Mograph Techniques: Fractured 3D Type

Create animated 3D type with a cracked and smoking look, using CINEMA 4D and After Effects.

Clients want dynamic type that shatters, glows, and smokes. Type that explodes and knocks over the camera! Learn how to create this dynamic effect by combining CINEMA 4D render passes with some fine-tuning in After Effects. Ian Robinson shows how to model your type in C4D, fracture the text with the Random effector, shatter the letters with MoDynamics, and use the render passes to create glows in After Effects—without the use of global illumination. Plus, you'll learn how to use particle animation to make your text "smoke."

Introduction

• Welcome
• Using the exercise files
• Software used in this course

1. Modeling the Type

• Choosing the font with Typekit
• Modeling the type in CINEMA 4D
• Creating a detailed stone material
• Building fractured letters with Thrausi
• Settings for efficient rendering

2. Creating the Animation

• Fracturing text with the Random Effector
• Creating the dynamic camera move
• Animating the initial floating break
• Shattering letters with MoDynamics
• Refining with force and gravity
• Refining cameras for interactivity

3. Building the Composite

• Working with render passes
• Creating the initial composite
• Cleaning up the render passes
• Refining lighting, glows, and reflections
• Creating smoke out of the cracks
• Finishing touches for final output

Conclusion

• Final overview of the finished project
• Next steps