Curtains plug-in for Adobe After Effects

Quick Start.

Once you have installed the plug-in, launch After Effects. Create new composition, then create new layer. Choose the "AlphaPlugins\Curtains Drape" option from the Effect menu. Now simply click the Play button in Time Control window. You'll see a gray fluttering flag. Now we'll show you how to adjust animation parameters and fabric properties.

Adjusting the Fabric Parameters.

After you have applied our effect to the layer, you'll see the adjustable parameters for this module in the Effect Controls window. The first in this list is the Information window. It features brief info about this product and contains two buttons - Help and About.

Given below is the description of the effect parameters.

Rendering mode - this list lets you choose one of the drawing modes for your fabric. Default setting is Phong but you can choose any other option as well. For example, while adjusting your fabric's animation you can choose the Rough mode not to waste time for drawing. Keep in mind that the quality of rendering depends on the checkbox Quality on the Timeline.

Drape fixation - defines the fixation method for your fabric. You can fix your piece by its corners (left, right, upper, lower corners or all together), by its sides (with or without gaps) or you can leave your piece unfixed, then it will fall down under gravity or fly away as in the wind. Remember that you can animate all parameters. This feature of our plug-in lets you obtain an amazing effect: your flag fluttering in the wind is suddenly torn off and carried away by the wind, crumpling and crinkling as it flies.

The checkbox Alpha cut makes transparent the parts of the layer which are not covered with frostings.

Mesh size X, Mesh size Y - these parameters let you specify the size of the grid that your fabric will be based on.

Weight - use this parameter to set the fabric weight. The motion of a heavy drape will be different of this of a light tissue. Try experimenting with this parameter and you'll get the hand of it.

Gravity force - sets the gravity force that affects your fabric.

Wind direction XY, Wind direction XZ - sets the wind direction in XY and XZ planes. You can add animation to all parameters, this way creating complex and very interesting effects.

Acceleration - lets you slowdown or speed up fabric motion. Adjusting this parameter you can make your fabric tremble slightly and gently, or quickly and roughly.

Position - lets you position your piece on the screen.

Scale X, Scale Y - lets you stretch or compress the piece along X or Y axis.

Rotation X, Rotation Y, Rotation Z - lets you rotate the piece about X, Y and Z axis.

Check self-intersection - when this parameter is on, your fabric does not cross itself while fluttering and crinkling. Calculation speed then drops. To speed up the parameters adjustment process you can temporarily switch this option off.

Time dependent preview - when this option is checked, no matter where you move the slider on the timeline, you will always see the position of your fabric as it is in this particular frame, when you calculate the composition from zero frame. If this option is not checked, motion phase of your fabric in the preview mode may not always correspond to the image you'll get after final calculation.

Beware! This feature can take lot of time for processing.

Now we'll describe how to adjust the parameters of the material your fabric is made of.

Pic.4. Curtains materials

The list Material contains the parameters that you can use to adjust the properties of the material your fabric is made of.

Diffuse - sets the basic color of the material.

Specular - sets the glare color for the material.

Shininess - sets the glare size.

Shine strength- sets the intensity of the shine.

Self-illumination - turns on self-illumination.

Transparency - sets the transparency level for your material.

Pic.5. Glass materials of drape

Glass - when this checkbox is checked, you material will appear as if made of glass.

Refraction, Optical coefficient - set the refraction for the image under the glass surface.

Aberration - splits the white color into colors of the rainbow.

Pic.6. Texture on material

Texture - lets you superimpose texture, logo, image or video to you fabric.

Texture percent - mixes the material color and the color of the texture superimposed.

Texture bump - lets you add an embossed image to your piece (you can add both image and video).

Bump percent - sets the depth of the embossed image superimposed

Texture opacity - lets you define the transparency map for you piece.

Opacity percent - transparency level for Texture Opacity.

Texture reflection - lets you specify the image that will be reflected from the material of your fabric.

Reflection percent - sets the intensity of reflection.

Now we'll describe how to adjust the illumination of your fabric.

Pic.6. Lighting

You'll find all parameters needed for illumination adjustment in the Light list.

Multiply - sets the intensity of the light source.

Light color - sets the color of the light source.

Rotate UV, Rotate WV - sets the direction to the light source. You can set the rotation angles of the light source in XY and ZY planes.

Now we'll describe how to use the parameters of Tableau and Theatre modules.

With these modules you can create a variety of eye-catching transition effects. Most of the parameters of these two modules are similar to those of the Curtain Drape module. That's why we won't describe them again; we'll just focus on those not described above. These modules' main purpose is to help you create various types of curtains, drapes and blinds. All drapes and curtains in Tableau and Theater are fixed from above. Blind frequency sets the number of gaps in the fixation. You can roll your curtains apart with specific speed set by the Motion speed parameter. The Folding speed parameter sets the speed for your curtains to fold.

The difference between the Theater and Tableau modules is that Theater lets you draw the curtain apart in both directions and Tableau - only in one.

The set of professional effects Curtains lets you create various effects with fabric and add them to your video. With our module creating top-quality professional effects with fabric becomes fast and easy. Now you don't have to waste your time creating a complicated 3D scene in your package. Just concentrate on the creative side of your work and enjoy! You can create flags fluttering in the wind, tissue trembling as in the breeze, curtains drawn apart and more. We hope that our package will help you create a variety of new exceptional works, and that you'll find it useful and convenient.