3D Muzzle Flashes & MuzzlePlug Review
There comes a time in visual effects artists life when he’s bound to create firing guns and muzzle flashes. Learn how to build your own muzzles… in 3D.
If you haven’t build muzzle flashes yet I’m sure the day will come. Why not be ready for it? Creating muzzle flashes is a never dying subject of VFX, especially for low budget action movies. There are loads of tutorials and products on this subject and I’ve been through all of them, but I never found anything that I liked… until I came across FXhome website. They have a few applications design to do one job - visual effects.
They always had this great engine for creating muzzle flashes in 3D. Over six months ago when I saw it for the first time I was so inspired that I’ve build my own 3D muzzle flash generator for AE that I will now share with you.
But wait… theres more. FXhome has just released their ground braking 3D muzzle technology as a AE plugin called MuzzlePlug. They’ve been kind enough to give me a license to test it out and make a review.
In this video you will get to know my opinion on FXhome MuzzlePlug, but that’s not all. You will also learn how to create your own 3D muzzle flashes using just AE and some 3rd party plugins. But have no fear… most of the plugins used in my tutorial you probably already own. If you don’t than you really should consider buying them. I’m referring of course to the great Trapcode plugins, in this case 3D Stroke and Shine.
With this tutorial I’m providing two project files. First one is the tutorial itself, and the second one if the 3D Muzzle Flash Generator along with the presets used in the tutorial.
To use the 3D Muzzle Flash Generator simply import it into your existing project, duplicate the MuzzleBasic comp, modify the position of the camera and put this new comp into your shot. There’s an example of using it in the tutorial as well. 3D Muzzle Flash Generator is hard to build, but very easy to use, and I was crazy enough to provide it for you so you can instantly start shooting some freaky aliens.
If you like FXhome MuzzlePlug better I still recommend using my MuzzleController and MuzzleEnviroment presets to alter the behavior and look of the MuzzlePlug generated muzzle flash. See the tutorial for more information.
Enjoy.
Download project file: MuzzleTutorial.zip (After Effects CS3 Professional)
Download: 3DMuzzleFlashGenerator.zip (After Effects CS3 Professional)
George…. i will show you the commercial…
and i am quite sure that i will kill my friend and many peoples by this fire… ;)
JEZY YOU ARE MAN DUDE>>>>>> :)
Best Regards,
UmairVFX
UmairVFX said this June 29th, 2008 at 17:57
John says right that you are Programmer…
Not a Human beings..
Really Really aamzing and pretty different tutorial i am sure that not body still launch this type of tutorial
and this is securities of VFX WORLD
thanks Jezy
UmairVFX said this June 29th, 2008 at 18:01
Third is good i saw that at youtube haha it’s good to be a subscriber!!!
Artillusion said this June 29th, 2008 at 20:03
Only 1 whole hour it looked like 10 min…. So interesting Thx
Artillusion said this June 29th, 2008 at 21:05
You are my new GOD!!
Vinnie said this June 29th, 2008 at 22:00
Only one q it’s not very relevant thought…
How can i save one comp or effects preset, like a preset?
Can you make a tut? or just answer?
thx
Artillusion said this June 30th, 2008 at 0:06
I’m not sure if I’m following your question. If you want to save some effects configuration as a preset simply select them in your Effects control palette and drag them onto your Effects & Preset window.
Maltaannon said this June 30th, 2008 at 2:35
Before I watch your great Tutorial, does your Muzzle Flash Generator work on AFX 7?
Mac Mave said this June 30th, 2008 at 22:05
No. Sorry. It only works on CS3 since the project was saved in CS3. But you can build your own if you follow the tutorial.
Maltaannon said this June 30th, 2008 at 22:22
sometimes I wonder if your brains are different from a normal human, because you always seem to know it all buddy! Thanks a lot, its awesome
Parker said this July 1st, 2008 at 2:14
Another great tutorial! I admit I’m not really in the market all that often for muzzle flashes, but I understand more and more about using After Effects from your tutorials. And who knows? Next time I tape one of kids in a school play I’ll make an alternate version! Alice in LethalWeaponLand!
RxR said this July 2nd, 2008 at 0:42
Hey,
another very great tutorial. I always had trouble with muzzle flashes and i always tried to mask it just right and get the effects to make it look… let’s say … acceptable. I don’t own muzzle pug, but since I have 3D Stroke everything is so simple and it looks really, really great! Actually it’s simplier then the masking way and it looks much more professional! Thanks a lot dude!
PhSn said this July 2nd, 2008 at 22:44
Hey,
You and your Tutorials are dude
Radhakrishnan said this July 3rd, 2008 at 6:01
Are the scenes you used in your tutorial a part of the bigger project? I recognize the faces. You used material with those soldiers in previous tutorials. When will it be possible to watch the whole movie?
Kopiart said this July 3rd, 2008 at 13:18
Just wanted to say I am watching all your tutorials and you are a true legend! Thank you so much for your time and effort.
Jostein said this July 3rd, 2008 at 15:31
Nice Tutorial. Thank You.
And More Tutorials About Expressions!
Aziz said this July 3rd, 2008 at 19:49
I’ve downloaded both zips but can’t find your tutorial. What have I missed?
bokad said this July 5th, 2008 at 0:39
Apologies, got it now.
bokad said this July 5th, 2008 at 0:47
another fine release by the man itself MALTAANNON….
proud to be your student man…
pls.share more tutorials about Expressions. it’s the most difficult part of AE for me. THANKS
IJAHman said this July 5th, 2008 at 7:34
dgd
nnesta said this July 5th, 2008 at 11:29
Very Very cool Jerry! I watched it but haven’t had time to tweak and build it yet. I must say my donation(triplej9923@hotmail.com) I gave you a few months back is all worth it for great stuff like this. Looking foward to your DVD.
Josh Johnson said this July 7th, 2008 at 11:00
Brawo kolego, jestes perfekcyjny i dokladny w tym co robisz :)
Rozwijam swoja przygode z AE i bardzo mi w tym pomogles.
Pozdrawiam
Loper said this July 29th, 2008 at 1:22
This was a long tut but I enjoy the long ones just as much. This was very informative and showed me things I never knew or thought could be done.
Thanks,
Pete
Pete Valcanas said this August 4th, 2008 at 4:52
Super mega hyper excellent tutorial!!!
Thanks George!!
Greetings. CC³.
CristalCube said this September 6th, 2008 at 18:06