Sander van Dijk - Reel Dyad

Me Like

Great keyframing and exciting mixture of 2d and 3d. Sander uses Cinema 4d to great effect. He also uses the audio to emphasize the motion, cuts and changes in direction.

Here is one of his logo animations. Really fits in with my project breif.

Keeping focused

It's getting towards my deadline and I need to get all the elements I been playing with, into a formed complete animation. Originally the main focus of this project, was to create a short ident. Within this I decided, I was going to explore lighting and transparency within Cinema 4D. At some point along the journey, I went off at a tangent and started looking at more organic effects, deciding to incorporate an ink in water effect. Investigations into this are still continuing, but I am aware I've slightly strayed away from my initial concept and idea. I have not explored the original focus of using lighting and transparency. So I've decided to pursue the organic effects idea and leave the lighting and transparency experiments for another project.

           

There are no real grave consequences to this, as any investigations I've done with lighting and transparency will only add to my current project. I am pushing forward with the ‘ink in water effect’ but it is extremely difficult, as I have mentioned in previous blogs. It may be the case; I have to create the effect within the real world, by filming it.

Learning new software

As part of my current project, I’m having to extend my knowledge on one of the key pieces of software I use, After Effects. To get the effect I'm after, I have chosen a plug-in for After Effects called Trapcode Particular.

I have chosen Trapcode Particular because as far as I can see, it can generate effects very close to what I'm after. I believe if I can learn how the product works, I can then, with a little bit of experimentation, get the effect I’m after. I will do this initially by watching tutorials on the manufacturer’s website. This should give me a basic understanding of the capabilities and settings within Trapcode Particular.
The next stage, will be to try and create something of my own. I will start off by recreating one of the tutorial examples. Hopefully at this point I will have enough knowledge to create a project from scratch.

When starting my own original project, I'll be able to focus on my objective, which creating the ink in water effect. I'll keep you up-to-date on my progression of this, with some example footage.

Ink in water effect

The main idea for this project was to look at how colours can be mixed using light and transparency within various visual effects software. The plan is to pivot on this a little, by introducing a natural and organic feel. By adding a physical element to the animation, by trying to replicate the way in which ink spreads through water. Researching several videos has inspired ideas to incorporate this technic into the animation.

Technique

Here are a few, nice examples.

Recreating the natural, why?

To create this technique, there are two options. The first option is to use physical elements. So basically, to record ink dropping into water. This can be done by setting up a camera, water tank and then drop ink into the water, then film it taking place. The only issue is the lack of control, which inherently what is so beautiful about it.

The other option is to simulate this natural look within my visual effects software. Getting things to look natural and fluid within visual effects software can be a real challenge. But ultimately, gives you a lot more control, of the movement and where it can be placed within your scene.

Simulation options

Once again there are two options. By using Cinema 4D (3D package) with a plug-in called Effex: http://www.dpit2.de/v2/index.php?content=effexgal

The other option is to use After Effects (video fx software) with a plugin called Particular: http://www.redgiantsoftware.com/products/all/trapcode-suite/

To start this investigation; After Effects will be used first, as this is a quicker process and may result in the visual look needed. If this does not achieve the required feel, then option one, Cinema 4D will be used. Using 3D software to create this type of effect can be impressive, but will involve a lot more time and effort.