How is this possible?

Jerome White · December 16, 2008

I am interested in using this specific style but not sure on how to achieve it. Plexiglass maybe? Anyone have an idea on how this was done and how I could mimic it? Thanks in advance.

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/3060/7y67b0x1uz0.gif

Adrian Sierkowski · December 16, 2008

Looks more likely to have been done as an FX shot with the guy writing in air. I'd worry about reflections on any piece of glass to be honest.

Jerome White · December 16, 2008

Oh okay. Guessing it would have to be done in front of the green screen. Any tips in post?

Adrian Sierkowski · December 16, 2008

Could be done in a white void. And not being a post guy, i'd say just carefully matching- frame by frame, where each letter begins. Give a look around videocopilot.net IIRC they have some tutorials on this in after effects.

Jerome White · December 16, 2008

Okay, great! Thanks alot for the help.

Adrian Sierkowski · December 16, 2008

Anytime. Good luck. I never had the patience for after-effects/keyframing/editing (that and I get into fights with my computer!)

Jerome White · December 16, 2008

Haha! Same here. I never used AFX, but I love a challenge and trying new techniques. Can only learn from my mistakes and do better next go around.

David Desio · December 19, 2008

that effect is created using either After effects or Apple Motion, (there are others but I've seen it done with these).

What they might have done is place a tracking point on the pen or brush, then using a particle generator and some basic motion tracking, created the brush strokes. Since the tracking is using only a 2D plane, its pretty simple. You would track the motion of the brush tip, then have the particle generate from that point, tweaking the birth and death of the particles in AE.

In the reverse, notice that he is painting in a manner that his body is not really blocking the brush so much. I think you can even find a "How To" on videocopilot.com

Dave

Tom Hepburn · December 19, 2008

I would say that on the first shot, it's an animated mask. In other words, the word or graphic is already drawn and revealed as his hand passes a certain point. The dripping part at the end of the words, was most likely done as a separate layer. A few rehearsals by the actor and you can get it close.

There is a beer commercial on these days that does this exact thing.

David Desio · December 19, 2008

The animated mask is another possibility. Just goes to show that there may not be a right way, just a way that is easiest for you and your production schedule.

The animated mask is called a stroke in AE.

Steve McBride · December 19, 2008

Get a really high contrasting ball and put it on the end of the pen, shoot your footage, motion track it in AE or whatever other program and get the tracking data, then just put your animation in.