Uploaded December 2023 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
Create cinematic 2D and / or 3D shockwaves to match your favourite space movies.
In this video, I talk you through how to create a planar shockwave (as first seen in Star Trek VI: the Undiscovered Country when the Klingon moon of Praxis explodes). The opening of that movie starts with a cataclysmic event which results in two shockwaves traveling through space. It's an awesome opening scene and the VFX was reused in the Stargate movie and the Star Wars Special Editions. While exploding rings may not be scientifically likely, they do look pretty cool, but every tutorial I've seen on the topic has stuck to the 2D method. It turns out it is possible and quite simple to produce a 3D expanding ring using CC Particle World.
I cover both the 2D version, which uses a combination of Fractal Noise, Linear Wipes and Polar Coordinates to get the right look. Then I go on to use the included CC Particle World to generate a shockwave in an entirely different way.
To compare, check out the project file in the link below - and it's not too late to vote on your preferred method:
*2D or 3D Poll*
youtube.com/post/UgkxkL8IUYIWWmWQWE2ooYzXKXmaHKKMBnpK
#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/p0ez99f2fw69luzy4vwpj/Planar-Shockwave.zip?rlkey=02cs1ewfhdw5qy0vywh9gfb7q&dl=1
#aftereffects #tutorial #startrek
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*Chapters*
00:00 Going to the movies
01:53 2D Fractal Noise, but optimised
06:03 3D Particles
09:10 A 3D Adjustment layer
11:25 Final tweaks
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
Create cinematic 2D and / or 3D shockwaves to match your favourite space movies.
In this video, I talk you through how to create a planar shockwave (as first seen in Star Trek VI: the Undiscovered Country when the Klingon moon of Praxis explodes). The opening of that movie starts with a cataclysmic event which results in two shockwaves traveling through space. It's an awesome opening scene and the VFX was reused in the Stargate movie and the Star Wars Special Editions. While exploding rings may not be scientifically likely, they do look pretty cool, but every tutorial I've seen on the topic has stuck to the 2D method. It turns out it is possible and quite simple to produce a 3D expanding ring using CC Particle World.
I cover both the 2D version, which uses a combination of Fractal Noise, Linear Wipes and Polar Coordinates to get the right look. Then I go on to use the included CC Particle World to generate a shockwave in an entirely different way.
To compare, check out the project file in the link below - and it's not too late to vote on your preferred method:
*2D or 3D Poll*
youtube.com/post/UgkxkL8IUYIWWmWQWE2ooYzXKXmaHKKMBnpK
#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/p0ez99f2fw69luzy4vwpj/Planar-Shockwave.zip?rlkey=02cs1ewfhdw5qy0vywh9gfb7q&dl=1
#aftereffects #tutorial #startrek
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Chapters*
00:00 Going to the movies
01:53 2D Fractal Noise, but optimised
06:03 3D Particles
09:10 A 3D Adjustment layer
11:25 Final tweaks
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
