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1. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
lasvideo Oct 13, 2012 4:18 PM (in response to carolgunn)Hi Carol.
I have tried to use the Layer Exploder in Particle Playerground and found it very slow to work with.
So I switched to another effect called Pixel Polly to give you an alternative if you want one. I threw together this example in HD. Set the resolution in You Tube to 1080P and make full screen for full effect.
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2. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
Rick Gerard Oct 13, 2012 6:46 PM (in response to lasvideo)There are about 5 ways to do this that are easier then Particle Playground. I have not used PP in years.
Pixel Poly, Scaterize, Pixel Poly is probably the closest to PP and much easier to control.
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3. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
carolgunn Oct 13, 2012 8:25 PM (in response to lasvideo)No kidding! My first attempt, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZH_RgDZ7uU&feature=plcp, took 33 hours and 18 minutes to render--it is 1 second long! But I reduced the number of particles and set the size of new particles to 0 after the first few frames so it would not continue to make new particles. So that one just took 9 minutes.
I went to that link, but it told me the video had been removed.
I'll check out Pixel Polly.
thanks,
--Carol.
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4. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
carolgunn Oct 13, 2012 8:26 PM (in response to Rick Gerard)Hi Rick! Well that is two recommendations for Pixel Polly, so I will start there.
thanks!
--Carol
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5. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
lasvideo Oct 13, 2012 8:41 PM (in response to carolgunn)Thats wierd. Try this!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BufdVy2DAoE
I just tried it and this one works! Whoops, I had turned off embedding in You Tube. Now I know what that does . It should be fine now.
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6. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
carolgunn Oct 13, 2012 8:42 PM (in response to lasvideo)That worked! and it looks fantastic!
thanks!
--c.
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7. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
carolgunn Oct 13, 2012 9:17 PM (in response to lasvideo)Where would you recommend I download Pixel Polly?
--c.
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8. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
lasvideo Oct 13, 2012 9:20 PM (in response to carolgunn)Its free with After Effects. Look in Effects / Simulation / CC Pixel Polly (sounds like the name of a digital parrot)
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9. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
carolgunn Oct 13, 2012 9:23 PM (in response to lasvideo)Oh, shoot--i was thinking, all snotty like, "well, of course, searching the effects was the first thing i did" but I went back to AE, and, duh! there it was!
thanks!
--c.
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10. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
lasvideo Oct 13, 2012 9:26 PM (in response to carolgunn)Glad to help. Have fun blowing things up.
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11. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
carolgunn Oct 13, 2012 11:13 PM (in response to lasvideo)Check it out! Rendered in 09:31. Might need to slow it down/stretch it out a bit. . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPImmGJUtcM&feature=youtu.be
KA-POW!!!
--c.
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12. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
Rick Gerard Oct 14, 2012 6:24 AM (in response to carolgunn)Try reducing the force....
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13. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
carolgunn Oct 14, 2012 7:09 AM (in response to Rick Gerard)yeh! that oughta work. . .
thanks, Rick!
--c.
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14. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
carolgunn Oct 14, 2012 8:36 AM (in response to lasvideo)I was just looking at your screen shot (very helpful!) Now it is gone and I get this msg. "The item does not exist. It may have been deleted." Did you take it down? I had some questions. . . .
Can you send me the file?
thanks!
--c.
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15. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
lasvideo Oct 14, 2012 10:39 AM (in response to carolgunn)Sorry Carol, I had to take my cat Tigerboy to the vet. Its been a dramaric morning.
There was some stuff with the little demo I did that I didnt care for and it seemed you were well on your way with Ricks suggestion so I cleanup up after myself.
I did a newer version ( yes Im a motivated and a touch obsessive person ) and you are welcome to have the file.
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16. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
carolgunn Oct 14, 2012 12:44 PM (in response to lasvideo)Well, if you are obsessive, you are in the right business! I'm a touch obsessive, myself. Raised by a compulsive picture straightener, I found a good outlet for obseesive/compulsive behavior!
Yes, that would be REALLY helpful if you would send the file. My email addres is gunngraphics@austin.rr.com.
Hope your cat is OK!
thanks!
--c.
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17. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
lasvideo Oct 14, 2012 1:22 PM (in response to carolgunn)Check your email Carol. The project is built AE CS 6.0. Let us know how things turn out. Have fun!
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18. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
Rick Gerard Oct 14, 2012 2:49 PM (in response to carolgunn)Here's a sample project from me that has a glow, colorama, and animated force. Hope it helps. You'll find the CS 6 project HERE.
Kinda funky if I do say so myself
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19. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
carolgunn Oct 14, 2012 7:49 PM (in response to lasvideo)Got it! thanks so much! wish i could stay up and "play" wtih it, but am quickly running out of steam. . .
I'm sure I'll have some questions for you tomorrow. The first one: why do your layers have no little "eyeballs" to turn them off and on? I would expect to find a setting to show those in the Columns menu with "Label" and "#", etc. but no.
Tomorrow is another day! good night and thanks again,
--c.
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20. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
carolgunn Oct 14, 2012 7:51 PM (in response to Rick Gerard)Kinda funky, indeed!! I won't be able to play with that til after I put in some billable hours tomorrow. My boss (me) is such a slavedriver!
thanks!
