In this Blender 2.5 video tutorial we go through the process of texturing a planet and preparing the scene so we can use the compositor. We then work extensively inside the compositor to take the scene and add rim light to the planet, glare from the sun, and edit the color and contrast of the planet. Some of the textures used in the tutorial are from cgtextures.com
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I’ve run into a problem. My lensflare (glare) effect does not turn out like it should. Instead of the line of orbs spaced a certain distance from eachother, I get something more resembling a thick smoke coming out of a point. Any help on how to make the glare ‘longer’ would be greatly appreciated.
Everything is connected as in the tutorial afaik.
Here’s a screenshot to explain my issue.
http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/7616/issueb.png
your light source (the white circle you use to create the lens flare) is too near to the center of the frame.
move it over a bit to the left or bottom and you will get a nicer result
Okay, after a lot of trial & error it seems to just have been bad camera placement. The flare lined up parallel to the view vector of the camera, making the whole thing look squashed.
Thanks for the help Bennichan. I didn’t see your message until I got it figured, sadly
yes, my post was waiting for moderation for a pretty long time…
Anyone tried adding a starfield behind their planet and sun? The mix node to marry it all together has stars bleeding through my planet, and the AlphaOver node doesn’t really seem to do anything but give me a solid white screen. Any ideas?
Also had a problem adding a starfield. My solution that probably isn’t the best but worked is: I added a starfield image ( imported with the Add On : Import Images as Planes) behind the planet on a Layer N°4 that I called Stars in my Render layer list. Then in the Compositor I mixed a new branch to the Planet branch, just doing in the Compositor: Shift + A > Add > Input > Render Layers which creates a new Render layer Node for my “Stars” layer. Then mix it with an Alpha Over Node with a factor of 1 to the Add Node of the Planet branch, just before it will merge with the 2 other branches called Point Sun and Wide Sun. Hope that helps
Well, I don’t know if Blender treats Render Layers differently, but I just went to the compositor and did “Add>Input>Image” and selected my starfield. I then used a “Scale” node to make it the proper size that I liked, used a curves node to make the stars a little more blue and increased the contrast to thin out the stars a bit (it’s a really dense image). I then took that “Image” socket on the “curves” node and put it into a “Mix” node with the transfer set to all sorts of values (Add, Screen, Multiply, you name it) and played with the Fac setting. No good. I then used an AlphaOver node to drop the image behind my planet and sun, nothing but a solid white result. I may be connecting the wrong sockets, but I don’t think so.
As with most other things in the compositor–IT SHOULDN’T BE THIS HARD. This is why I usually use After Effects…
great tutorial, thank you so much!
Thank you so much for this tutorial been looking for something similar to this for ages.
Thx for this great and helpful tutorial!
Btw I used to be afraid of the node editor too…until I realized that it’s actually quite simple
nice tutorial
i have a question, if i render it in 1980×1080 50%, it will turn out very nice
but if i make it 100%, somehow my glare is very different and not so nice
can anyone help me on this problem ?
this is the 50%, the different is in the streaks
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/856/26972713.png/
this is the 50%, the different is in the streaks
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/856/26972713.png/
this is the 100%
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/703/100ia.png/
please help me out on this
thanks
Hello
I have been fiddling with the blender file that I purchased. I get the same result as in the film. My problem is that move the camera, the glare and flairs are in front of the planet. Has anyone any idea how I can get this scene arranged for an animation ?
I’m also having trouble figuring out how to add a star map as a background. I added an image as a plane, positioned it where it should go, and assigned it to a new layer, but after that I’m stuck! I know I need to somehow add it to the compositor, but I don’t know what nodes to use or where to connect them (this is my first real experience with the compositor!). I tried the method described above but couldn’t get any results. Any help would be great!
That was my problem too.
Watch this: http://cgcookie.com/blender/2011/01/11/tip-rendering-with-a-background-image/ .. and this: http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/starfield-tutorial. Hope will help..
