Uploaded November 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
For my earlier tutorial showing how to create a photon torpedo and have to automatically explode on impact (or rather "at the second keyframe"), I created a short skirmish between the starship Enterprise-D and a rogue Klingon bird-of-prey. It was all just for a bit of fun, but I ended up using lots of different techniques, so I thought I'd share here a quick explainer for everything involved.
In this behind-the-scenes video, I talk you through where I got the models, how I used Video Copilot Element to animate them in After Effects. I also talk about how I made the decloaking effect, the Klingon disruptor beams, shield hit and finally how I used a custom map for the Shatter effect to break apart the bird-of-prey.
Oh yeah, I also show how to use @BorisFXco Particle Illusion to create the nebula background and then slow down the particle animation without creating any jerking motions.
#AfterEffects #StarTrek #tutorial
*Get ShiveringCactus VFX as phone cases, T-shirts, mugs: redbubble.com/people/ShiveringCactus/shop*
*Or buy me a coffee: ko-fi.com/shiveringcactus*
*Links:*
Project Download: dropbox.com/scl/fi/0nk2pn0ceqm1kmefor4az/Explode-on-impact.zip?rlkey=cksqz0ueq4jx7n4dckc6em0tm&dl=1
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*Chapters*
0:00 Star Trek battle
1:32 Animating in Element 3D
2:40 Particle Illusion Nebula
4:06 Bird of Prey decloaking and firing
5:03 Custom Shatter Map
I'm an Adobe Community Expert - which means you can find me on the Adobe forums if you need any help. community.adobe.com/t5/after-effects/ct-p/ct-after-effects?page=1&sort=latest_replies&lang=all&tabid=all
#AdobeCommunityExperts
For my earlier tutorial showing how to create a photon torpedo and have to automatically explode on impact (or rather "at the second keyframe"), I created a short skirmish between the starship Enterprise-D and a rogue Klingon bird-of-prey. It was all just for a bit of fun, but I ended up using lots of different techniques, so I thought I'd share here a quick explainer for everything involved.
In this behind-the-scenes video, I talk you through where I got the models, how I used Video Copilot Element to animate them in After Effects. I also talk about how I made the decloaking effect, the Klingon disruptor beams, shield hit and finally how I used a custom map for the Shatter effect to break apart the bird-of-prey.
Oh yeah, I also show how to use @BorisFXco Particle Illusion to create the nebula background and then slow down the particle animation without creating any jerking motions.
#AfterEffects #StarTrek #tutorial
*Get ShiveringCactus VFX as phone cases, T-shirts, mugs: redbubble.com/people/ShiveringCactus/shop*
*Or buy me a coffee: ko-fi.com/shiveringcactus*
*Links:*
Project Download: dropbox.com/scl/fi/0nk2pn0ceqm1kmefor4az/Explode-on-impact.zip?rlkey=cksqz0ueq4jx7n4dckc6em0tm&dl=1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Chapters*
0:00 Star Trek battle
1:32 Animating in Element 3D
2:40 Particle Illusion Nebula
4:06 Bird of Prey decloaking and firing
5:03 Custom Shatter Map
I'm an Adobe Community Expert - which means you can find me on the Adobe forums if you need any help. community.adobe.com/t5/after-effects/ct-p/ct-after-effects?page=1&sort=latest_replies&lang=all&tabid=all
#AdobeCommunityExperts
