Animating fireworks

Hi, I’ve been trying to animate fireworks in my story.

Here’s what I’d like to achieve:
ezgif-2-5682ec1da019

Here’s what I got so far :face_with_raised_eyebrow::
ezgif-2-5860ba0d97f6

Overlay FIREWORK1.png

FIREWORK1

&overlay FIREWORK1 create
&overlay FIREWORK1 opacity 1 in 0
&overlay FIREWORK1 shifts to 122 345 in zone 3 in 0 THEN overlay FIREWORK1 shifts to 104 329 in zone 3 in 1 loop inf times
&overlay FIREWORK1 scales to 0.000 0.000 in 0 THEN overlay FIREWORK1 scales to 0.775 0.775 in 1 loop inf times
&overlay FIREWORK1 moves to layer 0

As you can see I am not doing very good job at it :sweat_smile: I have no idea, besides obviously slowing it down a little, how to make it more smooth. Any tips? :frowning_face:

4 Likes

Use one of the easing functions?

I did. It looked very bad :woman_shrugging:t2:

How about:

@overlay FIREWORK1 create
@overlay FIREWORK1 opacity 1 in 0
@overlay FIREWORK1 shifts to 122 345 in zone 3 in 0 THEN overlay FIREWORK1 shifts to 104 329 in zone 3 in 1 loop inf times
@overlay FIREWORK1 scales to 0.000 0.000 in 0 THEN overlay FIREWORK1 scales to 0.775 0.775 in 1 loop inf times
@overlay FIREWORK1 moves to layer 0

It works pretty fast that’s why you should try using @
This happends to me too.

And I just want to ask, where did you get these fireworks overlays? I want them too :pleading_face:

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the only other thing I guess would work is if you used multiple frames like a gif but it’d be a lot of work :sweat_smile:

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But I want it all to happen in the back, so my characters could talk :pensive:

Hmm, the first ones are recorded from Episode Original “Blood Lust”, and the crappy ones I did myself in photoshop :sweat_smile:

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Ohh no haha I don’t have enough nerves to do that :rofl:

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Did your problem get solved?

If not you may try this, for making it smooth this (try to increase time)

Like @overlay name scales to abc in 2

Not exactly :unamused:

I’ve already done that. It looks slightly better now :sweat_smile:

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the diferences I see

in the video the fireworks ar not looping as it seem while yours are (or there is more complex loop pattern because the same overlay apears on bit different places).

also they use opacity change in time to fade in and fade out while you use set opacity to 1 in 0 and no fading

and they use small rotation while you do not rotate the overlay

3 Likes

Right, I tried to do sth with the opacity, but I can’t use loop while having pause at the beginning of the line which I think is important so that the overlay could go back to opacity 1 in 0. Don’t know if you understand what I mean? :sweat:

you can have sort of a pause in a loop

you just have to add the same thing in time

example.

& overlay X opacity 0 in 3 THEN overlay X opacity 1 in 1 THEN overlay X opacity 0 in 1 loop infinite times

that will make the overlay invisible for 3 seconds looking like a pause

1 Like

I think @JJ.Author can help on this on too, since she did an animated fireworks scene.

1 Like

Hahaha, you called, Lana?

@daxa, looks like you’re on the right track to me. All it needs is some polishing!

1st: Right now, your firework is shifting a bit to the right. I’d take your second shift (104 329) and push it to the left. This means it’ll look more like it’s bursting from the middle.

Summary

If you’re having trouble getting the number right, create a duplicate of your firework and set its opacity to 0.75 (or something similar). Center it on your original firework when the firework is at it’s initial scaling of 0.00 0.00. That way it’s easier to visualize!

2nd: Rotation
Episode’s firework has a slight rotation to it. While I don’t personally think you need it to make an effective firework, it is something to consider doing yourself. It would rotate on the 0.5 0.5 axis.

Summary

IMPORTANT: if you’re going to rotate your firework, practice that before you do step one. The rotation sometimes will shift the overlay to a different part of your screen, and you’ll have to take that into account when spot directing it.

3rd: Episode’s also has an easeout to it. Again, not necessary for an effective firework, but it’s also an option to play around with if you care to do so.

I used fireworks in my story Sinful Summer. They’re at the very end of my trailer (you can watch it by clicking here). Feel free to check that out to see how I did them :slight_smile:

3 Likes

Yes, sweetheart!!! lol :sunglasses: :100: :heavy_check_mark: :joy:

Hello,
I don’t know if seeing this will help or confuse you more but maybe check this out:
This is if you want the fireworks to happen one after the other but if you want multiple ones to happen at a time on a loop and you like how this looks, let me know.