That was awesome
That was out of this wolrd Porter now im going to us this in me next earth scene.
Hey i could use some help. I’ve tries everything i could think of but it doesn’t work. My problem is that my point sun is in front of my planet when it renders and i don’t know why. So if you can help me it would help a lot thanks.
I am just now getting around to this tutorial. You’ve had three or so months of feedback, and here’s some more.
I think you’re a great teacher. Your instruction method was great! Clear, friendly, calm. Very approachable. I am looking forward to more tutorials from you.
Hi there. I loved the tutorial and made a picture like this, but I just want to know, is there any way to move the lens flare so that it’s centered on the sun? It’s not that big of a deal, I just wanted to know. Thanks!
Hey guys, i want to add a cloud cover over my planet.
I’m using this texture, all mapped on a sphere that’s just slightly bigger than my planet
http://naturalearth.springercarto.com/ne3_data/8192/clouds/europe_clouds_8k.jpg
the question is, how do i make the black areas transparent? so i’m left only with white/grayish clouds?
At 2:20 pressing L selects top and bottom half. I can’t seem to separate them.
i cant do the panting be cuse it wil not show the texter on my sfeer.
p.s. sory about the speling arors.
Follow all the steps as he said in the tutorial and you should be able to do it. it is pretty straight forward
Thank you Porter, Awesome tutorial. I was searching for a solution for rim light and also couldn’t find a good lens flare effect, thank you for showing me both!! True Artistry. I tip my hat.
All of the Blender tutors I have listened to and watched have been very informative. The tutor here is no exception. Thanks to all. Now I wish to ask if anyone has heard of a Moog synthesiser? In music production of the 60′s and 70′s, the Moog was the prime example of modular editing (of sound envelopes) on a large physical board of switches and pots (knobs). The compositor editor here does look scary and is reminiscent of a whole series of guitar effects pedals. It seemed to me that compositing in this way is similar to audio editing and enhancing – and that it might benefit (not be so scary)from the layouts of another muse. A “board” might show all effects; as on/off. Then shared parameters – amount etc. Then specific parameters/values. It would be a big board until the effect selections are made and then put into modular form [side by side]. Now the same format of the complete board is applied to a smaller board with just the modules of the chosen effects. Adding modules would be easy in a virtual world just click “add effect” and up pops another module of the new effect and parameters. Again in sound production terms, the compositors in Blender look like part of a “patch board or bay” as to be seen in early telephone exchanges and this resembles a (non existent) chaos that is scary!
Just a thought. For all I know, Blender.org may have already done this (lemme know soonest if so please!!)as I would say that Blender is brilliant and the tutors are excellent so mine is a request/suggestion not a complaint.
p.s. I guess that in short, what would benefit compositing from my point of view would be a virtual mixing desk of modular channels.
Awesome Tutorial still!
I’ve never really dived into the compositor, mainly cause it seemed like a jungle to me, and I’ve always relied on Photoshop for this.
Thou after watching this tutorial, it seems a lot easier than I first thought!
So a big *Thumbs Up*
So would I be able to modify and animate the using the camera, with this tutorial or is it just good for picture based renders?
I have just finished making my world with full lighting. Brilliant tutorial concidering I have had blender for 2days and made this in one!
One problem I have is that when I add a backdrop my planet disappears where it is shadowed and no light is being received from the lamp. How do I fix this so the surface area not receiving light will just be black, as opposed to being transparent?
helpful tutorial. thankx
oh my god i’m in second day in minute 20.00 the risult is pretty good but it’s incredible difficult!
very good tutorial if possible for next time major zoom on nodes is good.
ty
At 19:15, when I plug my planet render alpha into the viewer, all I get is a pure white screen, not a white planet and black background. Not really sure what to do at this point.
Does anyone know how I can fix the alpha map of my planet layer? It’s pure white instead of a white circle with a black background. I don’t have a clue of where to go or how to fix this.