desert heat effect

[Nathan Quattrini]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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