The fireworks I attempted to make (they don’t really look like fireworks :see_no_evil:) :
Overlay name: FIREWORK

Overlay name: FIREWORK2

Overlay name: FIREWORK3

Overlay name: FIREWORK4

Overlay name: FIREWORK5

The Script:

EXT. BEACH MOON - NIGHT
&zoom reset
&cut to zone 3

&overlay FIREWORK create
&overlay FIREWORK opacity 0 in 0
&overlay FIREWORK rotates 0 anchor point 0.5 0.5 in 0
&overlay FIREWORK shifts to 140 415 in zone 3
&overlay FIREWORK scales to 0.000 0.000
&overlay FIREWORK moves to layer 2

&overlay FIREWORK4 create
&overlay FIREWORK4 opacity 0 in 0
&overlay FIREWORK4 rotates 0 anchor point 0.5 0.5 in 0
&overlay FIREWORK4 shifts to 244 484 in zone 3
&overlay FIREWORK4 scales to 0.000 0.000
&overlay FIREWORK4 moves to layer 2

&overlay FIREWORK5 create
&overlay FIREWORK5 opacity 0 in 0
&overlay FIREWORK5 rotates 0 anchor point 0.5 0.5 in 0
&overlay FIREWORK5 shifts to 60 499 in zone 3
&overlay FIREWORK5 scales to 0.000 0.000
&overlay FIREWORK5 moves to layer 2

&overlay FIREWORK2 create
&overlay FIREWORK2 opacity 0 in 0
&overlay FIREWORK2 rotates 0 anchor point 0.5 0.5 in 0
&overlay FIREWORK2 shifts to 249 388 in zone 3
&overlay FIREWORK2 scales to 0.000 0.000
&overlay FIREWORK2 moves to layer 2

&overlay FIREWORK3 create
&overlay FIREWORK3 opacity 0 in 0
&overlay FIREWORK3 rotates 0 anchor point 0.5 0.5 in 0
&overlay FIREWORK3 shifts to 70 350 in zone 3
&overlay FIREWORK3 scales to 0.000 0.000
&overlay FIREWORK3 moves to layer 2

@pause for 0.1
#if you don't have anything such as dialogue or codes starting with @ in between the firework coding you need this short pause here. but if you have dialogue or something with @ you can remove the pause
@speechbubble is 168 82 to 100%
        NARR
      Pause


&overlay FIREWORK opacity 1 in 0 then overlay FIREWORK opacity 1 in 1 then overlay FIREWORK opacity 0 in 1 then overlay FIREWORK4 opacity 1 in 0 then overlay FIREWORK4 opacity 1 in 1 then overlay FIREWORK4 opacity 0 in 1 then overlay FIREWORK5 opacity 1 in 0 then overlay FIREWORK5 opacity 1 in 1 then overlay FIREWORK5 opacity 0 in 1 then overlay FIREWORK2 opacity 1 in 0 then overlay FIREWORK2 opacity 1 in 1 then overlay FIREWORK2 opacity 0 in 1 then overlay FIREWORK3 opacity 1 in 0 then overlay FIREWORK3 opacity 1 in 1 then overlay FIREWORK3 opacity 0 in 1 loop inf times
&overlay FIREWORK scales to 0.135 0.135 in 1.3 then overlay FIREWORK shifts to 140 415 in zone 3 in 0.7 then overlay FIREWORK scales to 0.000 0.000 in 0 then overlay FIREWORK4 scales to 0.185 0.185 in 1.3 then overlay FIREWORK4 shifts to 244 484 in zone 3 in 0.7 then overlay FIREWORK4 scales to 0.000 0.000 in 0 then overlay FIREWORK5 scales to 0.152 0.152 in 1.3 then overlay FIREWORK5 shifts to 60 499 in zone 3 in 0.7 then overlay FIREWORK5 scales to 0.000 0.000 in 0 then overlay FIREWORK2 scales to 0.127 0.127 in 1.3 then overlay FIREWORK2 shifts to 249 388 in zone 3 in 0.7 then overlay FIREWORK2 scales to 0.000 0.000 in 0 then overlay FIREWORK3 scales to 0.135 0.135 in 1.3 then overlay FIREWORK3 shifts to 70 350 in zone 3 in 0.7 then overlay FIREWORK3 scales to 0.000 0.000 in 0 loop inf times
&overlay FIREWORK rotates 30 anchor point 0.5 0.5 in 2 then overlay FIREWORK rotates 0 anchor point 0.5 0.5 in 0 then overlay FIREWORK4 rotates 30 anchor point 0.5 0.5 in 2 then overlay FIREWORK4 rotates 0 anchor point 0.5 0.5 in 0 then overlay FIREWORK5 rotates 30 anchor point 0.5 0.5 in 2 then overlay FIREWORK5 rotates 0 anchor point 0.5 0.5 in 0 then overlay FIREWORK2 rotates 30 anchor point 0.5 0.5 in 2 then overlay FIREWORK2 rotates 0 anchor point 0.5 0.5 in 0 then overlay FIREWORK3 rotates 30 anchor point 0.5 0.5 in 2 then overlay FIREWORK3 rotates 0 anchor point 0.5 0.5 in 0 loop inf times


        NARR
    Pause
6 Likes

Are you serious? Those fireworks look great! I’ll get down right to it when I’ll be back from little holidays, but I can see that it will probably work out better than mine :sweat_smile: Thank you! :two_hearts:

2 Likes

Thanks for the tips! I will def use those :ok_hand:t2:

And your fireworks… lit, just like your story :eyes:

Hi. Can I use these overlays please? They look wonderful :pleading_face: .

1 Like

Hello, :slightly_smiling_face: yes of course and thank you :blush:

1 Like