few). Cars were clogging San Jose International airport (techs on H-1 visas just abandoning their Mercedes and BMWs and ying back home to England, France, India, and so on). An auction car would be a steal back then; times were scary. My rst child was born; I was terried. So, I returned to entertainment. I went to a local TV station in Chico, CA and worked on producing ads for a few months. I moved on to an ad agency for a few years (worst job ever). Then, I met up with another mentor of mine, Robert (Bob) Condos. Bob gave me my rst real production gig. I came on a show called "So, You Want to Be a Star" as the producer, with Bob as the EP. Everything up to this point in my career was a concept. I used every bit of my art, tech, and personal knowledge, and we pulled off the impossible. It was a 14-week show on a shoestring budget. In the end, I was the producer, director, and editor. We had a lot of help from some great people but I learned a lot during that show. It's still my favorite experience in entertainment; not the most prestigious, not the most recognizable, but the best. This is when my second child was born. www.it-ebooks.info At the same time, I was in a partnership that started an Internet radio station that catered to MMO gamers in Matrix Online. Machine radio was fun, amazing, and a great experience. I learned a lot about online community building, appealing to markets, and what appeals to people in general. I couldn't devote enough time to machine radio (due to the TV show I was producing), so I let one of the partners take over—a decision I'll regret until the day I depart this sweet earth. The station then died. After a few nondescript tech jobs, I was recruited to California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco to help with the web redesign during their rebuild in 2007. Near the end of the web relaunch, the Planetarium Director heard that I had some TV experience. So, I had lunch with him and gave him a few nuggets of advice on setting up the Science Visualization studio (basically, a full production and effects department for the purpose of making visual representations of scientic principles, among which are planetarium shows). We built the (at that time) world's largest all-digital dome, a 3D theater, and a full animation and editing department. It was amazing. We won many international awards and played with some of the entertainment industry's hottest technology. The next four years were spent as the senior/supervising editor of Science Visualization there. It depends on who you ask and what year it was as to whether I was senior or supervising. It was the same job and I'm not too hung up on titles so… meh. I got to work with some great people, make some good friends, and work on some mind-blowing projects (from going to NASA rocket launches to talks with Neil Tyson to programming interactive exhibits to making friends with Pierre the Penguin). This was truly a great time in my career. However, nothing lasts forever and eventually, my position was removed from the department and I was laid off. I spent some time teaching, spent some time contracting (again, with frog, some movies, and so on), and eventually landed at a TV production company. A year of "murder-porn" (as South Park calls shows like I [Almost] Got Away With It) for Investigation Discovery, some travel channel, and History shows. I hate what cable television has become, but it's a living and it pays fairly well. Now, I've moved away from civilization, and my wife and I live in a small town off Interstate-5 in Northern California. It's private, quiet, and I still get to have my fun. Currently, I am strictly a contractor. I work on anything from court cases (graphic simulations, recreations, audio/video cleanup, and so on) to feature movies. I also write for Videomaker magazine occasionally. Yes, I still do a lot of graphics. However, what I'm enjoying the most right now is shooting with drones. It's a mix of my media and Navy careers, and it's truly fun. www.it-ebooks.info So, that's my career. Well, at least the brief summary of it. How did I get into this business? Luck. A series of coincidences and opportunities (that turned out just right) have led to my success. Don't get me wrong; I've worked very hard. However, I've truly been blessed. Not just with opportunity, but with the people who have given me these opportunities. I'd like to thank all of the people mentioned above (Rick Vertolli, Randy Wall, Chris Ficken, Bob Condos, the entire staff at "So, You Want to Be a Star", and the amazing folks I've worked with over the years). www.it-ebooks.info Acknowledgment I'd like to thank my family: my loving wife Jessica (whose love and devotion make life worth living) and my children, Aurielle and Asher (who will be the next great chapter in the Audronis family history). Additionally, I'd like to thank my father and mother for exposing me to art and technology in my childhood and sparking my interest in science. I want to thank all those men and women who serve their respective countries world-wide in the effort to keep our world safe. From the simple E-3s running chocks and chains on the deck of a carrier to the special forces that operate with no glory nor press. Without you all, our world would not have the opportunities afforded to people like me, my family, or the readers of this book. Finally, thank you for purchasing this book. I truly hope it has been of benet to you, and you have my gratitude for your patronage. www.it-ebooks.info About the Reviewers Adam Geoffrey Anderson, a Telly Award winner and currently the Senior Video Editor with one of the top automotive advertising agencies in the United States, completed his undergraduate work in Pittsburgh and earned his MFA at the Miami International University of Art and