Cineversity

I have a scene of a soccer player kicking a ball. I would like to have background camera flashes in a random manner as the player runs up to kick the ball. Just as you would see in a stadium.

My question is how to handle this part of the animation, in Cinema 4d or in After Effects. I set up a wall in the background made up of a light in a cloner with random effector applied. However, is there an xpresso setup that can handle the random flashes? Or, should I just export the 3d data for the bulbs and handle the flashes in AE?

Hey Vrauckis,

The simplest set up I can think of is a Plain Effector to handle the light. Set the Color of the clones on the Cloner Effector to black for that!

Then set up a Standard Particle Emitter that will “rain” 1,000s of particles over the the “photographer”.

Apply then this Emitter to the Falloff part of the Plain Effector, where the falloff is set to Source. A small falloff is needed for the Particles as you like to have a flash, and not an ease in ease out effect. But it needs large enough to hit from time to time a “flash”

The Flash lights could be set up with a Target Effector following the player… Well, flashlights don’t work on that distance but we love the effect in a stadium :o)

Have a nice weekend

Sassi

P.S.: I forgot to mention, that you should cache the Cloner Effector and switch of the Emitter to speed up you scene.

Thank you, Dr. Sassi. I am always amazed how someone asks a question and is returned with a working version of the solution. You are the greatest. BTW, how long before your masterpiece tutorial is coming?  =>

Hey Vrauckis: Thank you very much. Hehe, masterpieces, thank you. Few series of these new ones are completely scripted, and edited by my partner, she has a native tongue, so I hope they will be well received. The Cinematography series has gotten already three awards, I look forward to share this series here :o)

I have submitted all my material, I wait for the release as well :o)

I work on a little iBook about JET, stuff that won’t fit here, as it is more chit-chat, “Memories of a DOP” hehe, but it might be interesting for one or the other. It won’t be expensive, and is more a fund raiser for the next project. I save since long any cent for a little RED. I hope to share more RED/C4D material in the future. Both are certainly great options in production.

BTW, I work as well since a while on the next “torrent” of “stuff” hehe. Looking back on 20 years digital production, I have learned a lot and especially my photography experience (since even longer) will show up in some of the next series.
I always have seen C4D as a “studio in a pocket” with all options available. Which means using it requires to wear many “hats”. I like to cover this large area here. Having said that, I love to go very deep this time :o) (Deep…hint: I work at the moment myself through “Digital Video and HD” from Charles Poynton) Great material and certainly first hand information (just had a little chat with him about “camera s-log”, something that I love always to have for my tutorial preparation. :o)

I wish you a great weekend

Sassi

This solution worked very well. In fact, I used an xpresso pstorm and a float slider to regulate the rate of the emitter. so, the camera flashes seem to all go off at the most important moment.

Thank you for the idea!

Vytas Rauckis (vrauckis)

Hey Vytas Rauckis,

Sounds good! Thanks for the reply.

BTW, I try to use the “Avatar name” as long as I do not find a name in the the post, which I do based on each thread. I hope that is OK with everyone. I like real names, but of course I’m all in for “Artists names”. Everyone should feel well here.

Have a great day

Sassi