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Words by Mary Pyefinch
April 2005
particleIllusion is a stand-alone application
that is used as a post-render tool, so it is compatible with
any 3-D application, and can be used with video and still
images too. It uses OpenGL hardware acceleration so you can
get real-time previews of most effects and real fast rendering
of final output. It is very easy to use, powerful and fast.
However, what is amazing about this tool is that almost anyone
can build an effect using this software. There are hundreds
of pre-set effects included and more available for download
off the website monthly – all free. So there is no need
to reinvent the wheel – just build upon one of the pre-set
effects and make it your own.
Since there is no formal training available (currently in
development by 3rd party vendors), the first place I headed
to find out how to use this product was the online Help. The
documentation is very clear and explains the basics. But to
find out what type of effects you can create with the product,
go to the tutorial section of the website. I opened “Tutorial
#1- Adding Emitters Over Background Footage” and “Tutorial
#2 – Multi-layered Project,” followed the directions
step-by-step, and found it to be very easy. Using the pre-set
basic short burst green (#8 in Tutorial 1 screenshot), it
took me about 25 minutes to complete the exercises. The multi-layered
project consisted of adding fireworks to the skyline behind
the Space Needle and then creating an animated motion blur.
Cool!
Now the Mac community can expect the particleIllusion SE
OS X version to be released in late October. The list price
will be $99 but a special introductory price will be offered.
And more details will be available closer to the release date.
This version is the ‘light’ version of particleIllusion
3.0. The SE version is recommended for beginners and casual
users. It is single layer and only supports BMP, JPG, TGA
image formats (Mac formats may differ). For a full listing
of what is available in SE, go to www.wondertouch.com.
particleIllusion 3.0 for OS X will be released a few months
after SE, probably in the January timeframe. List price will
be $399 but a special introductory price will be offered.
Upgrade pricing has not been set yet.
Formerly, Impulse owned particleIllusion. However in 2002,
Illusion decided it wanted to pursue other opportunities,
and dropped particleIllusion from its product offerings. So,
particleIllusion’s principal developer, Alan Lorence,
an independent contractor, had the choice of either letting
the software die on the vine or taking control of it.
Alan Lorence decided to take control. So he bought the rights
to the software in June 2002 and began his company, Wondertouch.
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 Mr.
Lorence says, “Wondertouch‘s focus is on particleIllusion
– no other products are planned at this time.”
He continues, “Our goal with particleIllusion (both
full product and plug-in version) is to make spectacular
effects accessible to anyone, from the casual user to the
effects professional.”
It seems that this software has been a “little-known
secret weapon.” However, Mr. Lorence has this to say
about his plans to spread the word:
“Since founding the company, we implemented a PR,
marketing and advertising program that is bringing steady
exposure to the product. This includes traditional PR outreach
activities, exhibiting at industry trade shows, and leveraging
the ways customers utilize the products on the website.”
Recently at Siggraph 2004, Wondertouch demonstrated the
particleIllusion plug-in for Adobe After Effects. This plug-in
will provide motion graphics and visual effects professionals
with easy access to the powerful particleIllusion 3.0 software
engine from directly within the After Effects environment.
Adobe After Effects offers creative control to efficiently
produce motion graphics and visual effects for film, video,
multimedia, and the Web. And the availability of the particleIllusion
plug-in is welcomed by the Adobe After Effects community
of creative professionals. The software is scheduled for
release early in the fourth quarter of 2004.
At this time only one other plug-in is available. An older
version of particleIllusion (ver. 2.0) is already integrated
into Discreet’s Combustion 2.0 and 3.0 software but
Mr. Lorence says, “The company is always evaluating
other plug-in markets.”
The professional effects community loves particleIllusion
because it is fast and cost effective. For this reason you
can find particleIllusion effects being used in TV shows
(Star Trek Voyager) and commercials, film (Manchurian Candidate,
Van Helsing) and Pre-vis, 3D animation, motion graphics,
video games (The Simpson’s Road Rage) and video production.
However, because it is easy to use and inexpensive (SE
version $99), you can use it at home just for fun. What
better way to perk up your home videos than to add a few
explosions to the mix?
You can purchase particleillusions 3.0 directly from Wondertouch,
either by downloading off the website or by ordering a CD:
www.wondertouch.com.
particleIllusion 3.0
Made By Wondertouch
www.wondertouch.com
Price $99
Pros Fast, economical, fun and easy, real
time preview, and great support and user forum.
Cons Needs faster release of Mac upgrades.
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