Uploaded November 2024 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago
An Adobe After Effects tutorial.
This is a collaboration with @nmphoto37 who has been using a motion control to film models with amazing results. We've worked together to create an action sequence set in the Briar Patch from Star Trek: Insurrection.
The Enterprise enters the Briar Patch, passes through some nebula clouds, is attacked by the So'Na before coming about to strike back. It was a fun sequence to create and you can see the results here:
youtu.be/6ZNjEqVNQtc
In this tutorial, after explaining how this video came about, I start by using the rotobrush tool to cut out the Enterprise from the blue background. Then I use this as a Track Matte for the beauty pass shot. This cuts out the starship but removes any concerns over spill. Next I take the lighting pass and use the Levels effect to darken the background and brighten the lights, before separating the nacelles to enhance them further with a glow.
Once that's done, I then demonstrate how you can use the Camera Tracker to determine the 3D space the ship is meant to be moving in. Using the parent controls in a slightly unusual way to make it seem like a cloud picture is fixed in space while the ship moves. And then I use that to create a luma matte so it appears the Enterprise passes through a cloud.
While all this is going on, I also give a shout out to @SternFX for their tips on camera tracking and demonstrate how I use stock footage assets from @PexelsPhotos and @ActionVFXofficial to make the final sequence.
#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:*
Files Download: dropbox.com/scl/fi/6uje400nh1olk5mcs94ij/Motion-Control-passes.zip?rlkey=kx4qw6dzp74omxyfgold9xx4w&st=6ynojp8p&dl=1
NJM Photo's channel: youtube.com/@nmphoto37
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*Chapters*
00:00 Passing through the Briar Patch
03:15 Keylight or Rotobrush?
07:17 3D Space
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
An Adobe After Effects tutorial.
This is a collaboration with @nmphoto37 who has been using a motion control to film models with amazing results. We've worked together to create an action sequence set in the Briar Patch from Star Trek: Insurrection.
The Enterprise enters the Briar Patch, passes through some nebula clouds, is attacked by the So'Na before coming about to strike back. It was a fun sequence to create and you can see the results here:
youtu.be/6ZNjEqVNQtc
In this tutorial, after explaining how this video came about, I start by using the rotobrush tool to cut out the Enterprise from the blue background. Then I use this as a Track Matte for the beauty pass shot. This cuts out the starship but removes any concerns over spill. Next I take the lighting pass and use the Levels effect to darken the background and brighten the lights, before separating the nacelles to enhance them further with a glow.
Once that's done, I then demonstrate how you can use the Camera Tracker to determine the 3D space the ship is meant to be moving in. Using the parent controls in a slightly unusual way to make it seem like a cloud picture is fixed in space while the ship moves. And then I use that to create a luma matte so it appears the Enterprise passes through a cloud.
While all this is going on, I also give a shout out to @SternFX for their tips on camera tracking and demonstrate how I use stock footage assets from @PexelsPhotos and @ActionVFXofficial to make the final sequence.
#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:*
Files Download: dropbox.com/scl/fi/6uje400nh1olk5mcs94ij/Motion-Control-passes.zip?rlkey=kx4qw6dzp74omxyfgold9xx4w&st=6ynojp8p&dl=1
NJM Photo's channel: youtube.com/@nmphoto37
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Chapters*
00:00 Passing through the Briar Patch
03:15 Keylight or Rotobrush?
07:17 3D Space
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
