Special Effect: Bullet Richochet/Discharge at DVinfo.net

Dale Nicholson · February 19th, 2006, 06:50 AM

How do you create a bullet effect? I'm speaking of the effect of shooting at a person, but the bullet misses the individual and kicks-up dust/richochets (spelling)? And how 'bout the gun muzzle effect where the camera captures the smoke/discharge effect from the gun's muzzle? Perhaps that's three questions, but is there a plugin/tutorial available?

I'm a Vegas user w/After Effects, FX, Combustion.

Fredrik-Larsson · February 19th, 2006, 08:06 AM

I am not sure but it might be more common to put stock photo. However I have found this software http://fxhome.com/effectslab/ and I am thinking of getting me a copy of that or their big product called VisionLab HD. I am a After Effects user to. But with EffectsLab I added very nice muzzle shots in about 15 minits without knowing the software or reading the manual. It was pretty easy and looked fairly good. And browsing through the preset-gallery gives a pretty nice impression to.

Steve House · February 19th, 2006, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale Nicholson

How do you create a bullet effect? I'm speaking of the effect of shooting at a person, but the bullet misses the individual and kicks-up dust/richochets (spelling)? And how 'bout the gun muzzle effect where the camera captures the smoke/discharge effect from the gun's muzzle? Perhaps that's three questions, but is there a plugin/tutorial available?

I'm a Vegas user w/After Effects, FX, Combustion.

The bullet strike - dust kicked up, sparks on metal, etc - is usually done using a squib, a small, electrically fired explosive charge. Strikes on people are done with a protective underlayer, then a squib, and a blood pack on top. These things are dangerous if you don't know what you're doing.

Keith Loh · February 19th, 2006, 06:24 PM

Squibs must be employed by a licensed technician. They qualify as explosives.

This subject has been covered many times before in this forum. Please do a search for 'squibs', 'gun effects', 'flare', 'blood effects', any synomyms.

Saturnin Kondratiew · February 19th, 2006, 09:39 PM

rent Desperado 3 aka once uopna time in mehico and u'll hear rodriguez tell u how its done, everything is CG baby. Ricoche bullet hits, and smoke all CG. Simple and safe!

Paul Jefferies · February 21st, 2006, 01:02 PM

The economy way i use to get the bullet puff of smoke/dirt is to use a "party popper" - one of those plastic novelty things shaped like tiny bottles, where you pull the string, it goes bang and paper streamers pop out the end. Simply remove the streamers, then put in a small amount of dirt/earth, hide it behind some furniture or something, then get an assistant to pull the string at the appropriate moment. Its pretty safe too, although I would still recommend eye protection and a degre of common sense...

Andrew Todd · February 21st, 2006, 01:41 PM

get those chinese firecracker things.. the ones that spark and pop when you throw them on the ground.

Mike Leong · February 21st, 2006, 07:54 PM

A safer, more economical way (well...hopefully more economical) is to use compressed air. If you remember or know, thats what they used in band of brothers for explosions, bullet hits etc. due to it being much safer. All you need is a compressed air source, a release valve or some kind of trigger, and a tube/funnel/pipe to focus it (for the simplest version of course). For ground hits you can dig and hole and put dirt on top of the opening. I've messed around with this myself with pvc pipe, a hand pump, and valve all for a couple bucks. Its lots of fun :)

Joey Kneller · February 21st, 2006, 09:30 PM

One standard, in special effects is to employ a 'sweeney gun',
which is an compressed air fed gun that shoots something akin to a
paintball membrane with whatever medium you chose to load into the
sweeney. Also this is used to deliver bug splatter on windshields etc.
A friend of mine in special effects, where I work also has had good effect
with a simple paintball gun, with a co2 cartridge used for propellent as apposed to the Sweeney which is pretty expensive and has hoses leading back to the rather large cylinder making the whole contraption a big
production.

February 19th, 2006, 06:50 AM	#1
Dale Nicholson Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 133	Special Effect: Bullet Richochet/Discharge How do you create a bullet effect? I'm speaking of the effect of shooting at a person, but the bullet misses the individual and kicks-up dust/richochets (spelling)? And how 'bout the gun muzzle effect where the camera captures the smoke/discharge effect from the gun's muzzle? Perhaps that's three questions, but is there a plugin/tutorial available? I'm a Vegas user w/After Effects, FX, Combustion.

February 19th, 2006, 08:06 AM	#2
Fredrik-Larsson Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Malmö, Sweden Posts: 395	I am not sure but it might be more common to put stock photo. However I have found this software http://fxhome.com/effectslab/ and I am thinking of getting me a copy of that or their big product called VisionLab HD. I am a After Effects user to. But with EffectsLab I added very nice muzzle shots in about 15 minits without knowing the software or reading the manual. It was pretty easy and looked fairly good. And browsing through the preset-gallery gives a pretty nice impression to. __________________ The Russian Captain (upcoming feature) http://trc-movie.blogspot.com/ My movies http://www.larssonfilm.com/

February 19th, 2006, 06:24 PM	#4
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Squibs must be employed by a licensed technician. They qualify as explosives. This subject has been covered many times before in this forum. Please do a search for 'squibs', 'gun effects', 'flare', 'blood effects', any synomyms. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

February 19th, 2006, 09:39 PM	#5
Saturnin Kondratiew Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: vancouver Posts: 310	rent Desperado 3 aka once uopna time in mehico and u'll hear rodriguez tell u how its done, everything is CG baby. Ricoche bullet hits, and smoke all CG. Simple and safe! __________________ My documentaries - http://www.asphaltjunkiez.com

February 21st, 2006, 01:41 PM	#7
Andrew Todd Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Saint John, CANADA Posts: 633	get those chinese firecracker things.. the ones that spark and pop when you throw them on the ground. __________________ video : xl2 / letus35xl / bogen 503 photo- canon 1dmkII - bronica etrsi

February 21st, 2006, 01:02 PM	#6
Paul Jefferies Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Croydon, England Posts: 277	The economy way i use to get the bullet puff of smoke/dirt is to use a "party popper" - one of those plastic novelty things shaped like tiny bottles, where you pull the string, it goes bang and paper streamers pop out the end. Simply remove the streamers, then put in a small amount of dirt/earth, hide it behind some furniture or something, then get an assistant to pull the string at the appropriate moment. Its pretty safe too, although I would still recommend eye protection and a degre of common sense...

February 21st, 2006, 07:54 PM	#8
Mike Leong Tourist Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: CA Posts: 4	A safer, more economical way (well...hopefully more economical) is to use compressed air. If you remember or know, thats what they used in band of brothers for explosions, bullet hits etc. due to it being much safer. All you need is a compressed air source, a release valve or some kind of trigger, and a tube/funnel/pipe to focus it (for the simplest version of course). For ground hits you can dig and hole and put dirt on top of the opening. I've messed around with this myself with pvc pipe, a hand pump, and valve all for a couple bucks. Its lots of fun :)

February 21st, 2006, 09:30 PM	#9
Joey Kneller Tourist Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Richmond Hill Ontario Posts: 2	One standard, in special effects is to employ a 'sweeney gun', which is an compressed air fed gun that shoots something akin to a paintball membrane with whatever medium you chose to load into the sweeney. Also this is used to deliver bug splatter on windshields etc. A friend of mine in special effects, where I work also has had good effect with a simple paintball gun, with a co2 cartridge used for propellent as apposed to the Sweeney which is pretty expensive and has hoses leading back to the rather large cylinder making the whole contraption a big production.