SmallFry opened this issue on Mar 09, 2011 · 5 posts
SmallFry posted Wed, 09 March 2011 at 10:58 AM
I was wondering if anyone could help me create comic book style particle effects for my figures?
I have a sample below of one possible effect. It's affectionately known as "Kirby Krackle", named after Jack Kirby, the gent who invented it. The effect itself looks very abstract... almost a lightning bolt effect which those giant black dots bordering it along the edges. Back when I was a full-time 3d artist (before my current hobbyist incarnation) I always imagined that the black dots were particles that decayed before dissolving in the air.
But I'd like to create the sorts of particle effects that some comics are known for, where the character is standing with hands partially open and glowing smokelike particles emanate from the palms and travel upwards. I've been faking it with post effects and with alpha-channel 2d props, but I've always wanted to see if Carrara could get a nice effect going too.
Later on, maybe we could discuss setting someone aflame like the Human Torch, but let's start with this for now. :biggrin:
(On a side note, there used to be a Poser 6 plug-in called MetaFlow which created Metaball structures that created some excellent particle effects when a good texture map was applied to them. I'm not sure if this sort of thing is possible from within Carrara, but I thought I'd throw it out there. I was able to create some neat man aflame effects with it, but MetaFlow doesn't seem to work for current incarnations of Poser...)
Any ideas, suggestions, assistance, etc. would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you in advance!
SmallFry posted Wed, 09 March 2011 at 11:01 AM
I guess it would've helped if I'd included the picture too! Duh...
animajikgraphics posted Wed, 09 March 2011 at 11:29 AM
Post effects are your best bet. Most comics are created using Photoshop, which you are probably using now. There are a zillion PS Brushes out there that can create these effects, many free.
After Effects could also do the same for an animation. The "Particular" plugin could easily create the effect you show above with some tweaking.
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SmallFry posted Wed, 09 March 2011 at 5:39 PM
Well, that's the thing. I know it's possible with After Effects and such.
I just want to expand my Carrara knowledge. 
animajikgraphics posted Wed, 09 March 2011 at 7:10 PM
It could possibly be done in Cararra, but I think some things are best done in post.
I've seen some particle effects in C that are pretty awesome, but I don't know how hard/easy it is to set up something like what you want.
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