desert heat effect

Nathan Quattrini · June 30th, 2008, 12:27 PM

I`m looking for the best way to simulate the heat coming off the desert floor. It lasts a certain distance and has a very distinct ripple to it. I was thinking an adjustment layer with a gradient matte on it...but what to apply to make the 'heat displacement'. Turbulent displace goes in noticeable loops, not sure what else to try

Andrew J Morin · July 1st, 2008, 11:21 AM

I'm working on this effect as well. I need to try a 'practical' element: film the shadow of a charcoal fire and use that as the displacement map. I'll get to it eventually, let me know if you get any play from that idea.

Cole McDonald · July 1st, 2008, 01:12 PM

I was just going to suggest using fire as a displacement map. The turbulance you're talking about should be the same air displacement regardless the source of the heat. You could potentially shoot a tight grid placed behind the fire as well and shoot over the flames where the heat displacement would be hitting the most and use the resulting distortions as a map for the displacement map... or a medium gray which you could then push to the extreme black and white with a color corrector to make the displacement more effective.

Oren Arieli · July 1st, 2008, 04:58 PM

Found this in about 10 seconds with a Google search (what would we do without Google?)
http://creativemac.digitalmedianet.c...e.jsp?id=34773

Greg Boston · July 1st, 2008, 05:04 PM

And if you have the ability to do it during acquisition... shooting over the hood of a hot car can get the heat wave effect for you. An old trick.

-gb-

Aric Mannion · July 2nd, 2008, 09:10 AM

You shouldn't need an effect this time of year. But you can film with a tota light in front and below the camera.

Nathan Quattrini · July 3rd, 2008, 07:07 AM

Thanks for the tutorial, looks like it should do the trick.

June 30th, 2008, 12:27 PM	#1
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 647	desert heat effect I`m looking for the best way to simulate the heat coming off the desert floor. It lasts a certain distance and has a very distinct ripple to it. I was thinking an adjustment layer with a gradient matte on it...but what to apply to make the 'heat displacement'. Turbulent displace goes in noticeable loops, not sure what else to try __________________ NAQ Productions (under construction) Current Short Films project page

July 1st, 2008, 01:12 PM	#3
Cole McDonald Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA Posts: 1,379	I was just going to suggest using fire as a displacement map. The turbulance you're talking about should be the same air displacement regardless the source of the heat. You could potentially shoot a tight grid placed behind the fire as well and shoot over the flames where the heat displacement would be hitting the most and use the resulting distortions as a map for the displacement map... or a medium gray which you could then push to the extreme black and white with a color corrector to make the displacement more effective. __________________ http://www.yafiunderground.com Low/No Budget cinema that looks like a million bucks!

July 1st, 2008, 05:04 PM	#5
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 5,577 Images: 1	And if you have the ability to do it during acquisition... shooting over the hood of a hot car can get the heat wave effect for you. An old trick. -gb- __________________ Greg Boston Sony PDW-F350, Panasonic PV-DV953, FCP Studio

July 3rd, 2008, 07:07 AM	#7
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 647	Thanks for the tutorial, looks like it should do the trick. __________________ NAQ Productions (under construction) Current Short Films project page

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July 1st, 2008, 11:21 AM	#2
Andrew J Morin Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 90	I'm working on this effect as well. I need to try a 'practical' element: film the shadow of a charcoal fire and use that as the displacement map. I'll get to it eventually, let me know if you get any play from that idea.

July 1st, 2008, 04:58 PM	#4
Oren Arieli Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 133	Found this in about 10 seconds with a Google search (what would we do without Google?) http://creativemac.digitalmedianet.c...e.jsp?id=34773

July 2nd, 2008, 09:10 AM	#6
Aric Mannion Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 357	You shouldn't need an effect this time of year. But you can film with a tota light in front and below the camera.