Lightsabers in Maya

Complex UV Layout in Maya

Over the last couple of years UV layout in Maya has changed for the better. In this course we're going to be taking a look at some of those changes as we UV map an entire character

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# 1 16-04-2006 , 04:42 PM

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I was wondering if anyone had any tips for creating the lightsaber blade/glow effect in Maya.

I have mastered rotoscoping in Photoshop and After Effects but as I am now learning my way through Maya I wanted to eventually apply the effect to a 3D Jedi.

(Example - Yoda episodes 2 and 3)

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# 2 16-04-2006 , 04:54 PM

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in the materials attributes, click special effects, and a glow bar should appear, adjust that

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# 3 16-04-2006 , 05:06 PM

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Tried that.

My problem is when the blade is in motion it becomes transparent with the motion blur. I need it to remain constant white.

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# 4 16-04-2006 , 05:46 PM

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See pictures below.

When stationary the effect would be fine with a glow attached.

In motion however the blur makes the core become transparent.

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# 5 16-04-2006 , 05:54 PM

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sorry, i cant figure it out user added image

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# 6 16-04-2006 , 06:18 PM

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Is this what you want? (see attachment)

If so, It's just a normal Lambert with a Green Color.
And both the Ambient and Incandescence up to full.
Plus the Glow Intensity to 0.200.

Hope this helps user added image

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# 7 16-04-2006 , 06:35 PM

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Almost EXACTLY what im after, Thank you.

On the lower part of your blade the white is still pretty strong (which is what im after) Is there any way that you know off to have the core be as strong for the entire blade.

(Example below from a lightwave tutorial. Can't figure out how to apply to Maya)

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# 8 20-04-2006 , 09:58 PM

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Example below shows what I mean.

The blade nearest the saber stays white while the other end turns almost pink.

Anyone have any ideas how to fix this?

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# 9 21-04-2006 , 01:17 PM

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I did some tests and to get that effect you need to use a
Jiggle Deformer insted of motionBlur.

Create a cube a make it the same way as the pic.
Then select the points selected on the pic and Create a Jiggle Deformer, whitch i under Deformation.
Set the attributes on that to 0.000 on everything except
the Jiggle Weight, set that to something like 0.700.

Just use the lambert I've postet. user added image

You can see the result here:

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Last edited by arneoog; 21-04-2006 at 01:22 PM.

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# 10 21-04-2006 , 05:20 PM

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Thank you arneoog.

Will try that out.

Do you have an example of that effect in motion (an animation)

Would the jiggle effect work just as well with a cylinder?

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# 11 22-04-2006 , 01:25 PM

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I've created this animation Click here

And yes, you can use a cylinder too.

Last edited by arneoog; 23-04-2006 at 03:32 PM.

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# 12 22-04-2006 , 06:45 PM

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Very Nice.

Thanks for your help arneoog.

user added image

:bow:

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# 13 22-04-2006 , 06:53 PM

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hehe, Thanks user added image

Just nice to help! user added image

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# 14 22-04-2006 , 06:57 PM

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Im only new to Maya but watch these forums for more pics of the effect in use once i've got more experience with modeling and animation.

Til then, Thanks again.

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# 15 23-04-2006 , 07:53 AM

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I made this, how to make the 'blade' so what i did is made a pole out of polygon and rounded the edge, then i when to he rendring menue and created a paint that glows greenish and rendering quickly gives me the preview i need to arange the colour, glow, whiteness ect... hen i just painted the whole pole with the colour and voila one light saber ready, I'm using it in a movie, when its ready I'll post it up so you can see its effects.

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