Electric Plasma Ball

[Paulo César Duarte]

Hello List

I�am trying to make a effect like electric plasma ball:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcI8ihPkqs8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP8-ZS79gok
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFDR0ihuf2M&feature=related

I know I can do with strands, but what I want to do is emit particles
from the small sphere and the big sphere (external), and these
particles constaint each one to self sphere with a surface force and
turbilize forces(to animate the positions), an them connect theses two
with strands.

Is there other ways, any suggestions?

Cheers.
Paulo C. Duarte

[Vincent Fortin]

It's a very valid (yet basic) approach. My suggestion is that you start with a four control points strand:

p1: start point (internal sphere)

p2: p1's handle

p3: p3's handle

p4: end point (external sphere)

Then use those points to describe a bezier curve which you can resample and turbulize later on. In your videos, notice that the end points don't always wander around smoothly; they can jump around from times to times or move erratically depending on the frequency of the device. That's why fewer control points will make things easier for you to animate (or simulate). If you simply "connect" your start/end points somewhat linearly and independently of the overall animation, you'll be missing the extra realism. Simple turb or even layers of turbs on your strands will most likely look generic. So each of the CVs on your bezier curve should be animated in relation to each other. E.g., the plasma curve bulges in the direction it's traveling and p3 is often attracted to a location before p4 actually snaps there.

To summarize: two points (p1 and p4), constrained respectively to the internal and external spheres, animated in any way you want. Plus two handles (p2 and p3), constrained in-between the first two and dancing around them. Use those points as inputs for a bezier formula to drive the position of another subdivided strand. Then turbulize that strand at will (in UV space for better results).

That's just my 0.02$, but if you can afford setting things right from the start you'll end up with an interesting setup to play with i.e. more animation options, branching and snapping to characters. Here's an example: http://vimeo.com/16487535 not exactly plasma ball but I had them handy as a reference all along my development!

Vincent

2011/3/20 Paulo César Duarte <pauloc...@gmail.com>

Hello List

I徨m trying to make a effect like electric plasma ball:

[Paulo César Duarte]

Hi Vicent, thank´s for reply.

Yes, your setup is very good and with nice control over the animation.
I like the example in the Legend of the Guardians, you work on that?
Can you share some tips on making this kind of setup, maybe building a
array with linear interpolation between the p1 and p4?

Cheers.
Paulo C. Duarte

2011/3/20 Vincent Fortin <vfo...@gmail.com>:

[Vincent Fortin]

I'd try avoiding arrays if possible. I'd probably use a different pc for each control point and query their position in a basic strand setup. With the bezier node you'd get the interpolation for free. I'll see if I can hack something together today and will get back to you!

2011/3/23 Paulo César Duarte <pauloc...@gmail.com>

[Vincent Fortin]

Here you go Paulo! http://vimeo.com/21408099

I did split all control points on 4 different clouds so you can trash or modify, for example p4, if you don't like the way it moves. I find it easier to manage than arrays. That way if someone wants to art-direct one of the strands it's easier to just plug in a null and hand animate it. In fact you don't have to use my control points at all since the bezier part is done in the plasma point cloud.

Hope it explains better. There's probably tons of better ways to do it but hey it took about 3 hours to set-up!
Vincent

[Steven Caron]

this reminds me of the first few ICE challenges that were hosted, the ones by helge were particularly thought invoking!

s

[Vincent Fortin]

Does that mean he made a plasma ball already!? Like a faster, better stronger one......... :p

[Steven Caron]

no, i dont think he did... this is a fresh challenge

s

[Vincent Fortin]

Phew, here's the Model then :-)

www.vincentfortin.com/share/plasmaball.emdl

[Paulo César Duarte]

Wow, very nice... the animation really gets the feeling of plasma
ball. I will play with your setup and make a render soon. Thanks
Vicent for take some time making this, help me a lot.

Cheers.
Paulo C. Duarte

2011/3/23 Vincent Fortin <vfo...@gmail.com>: