Wavy heat-distortion effect at DVinfo.net

Andrew J Morin · May 14th, 2007, 01:11 PM

I'd like to hear from anyone who has tried to produce an effect like the heated-air-distortion that you see rising from hot surfaces in Adobe (AE and/or PP). I've got all sorts of footage on green screen that will be virtually-set on a hot tarmac.

Any suggestions for creating the appearance of a hot surface heating the air above it?

thanks in advance,
andy

Shawn McCalip · May 14th, 2007, 02:18 PM

Try This:

In After Effects, create an Adjustment layer over the footage/photo of your hot tarmac. Draw a mask using the pen tool- or a box to see things quickly- and put that mask near your horizon line. Feather the edges on it, and then apply the Ripple effect.

Personally, I put the center of the ripple somewhere out of frame, off to the side.

For the other settings, use a light touch... Try width settings between 30 and 60, wave height between 1 and 3, and then start off with a slower speed somewhere between 2 and 4. You can also animate the speed to achieve more of a random effect to simulate reality.

Hopefully my "poor man's tutorial" helps out. Good Luck!

Andrew J Morin · May 14th, 2007, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn McCalip

...Hopefully my "poor man's tutorial" helps out. Good Luck!

That's exactly the kind of quicky, starting-point suggestion I was looking for!

Thanks!

Andy (still open to other clever suggestions)

Frank Hardie · May 15th, 2007, 08:05 AM

If the Ripple effect doesn't work for you, try the Wave Warp effect.

May 14th, 2007, 01:11 PM	#1
Andrew J Morin Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 140	Wavy heat-distortion effect I'd like to hear from anyone who has tried to produce an effect like the heated-air-distortion that you see rising from hot surfaces in Adobe (AE and/or PP). I've got all sorts of footage on green screen that will be virtually-set on a hot tarmac. Any suggestions for creating the appearance of a hot surface heating the air above it? thanks in advance, andy

May 14th, 2007, 02:18 PM	#2
Shawn McCalip Major Player Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 315	Try the Ripple Effect Try This: In After Effects, create an Adjustment layer over the footage/photo of your hot tarmac. Draw a mask using the pen tool- or a box to see things quickly- and put that mask near your horizon line. Feather the edges on it, and then apply the Ripple effect. Personally, I put the center of the ripple somewhere out of frame, off to the side. For the other settings, use a light touch... Try width settings between 30 and 60, wave height between 1 and 3, and then start off with a slower speed somewhere between 2 and 4. You can also animate the speed to achieve more of a random effect to simulate reality. Hopefully my "poor man's tutorial" helps out. Good Luck!

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May 15th, 2007, 08:05 AM	#4
Frank Hardie New Boot Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 18	If the Ripple effect doesn't work for you, try the Wave Warp effect.