Hi this is my 1st post. can any one point me in the right way I am trying to make some speical efects like fire balls,lighting, and so forth can any 1 tell me the best way do this and what programes i might need. O and by the way i am useing poser 5

Message edited on: 01/03/2005 13:00

Will this be for animation, or for still images?

There was a program called Alma DV that came free on a computer arts magazine that does lighting fireballs sparks lasers and such both still and animation. You may be able to do a search and find a downloadable version.

This is part of a halloween picture I did. The flames from the pumpkin are a flat picture with a transparency map to make it blend in with the scene.

Message edited on: 01/03/2005 17:51

Attached Link: http://www.wondertouch.com/default.asp

Well, if you want to do some FX for animation, one great program you might want to look into is Particle Illusion. Basically, you render a poser scene, and them import it into this program to add FX, etc. to a scene in post. Most of them are highly impressive, and are being used by both amateurs and professionals alike. There's lots of presets for fire, smoke, lazers, and other such things.

Attached Link: http://fxhome.com/alamdv2/

Try AlamDV2 (demo available). Version 1 was given away on a cover disc - can't remember which one.

Windows xp is needed for alam dv, just so you know.

I'll second the ParticleIllusion program. I also have the AlamDV program, but have yet to use it because PI does effects better and far easier IMHO. If you want to see PI put to good use, my Godzilla animation (it's posted at www.changestorm.com/godzilla) has loads of PI effects, explosions, fire, smoke, engine-heat exhaust, etc. that are pretty much right out of the box and took only a matter of minutes to do (each one). The posted animation doesn't appear in as good a quality as the original because of the extreme amount of compression that had to be used in order to get this large animation file down to moderately viewable formats, but it gives a good idea of what can be done witn PI even by a no-talent-to-speak-of person like me.

I have to say Combustion 3. I've never used PI, but the two look extremely similar. The downside to Combustion, is the steep learning curve. But well worth the time to learn!

Yeah, PI's effects program got integrated into Combustion, so it's benefits are all there plus the rest of Combustion's (which I do not have, but wish I did).