Fast workflow for 3-d text graphics...Forked Thread: from Ministry logo

[kbob]

Forked from: Ministry logo

Originally Posted by kbob

That's what I was trying to say-exactomundo!

What I like about that concept is that it allows you to vary your presentation (strokes, glows, bevels, grunge, neon, 3-d text, etc...) without having to redesign everything from the ground up every time. To that end, I now try to choose fonts that allow for that treatment, even when I don't plan on using it initially, knowing that I may end up adding it later for a different purpose.

On that bent, though-it appears that more and more of the text on my tv screen is 3-d, not with simple drop shadow but more like a hi-end xara treatment, with lighting effects, strokes, glows, et al being optional components along with it.

Anyone know what they generally use for the big network shows? There turn time has to be incredibly short, so I figure whatever they use must have the workflow tightened up to the point of near perfection...

If this gets to be long thing, I'll fork it...no need to hijack a good thread...

[soulcast]

Zaxwerks 3D Invigorator is widely used for broadcast design. http://www.zaxwerks.com. But a lot of it is done in newer 3D apps like Cinema4D, Maya, etc.

The rendering engines in these are incredible and produce stunning results. But the price tag will match that. Zax is a great program plugin (after effects) or as a stand alone (pro animator) for the money.

[rev_65]

I'm learning Cinema4D right now through classes @ fxphd.com with hopes of purchasing in the near future. The work flow between it and After Effects is pretty streamlined. But until then I'm glad to have 3D Invigorator in my bag 'o tricks.

[Lucas]

I'd love to get Zaxwerks ProAnimater, but the price tag is very prohibiting.

[kbob]

great-now, just need to work on that personal fundraiser & getting the church to budget for it...sigh...

I've been using that xard 3d v5 that was on special-just gives a taste of what can be done, I suppose. Kind of opened my eyes to the possibilities of quicker workflows, and working under deadline pressures.

Thanks! Gives me a goal to strive for-though I'd have to budget for the adobe suite first...

Anything else that comes close for those of us locked into very modest budgets for now....xara's not bad, just can't preset the output parameters exactly how you want them, or at least I haven't found that setting yet...

[PaladinPete]

I'd be interested to see what you've done with Xara 3D, Kbob. I have version 6 but haven't used it too much. Zaxworks is too expensive for me too.

[kbob]

well, almost all of the stuff in my gallery from the alive graphic on, save the (p)reaching graphic and a couple of the Father's Day graphics started life in Xara 3d v 5. However, for the most part that's just a jumping off point for me...right now that's only about 6 graphics or so... though the marquee graphic in the critique section is another one.

I'm sure I can do more in xara than I currently do-haven't figured out how to import textures and other graphics into it yet, for instance...

but what I do now is keep the front face of the text relatively monochrome, and use Photoshop to select that color (having made sure to have differing colors for sides/shadows et al while still in xara) and create layers to play with in PS.

For the "polished" newsbreak alert type look, you generally want to stay with bolder fonts with lots of open space in the loops-it allows for better rendition of the 3d look without closing up the loops...though rules are meant to be broken.

Now, when you get to the animations, the one I like best is the rotating lights...slowed down enough (by making the cycle longer) it actually looks very nice.

[AlexH237]

If you have AE you can make text 3-d using the shatter effect.

[kbob]

lol-as I said above, the fundraiser for AE, full Premiere, new Photoshop (I'm currently on v7!), Illustrator (I'm er, on version 7 there too), etc...

So, I'm really looking forward to picking everyone's brain once God so blesses me...that's going to be some learning curve I'll have for a couple of years thereafter.

What I'm looking for in the meantime is simple ways to do much of the same thing, as quickly as possible while still keeping it looking professional...or at least as professional as I'm currently cable of being!

[PaladinPete]

Kbob, how were you able to get the Xara stuff into photoshop? Do you save a .psd file from Xara to open in PS?

[kbob]

no, png's to preserve the transparency.

also, if you chose the crop option, you only are saving the text, not the big frame around it (well, the drop shadows too if you use them, which I generally don't on the stills).

I then peeled off the face as described above, and made a new layer via selection. everything else is typical photoshop stuff-strokes, outlines, glows, drop shadows, etc...

[kbob]

If anyone has some tips in xara, it would be cool-I've got a really long way to go just to figure out v5, let alone the more advanced full version 6.