Light Trace, Light Trace

[VFR]

Hi all,

wondered if anybody can help. I'm trying to recreate a light trace, (you know the one - dark room, open shutter and pass light source infront of the lens), by pure illustration using photoshop. Unfortunately the detail and accuracy I need means using the conventional method is very problematic and near on impossible.

Some of the light sabre techniques look interesting, but I need something with more energy and movement. Although it could be just my lack of skill and practice.

Any advice and pointers would be most welcome.

Kind regards, Simon.

[xz64]

Welcome to PSFX
Do you perhaps have a sample picture that I could try this effect on? If it goes well, I will tell you how to make it.

[Gallo Pinto]

is this kind of what you're lookling for (the top couple pictures on this page?)
http://www.btinternet.com/~fireballxl5/light/

anyway, I've given it an attempt, using the lightsaber technique basically.

in step 7 of the lightsaber tutorial the datameister says to fade gausian blur. I've done that step with two different blending modes.

From looking at those photos I linked to, the center of the glow is too white. Maybe at the top of the curves it should have a bit of colour to it. I don't know axactly how I'll do that yet, but I could probably do something by selecting the 'core" layer, contracting until the thinnest parts are deselected, then expanding again and using hue/saturation with colorize on. I'll try that later. How does it look to you? Maybe I should take out the random flickery effect, or turn it down?

[xz64]

Wait, are you talking about how Obi Wan/Qui Gonn uses a lightsaber to cut through the door in the beginning of episode one? Or are you talking about a dark room and light shining through an opening?

[Gallo Pinto]

I'm thinking about light traces in a dark room. You know when you take a photo of someone waving a light in a dark room? Isn't that what you were trying for? The lightsaber but was just because I used a technique similar to joe's lightsaber, because that's essentially a light trace.

I can se though that my thingies are way too thick. I've also been thinking that something very similar could probably be done with a layer style. My skill with special effects is virtually nothing, so I'm really just guessing.

[Gallo Pinto]

Alright, I've got one that looks a lot better. I kept referring back to this image:
http://www.btinternet.com/~fireballxl5/lig...s/swirl3769.jpg

Just as a reference for what it would look like in real life.

So anyway here's my newest attempt:

much better than the last one. Once again I have used joe's lighsaber technique as a base. Alll the gaussian blur amounts were different, and at the end the core layer's opacity was decreased. There are three layer groups in this iamge, one with alt he efects for the purple part, one for the blue, and another for the are of overlap. And the grain just ads a little realism. You could do without I suppose.

[VFR]

Hi,

many thanks for replying to my light trace request.

The examples you've given look great and are definately on the right track for what I need.

I shall persevere with the light sabre technique and as I suspected just requires practice and fiddling.

Once again many thanks and shall give you a shout if I have any further problems.

kind regards, Simon