Text Depth
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Step 17: Most beveled edges on objects stand out because their specular level is different than the flat surface. The catch and reflect light a bit differently, and usually have a more intense hotspot. For this exercise, to help the bevel stand out, use the Matte Purple swatch and drag it to the #2 palette.
Because the side of the object shares the same palette color as the front of object, we don’t have to do anything further. However, if you were to drag the #3 ball to the side, you could add a separate color to the side of the text object. [an error occurred while processing this directive]
With the surfacing of the objects set, it is now time to light the object within Invigorator.
Step 18: Click on the Light Modes button to open the Light settings for Invigorator.
The lights in Invigorator act much the same way as lights in After Effects do. However, positioning lights can be a bit trickier. Lights are positioned in Invigorator by selecting the light from the selection menu and clicking and dragging on the Light Manipulator ball.
Step 19: Select Light 1 from the light selection drop down menu.
Step 20: Rename the light Key Light. Click on the color swatch and select a very light yellow (RGB Value of 235, 235, 210).
Step 21: Set the Light Intensity to 100.
Step 22: Move Light 1 in Light Manipulator to the Upper Right hand corner of the screen.
Step 23: From the Light Commands drop down menu, select Save Light to Bin. All of the lights we will be creating will be saved for use with another object.
Step 24: Select Light 2 from the light selection drop down menu. Rename the light Fill light. Click on the Color Swatch and use a RGB value of 159, 255, 250. Set the Light Intensity to 80. Position the light accordingly. Save the light to the Light library.
Step 25: Select Light 3 from the light selection drop down menu.
NoteThere may be instances when the light is not available. If that is the case, place a check in the Turn On This Light box.
Rename this light Back light. Click on the Color swatch and use a RGB value of 255, 183, 247. Set the Light Intensity to 100. Position the light according. Save the light to the Light library.
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| The positioning of the three Invigorator lights |
Step 26: Click OK, and close the Effects Control Panel.
Companies and Products mentioned in this article. |
| Adobe (www.adobe.com) After Effects 6.0 Zaxwerks (www.zaxwerks.com) Invigorator Classic NewTek(www.newtek.com) LightWave 3D (v. 7.5) |
Now if you are completely frustrated with the moving and positioning of the lights, there is good news. You can have Invigorator use AE’s lights. This is probably much more helpful when it comes to lighting several 3D layers in the scene.
In order to animate the text around the screen, you need to twirl down the Sets controls. Each set (or Group) is controlled by setting keyframes. If you had an Illustrator file that was brought in as separate objects, each object would be part of a set. I will not go into great depth on how to animate an object around the scene, as you should be fairly familiar with that by now.
Note: You may notice that when you first close the Effects Control Panel that the text looks rather cruddy. This is because you layer is set to Draft Quality. When you change the layer to Best Quality, the text should smooth out and if you have applied any reflective surface to the text, those reflections will show as well.
To bring all three parts of our project exercise together, simply place this layer between the two RLF layers from the last exercise and admire your results.
| Our modified 3D text along with our complete LightWave and post After Effects animation. |
In this exercise you have learned how to properly create, surface, and light an object using Zaxwerks Invigorator. The real benefit of having this plug-in is that you don’t necessarily have to have a dedicated 3D program just to create dazzling 3D text in your next project. With enough creativity, you can go beyond a simple text treatment and create an amazing 3D open for your next program.
| All 3D elements in this animation were created in Invigorator. |
When not working deep in the labs of the DMN Central Division testing the latest and greatest software/hardware products Stephen Schleicher can be found at the local university teaching a few courses on video and web production. He can be reached at schleicher@mindspring.com. You can also visit him on the web at www.mindspring.com/~schleicher
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