Design. While building a freelance business, Adam taught college level courses in Final Cut and Avid. Very passionate about education, he puts himself in situations that challenge his skills and require him to keep learning as well as providing tips and helping others hone their abilities. Jeff Lange is a web content specialist in the eld of higher education. In his free time, he works as a photographer, videographer, digital artist, and creator who likes to experiment with new technologies such as Element 3D. In 2009, Jeff gained international attention for designing an iPhone app, Battery Go!, which reached the top 100 paid apps list. At a young age, Jeff has become a successful web marketing and analytics professional in the eld of higher education. I would like to thank my ancée, Lindsay, for always being supportive of me. I would also like to thank my family for giving me access to a computer at a very young age and supporting me throughout my life. Finally, I would like to thank Andrew Kramer, Ryan Connolly, Nick Campbell, Andrew Price, and Jonathan Williamson for helping me become a better artist. www.it-ebooks.info [...]... cost and increase speed It also brings with it the ability to create stunning 3D animations on the editor level Over 50 years of CGI evolution (combined with countless man-hours) brings us here In the next chapter, we'll introduce you to the Element 3D interface and prepare our directory structure for your first Element 3D project [7] www.it-ebooks.info www.it-ebooks.info Welcome to Element 3D In this... like the following screenshot: The Element 3D interface Tour of the interface Since you already know where the Model Browser window is, let's start there and move clockwise around the interface [ 11 ] www.it-ebooks.info Welcome to Element 3D The Model Browser window The Model Browser window is where you'll locate your existing Element 3D models to be used in your scene They are contained in folders (such... www.it-ebooks.info Introduction to the Element 3D Animation So, you want to learn how to animate in Element 3D? In this chapter, we will lay the groundwork for this book You'll need to know what 3D animation is as well as the prerequisites for this book This book is designed to help users of every skill level gain an intimate understanding of Element 3D, and this chapter is designed to induct you into that... PacktLib today and view nine entirely free books Simply use your login credentials for immediate access www.it-ebooks.info Table of Contents Preface 1 Chapter 1: Introduction to the Element 3D Animation 5 Welcome to the world of 3D animation using Element 3D 5 Assumptions about the reader 5 What is 3D? 6 What is Element 3D really? 6 Summary 7 Chapter 2: Welcome to Element 3D 9 The machine specifications... proxy mode 29 Extruding and editing 30 Freezing subdivs to polygons 32 Incorporating multiple methods (the completed lamp) 33 Summary 34 Chapter 4: Painting Your Geometry (Textures) Digital paint Exporting your objects to Element 3D Lamp shades What are UVs? Assign your materials Exporting your objects The wine bottle Shading in Element 3D Import the lamp Fixing and texturing the lampshades 35 35 35 36... What is 3D? It should be said that we are not referring to stereoscopic imagery You do not need glasses or a lenticular screen to view 3D animation In the world of animation, 3D refers to simulating depth by creating a virtual world within your workspace (as opposed to drawing on a two-dimensional sheet of paper or cell) What is Element 3D really? Element 3D is far more than just another 3D plugin for... 112 112 112 113 Index 115 [ iv ] www.it-ebooks.info Preface This book is a principle-based lesson plan to learn Element 3D (an Adobe After Effects plugin) This lesson also includes information on creating and preparing content for Element 3D using external 3D software Although Maya 2012 is used in these examples, the same principles apply to any 3D modeling software that you wish to use This book follows... Software 10 Introduction to the interface 10 Tour of the interface 11 The Model Browser window The Edit window The Material and Bevel Browser window The Preview window The Scene window Toolbar (top) 12 12 12 12 13 13 Modeling versus animating 14 Setting up your first project in Element 3D 14 Staying organized 14 Directory structure 14 Summary 15 Chapter 3: Your First Objects Primitive modeling Booleans (cutting... this chapter, we're going to use Maya 2012 Again, this is not a book on 3D modeling; however, to truly understand 3D animation, a good foundation in modeling is a must This chapter is a high-level overview of the principals and techniques on 3D modeling, not specific to a single 3D modeling software Primitive modeling Primitive modeling is exactly what it sounds like We're going to use primitive shapes... refractions 49 Illumination and ambient occlusion 51 Bump maps and using AEX layers for texture maps 53 Preset shaders 55 Summary 56 Chapter 5: Preparing Your Scene Element scenes in After Effects Saving your objects Preparing our scene Setting up the lamp Replicating the bulbs 57 57 58 59 60 61 Lighting the lamp Adding the table and wine bottle Finishing the initial setup 62 64 65 Faking shadows Light . www.it-ebooks.info Lightning Fast Animation in Element 3D Master the intricacies of Element 3D, the fast- rendering Adobe After Effects plugin Ty Audronis BIRMINGHAM - MUMBAI www.it-ebooks.info Lightning. to the world of 3D animation using Element 3D 5 Assumptions about the reader 5 What is 3D? 6 What is Element 3D really? 6 Summary 7 Chapter 2: Welcome to Element 3D 9 The machine specications. objects to Element 3D 35 Lamp shades 36 What are UVs? 36 Assign your materials 38 Exporting your objects 38 The wine bottle 39 Shading in Element 3D 41 Import the lamp 42 Fixing and texturing the