--c.
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21. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
Rick Gerard Oct 14, 2012 8:04 PM (in response to carolgunn)I just hid the columns so that I could see more of the timeline in the screenshot. The options are at the bottom left corner of the timeline panel.
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22. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
lasvideo Oct 14, 2012 8:08 PM (in response to carolgunn)Here's looking at you kid....with some After Effects eyeballs
If you just double click on the AE project icon it will open in my configuration. If you opened Ricks first then open my project in his configuration that may explain the disappearing eyeballs. They are always there, but sometimes hidden as he alludes to.
Heres how mine is set up.
Have a restful sleep and you are most welcome.
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23. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
Rick Gerard Oct 14, 2012 9:18 PM (in response to lasvideo)Just realized the the link to my project file has a typo.... Here is the file...
Enjoy
One more thing. The column name for the eyeballs is A/V Features
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24. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
carolgunn Oct 15, 2012 11:09 PM (in response to lasvideo)This is looking fantastic! (i might tighten it up a little. . .) Check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGBFWdoPWY&feature=plcp
Thanks for your help!
--Carol Gunn
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25. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
lasvideo Oct 16, 2012 6:32 AM (in response to carolgunn)Nice job Carol! Looking good.
The only timig I would change is to slow down the zoom to full screen of the "Clelebrating" to land when the tilt up of the background shot ends. Then imediately expolode. The motion of the word moving forward blends nicely with the explosive motion.
This is meant as constructive criticism and should be ignored if your instincts say otherwise
BTW I took a look at your website. Very nice looking stuff. As primarily an editor, Ive always envied folks with graphic design skills.
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26. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
carolgunn Oct 16, 2012 6:41 AM (in response to lasvideo)Thanks for the suggestions! Personaly, I love and appreciate constructive crticisim. At my very first graphic design temp job, I was let go due to some bogus reason. But later I ran into a co-worker down at the bar and he said "It was because you used the T-square and triangle on the straight lines" (yes, that is how old I am!) "but you freehanded the curves." I practically yelled at him, "Why didn't you tell me? I really needed to know that!"
And thanks for the comment on my website. I am primarily a graphic designer, but since the print industry seems to be circling the drain, I am trying to expand my skills into motion graphics. Next week, I am directing a (commercial thinly disguised as) a music video. So lucky to have a job I have enjoyed for (mumbledy-mumble) years!
thanks for your help!
--C.
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27. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
carolgunn Oct 16, 2012 6:43 AM (in response to Rick Gerard)Hey, Rick, I have not had time to check this out, so please don't take it down.
thanks,
--c.
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28. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
lasvideo Oct 16, 2012 7:23 AM (in response to carolgunn)Glad to help.
And as a member of the Peace & Love generation (I ran away from home at 15 and joined a commune in The Village in NYC) I am proud to have survived to be an energetic 58. So no need to mumble about your age
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29. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
lasvideo Oct 16, 2012 7:30 AM (in response to lasvideo)Speaking of music videos, I thought I would share a personal project I recently completed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxPrG3WUyz8
Its best viewed on You Tube at 1080P quality (the little gear in lower right hand corner) and full screen. I think you might enjoy it.
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30. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
carolgunn Oct 16, 2012 7:32 AM (in response to lasvideo)Actaully, I did feel stupid saying that! i hate that attitude that being anything other than in your twenties is somehow bad! I am also 58. I got my first professional design job at a newspaper that still used lead type when I was 19, so i have almost 40 years experience doing design all day long, every day (and many late nights) and that is something to be proud of! And ya know what else?!?! I look gooood!!
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31. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
lasvideo Oct 16, 2012 7:35 AM (in response to carolgunn)Ha ha, yes you do.
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32. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
carolgunn Oct 16, 2012 7:36 AM (in response to lasvideo)Flagging that (and Rick's stuff) to look at later. Got a (billable!) rush job. Now tht I have finished bragging about myself, better get on it!
thanks! later,
--c.
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33. Re: How to set particle colors with Layer Exploder
Rick Gerard Oct 16, 2012 11:50 AM (in response to carolgunn)Carol, you do look good. So do I. I got my first check for my first feature film gig October 20, 1969... That's 43 years ago. Been at it full time since then. The crazy thing about this business is that my standard day rate today is exactly what it was in 1980. In 80 I had about 6 times more invested in gear than I had in my home. Now I have about 6 times more invested in my home than in my gear.
It's nice to see that there are still 'mature' folks having fun and trying to make a living in this business. The young talent is amazing. The things my 13 year old daughter produce with just her iPhone and iMovie amaze me. I no longer recommend that youngsters go into the movie business as technicians. There just isn't enough money in the geeky side of this business to support a family any more. I know more senior local 600 DP's that have not worked on a film in the last six months than I do that worked last week. Fifteen years ago we were all working all the time. Be a designer, be a producer, be an art director, don't be a compositor or a rotoscope artist. If you get known for your insight and for pulling off the impossible and it is as good a job as your last project makes it. Fall on your face and you're back to techie wages.
Late nights and deadlines are not new. They won't go away. Good luck with your project and keep us posted.






