Lightsaber Animation Tutorial

A tutorial on how to make a lightsaber animation in Adobe AfterEffects CS3. I'm aware that the method is Ryan Webber's, and I'm also aware that he has his own video of the tutorial (and all due credit was given). Regardless, this was done using AfterEffects CS3, which works a little bit differently from the version he used.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• lightsaber
• light
• saber
• tutorial
• adobe
• aftereffects
• CS3
• ryan webber
• paul
• yvgeniy
• yev
• animation
• animate

[skeeterb2006]

your technique is a variation of Ryan Wieber's rotoscoping technique. his uses Adjustment layers with blur instead of mask feathering.

[Yvgeniy]

@skeeterb2006 This technique is actually Ryan Wieber's original rotoscoping technique. It's probably at least 8 years old now so I'm sure he's moved onto a much simpler method seeing as how in the last 8 years Adobe software has undergone significant improvements.

[Jesslayc]

hey this is off subject but where r u from? cool accent!

[Yvgeniy]

@Jesslayc Belarus.

[MrJoe000097]

What may i do, if the lightsaber is behind the person? like this: ----/person/------

The hyphens are the saber and the person is the person. I have no idea :(

Thank you.

[Yvgeniy]

@MrJoe000097 You have to create another mask layer, and mask the other end of the lightsaber. Using the same mask to do the split seems to be impossible even if you squeeze the mask to less than one pixel in size. There is still an ever slight glow present.

[Xoid97]

Clear and simple, thanks!

[joseaudi10]

very little screen! But a very good tutorial THANKS!

[SuperSims999]

thats just impossible :o

[air13ek]

Thanks dude! :} You were actually the first person out of like ten who I understood and make sense so thank you. :} lol.

[Jesslayc]

@Yvgeniy cool :D

[Yvgeniy]

@alifiz1996 There is a resolution mismatch. Either your image is too big or too small for your composition size.