Wrap Around Chain

Hi, i'd like to ask if anyone knows how i could possible create such a wrap around chain as in this video in second 0:13

What would be the best way to do it? Is there any tutorial for it? i searched through google and came across a tutorial about wrapping a chain using puppet tool, but for this particular effect i can't figure out to use it.

Thanks.!

Wow, my bad. This one.







^^U

There are several ways of doing it, Tom mentioned a couple.
For older versions of AE that have Free Form included, you can use the 3d distortion tools to bend the artwork in 3d space. To create the illusion that the chain is moving you will need to create a chain segment that can be replicated seamlessly, like a texture tile and use Motion tile to extend that. Make a very long composition, not tall though, just enough for the chain to be in it and animate the chain moving left to right. Precompose that, bring it in your main composition and apply Free Form to it. Use the 3d distortion controls to bend it in 3d space.

Tudor "Ted" Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Tom Daigon] "Quote"
For the first option do u mean by any chance goin into ray traced 3D into the Geometry option and curving it? If so my chain which is a 2758 x 500 document it dosen't really "wrap" around my object, plus it does it in an horizontal way not in diagonal goin upwards, or downwards,.

About the Element 3D option, i can't get an image how that would be done. If u could give a detailed explanation would help greatly.

[Tudor "Ted" Jelescu] "Quote"
I've got Free form Pro in Cs5.5 but, the issue is that altough using the 3D transform tools it helped me greetly moving the position it's still way too complicated and sometimes i loose a lot of quality on it.

The other way i had in mind was by using cc cylinder which creates a perfect circle and using the duplicated method i could make it so that i would be able to have something inside the chains.

But the problem would be that the chain it's in an cylinder shape and not in diagonal, is there any way to fix that? I'll leave an screenshot.

However it looking the same way as in the vid.. which it looks much

[Vishesh Arora] "Quote"

I saw the tutorial very helpfull, but i just can't figure out how that would help me bend it.



At the End i just wen't for something which seemed a lot easier for me and created the chain in Cinema 4D and imported it into After effects with a multipass map.

http://i34.servimg.com/u/f34/15/24/45/56/sin_ta10.png

However, even with the multipass putting something inside ain't as easy as i thought =_=

If anyone's got any other idea or could give me a more detailed explanation would be nice, i'll keep searching thought..

Element allows you to import 3D objects into AE. For details on how it works you can view the many tutorials available.

https://www.videocopilot.net/products/element/

Tom Daigon
PrP / After Effects Editor
http://www.hdshotsandcuts.com




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I really can't advise you to go either way because I have no idea what you're going for. But from what I think I got... You want a 3D chain...wrapped around an extruded "think" word. Right? If its all 3D...why are you even considering doind it in AE? What else is in it?

You can simulate your subject with a simple plane positioned where he should be. or export your masked guy with alpha, and place him there.

Element 3D will limit your animation capabilities.

Doing shapes/distortion inside After effects will limit your 3d capabilites and/or photorealism.

Every option you take will have it's downsides.

But with c4d you can still do everything in AE... then export your scene to C4d and do the chain there...render it out, and composite it over.

You can have several different workflows and still be able to do it. The easiest/right workflow to choose will depend on your needs and look. (camera moves, reveals of the chain, etc.)

A way I have done this that isn't mentioned is to use per character 3d text on a path. You can make a text string like this: -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o- for your chain, kern it so it overlaps and scale the characters width wise so it looks more like a chain. Apply an elliptical path to it, then link the text to the path. Make the layer a 3d layer and rotate it along the x axis 90º till it is perpendicular to the camera. Then enable per character 3d and add per character rotation of -90º along the axis. You can animate the path to make the chain undulate, or move it along the path by animating the "First Margin". Because each character is treated like a mini layer in AE, it will respond perfectly to lights and other layers. You might even be able to make a string with just oooooooooo and write an expression that flips every other o 90º along x so you have something that is even more chain like.

-Matt

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