Visual Effects Software

Inigo Montoya · Aug 28, 2006

Hello,

My video production so far has not included special effects other than chroma keying and an occasional photoshop mask. Now, I am interested in buying a effects program for a independent film coming up. I am not interested in effects such as filters (i.e. color grades, blur effects) but effects such as sparks, explosions, smoke, fog, debris, etc.

Can anyone recommend a good program? I would appreciate it if the program wasn't too hard to use, since the timeframe could be quite short.

Thanks.

gmangw · Aug 31, 2006

After Effects with Trapcode Particular would be great, but would be expensive and might take a while to learn. Wondertouch Particle Illusion is easier and less costly, with lots of presets, but isn't as flexible. Try the Particle Illusion demo and see how you like it.

BenB · Dec 25, 2006

Shake

DBXMe2 · Dec 25, 2006

And if you're on pc Discreet's Combustion 4... all you want built into one program

Jody Michelle Solis · Jan 15, 2007

What software are you using to edit and add your chroma effects?

http://www.grafxflow.co.uk/forum/

BenB · Jan 15, 2007

FCP 5.1.2 that now reads the Motion plug-ins
Misc FCP filters and thrid party plug-ins
Shake

It all depends on what quality the final output needs to be, and more imoprtantly, what the quality/format of the clips I have to work with are.