#Plug-In or Feature
11 messages in this thread
Heard there might be a plug-in or feature in 3D Studio that allows you to show
objects in and out of focus, rack focus as you would with a lens, etc.
What can you tell me about it? Is it a current feature? A plug-in and if so who
makes it?
Thanks.
DS
Call Digimation and order LenzFX. One of the best IPAS routines on the planet.
It can address the z-buffer to defocus through one of its modules. Its around
$295 I think.
Have fun…!
Mark,
Thank you mark. But on the planet EARTH…the best?
ds
Well maybe not. I'm waiting for my copy of WorldBuilder to arrive. THAT maybe
the best.
Anyway, I use Magic and LenzFX to generate explosions just like David A. of
Digimation described in an article in Planet Studio. The options for LenzFX are
numerous and will take some time to master. But the results are extrodinary.
All in all, the Digimation crew is superb, and their support has been great. If
you don't have their catalog call and get it. (504) 468-7898.
Mirage and Bones Pro are also terriffic. BonesPro appears like it ill become
the defacto standard for character animation.
Bye.
Mark,
So much more stuff to know. What enthusiasm!!
DS
Its like drinking from a firehose. Still gotta learn Key Framer and World
Builder without letting it interfere with productions. Not to mention gearing
up for MAX and more hardware.
Just got Win NT loaded. So much simpler than Novell! Bring on the Gladiators
and the raytracing engines. I'm ready! (Just don't make me learn another IPAS
soon or my brain will explode).
Hi Mark, do you know if LenzFX ever fixed the bug, or actually re-wrote to
incorporate field render. I remember quite a bit of difficulty in that arena.
Further to Donald asking about rack focus: I still use the YOST disk #1 for
blur, flare etc. They may not be the most current, but they do a really nice
job. Additionally, there is a really powerful but humble piece of software out
there called WinFX by Blackbelt. Very inexpensive, and they recently released
an upgrade for NT. Packed with an amazing array of effects, very easy to use,
and unbelievable flexible area selection tools with finite time line control.
It is very easy to simply run a TGA stream through there and get the equiv. of
thousands of $$$$$ worth of routines. BTW, just because that particular
software from Blackbelt is amazing, don't assume that their WinMorph is equally
terrific –ICKKKKKKKKK (followed by Tazmanian Devil Tongue Spitting). One more
thing – I use a silly trick in my animations when I want to have an animated
focus weirdness: Loft a flat shape as needed – give it a very trans. quality
with some subtle texture mapping/bump and put it in front of something in your
scene. Then render and see what the camera does with that "little filter".
Originally, I would render portions of a scene with animated Focus using BLUR
from disk one and then composite in VP. But then I started getting odd ideas
about the "filter" and it worked. Then I started making all kinds of "filters"
to accomplish small animated area effects. Anim-Pro is really a champ at that
sort of thing – the possibilities are endless. Jeffrey
OK, I a sucker to spend money. I even bought WorldBuilder.
Where can I get this routine? I hardly ever see anything for sale outside of
Digimation, Schreiber, and Yost.
Funny you should say that about LensFX. I did some explosions with it just like
David said in the Planet Studio article and I had better results using the Glow
routine from Yost. I'll call Jeff Teachworth at Digimation and let you know.
Mark, it's not a routine. WinFx is a windows based software dedicated to
single-frame and time line effects. Yes, you can load streams or generate
streams. Areas are selectable and there are so many effects that are really
very nice. Blackbelt is the company and I don't have the number, but they are
easy to locate via software outlets. I'm telling you, this software is a real
sleeper, but I know some very high end production houses that rely heavily on
WinFX. Jeffrey
Jeffrey,
Blackbelt has a section (8) in the ANVENA Forum, if that would do you guys any
good.
Terry
Found the number and I will call on Friday.