You don’t need to be an astronaut to enjoy a breathtaking celestial scene… you can create one yourself! They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder… Well I don’t know who “the beholder” is and why his eyes are so gorgeous, but I think this effect is quite lovely as well. Enjoy!

Step 1

Before we get started I must say that the final rendered output of this comp will take a huge amount of time, but I hope the final result will be worth it. I will be using After Effect CS4 for this tutorial. Also you will need Trapcode Particular 2.0 version of this plugin, because we need its shadowlet feature. Optional plugins: Trapcode Form and Lux, please download demo versions from Trapcode site. So let’s start with After Effects by creating a few folders in the project panel. I created four folders: ‘ALL Comps’, ‘pictures’,’sound’.

Step 2

It’s easier to build the scene using guide pictures. You can use any picture of space nebulas that you want. As for me, I used beautifull work of Greg Martin (www.artofgregmartin.com) called ‘EUPHORIA’. You can download it from his site. We will just use it as guide to understand location of each element in 3D space.

Step 3

Download and import it into your picture folder in the project panel. Then select folder ‘Pictures’, and select File->Import->File. Choose your picture and click OK.

Step 4

Now let’s create a new composition. Select Composition->New Composition. Use preferences as it is shown on the screencap below.

Step 5

Select your guide picture, which we imported in the previous steps and place it to the timeline. Scale it down to 60% in my case and make it ‘Guide Layer’ with right click on it. In that case After Effects will be ignored in final render output. After all, with this layer selected, hit ‘Enter’ and rename it as ‘guide nebula’.

Step 6

Next we need to create our light array for future particle system. We need six light layers for it. First of all, create new Point Light layer by clicking Layer->New Layer->Light. Change name to ‘Emitter Top L’, type – to Point, color as on the screencap below. The reason why we used such dark color, is because Particular would be affected by light intensity, but more information about it is in the following steps.

Step 7

With the Emitter light layer selected, hit ‘P’ button on the keyboard, change position properties as shown on the screencap below.

Step 8

Now duplicate this layer 5 times by selecting Edit->Duplicate. Change it x,y positions as shown below. Finally, its renaming depends on position of each layer. I used Emitter Top, Emitter Mid L and R (left and right), Emitter Down L and R.

Step 9

Now let’s take a look at our guide picture. As you can see, nebula has some “corns” like things that go radially from the center of it in z-space and x,y space as well. In the next steps we can try to imitate this using particles of the Particular and Lights as emitters of particles. But first let’s add some keyframes for position of the lights. And then add Particular to the comp.

Step 10

Select all light layers, and hit ‘P’ on the keyboard. Then click on the stop watch, this action makes first keyframe for us.

Step 11

Now deselect all by ctrl+click on ‘Emitter Top L’ layer. Move your Current Time Indicator to 02:00 seconds, change position of the light as shown below.

Step 12

Change position value for other layers as shown below. Adjust traectories of emitters as shown below. For better results change Z position value for some layers.

Step 13

Create new solid layer by choosing Layer->New->Solid. Name it BG, make it comp size. Place it below all layers and turn off eyeball of the guide nebula layer.

Step 14

Apply 4-Color Gradient effect for ‘BG’ layer Effect->Generate->4-Color Gradient. I used next colors: color1- #203262, color2 – #2B3042, color3 – #171B29, color4 – #1C2230. Change values as shown below. Or use just simple Ramp Effect.

Step 15

Create new Solid layer. Layer->New->Solid. Name it Particular nebula, make it comp size, color doesn’t matter.

Step 16

Apply Particular plugin for it. Select Effect->Trapcode->Particular. Don’t forget that this must be 2.0 version of this plugin!

Step 17

Change settings of the plugin as shown on the screencaps below.

Step 18

For this moment our nebula is black – it’s ok, because we didn’t add lights to the composition. But before we do this let’s ‘freeze’ our nebula for some time. Move your current time indicator to the 2:00 seconds. Then go to the particular “Physics” submenu and click on the ‘Physics Time Factor’stopwatch . This will create first keyframe, then hit PageDown button on the keyboard and change value from ‘1′ to ‘0′.

Step 19

Now move your Curent Time Indicator back to the 2:00 seconds on the timeline. Then hit ‘B’ on the keyboard – this action sets the beginning of our composition for final render output.

Step 20

Now let’s add camera to the composition. Select Layer->New->Camera.

Step 21

Also we need Null object to control camera rotation. Add null object to the composition: Layer->New->Null Object.

Step 22

Rename it: “Cam Null’.Turn on 3D swith for Cam Null Object.

Step 23

Roll mouse cursor over pick whip, press down and hold left mouse button, release it when you will be over with ‘Cam Null’ layer. This action will parent our camera to the null object.

Step 24

Then move your timeline indicator to the 2:00 seconds. Select ‘Cam Null’ layer and with layer selected, hit ‘R’ button on the keyboard. This will release Rotation properties of the layer. Then click on the ‘Y-rotation’ stopwatch. Hit ‘End’ button and then change y-rotation value from ‘0x -0,0′ to ‘1x -0,0′. This action makes loop rotation for us.

Step 25

OK. Let there be light! Make new Light layer: Layer->New->Light. Name it ‘Violet point’, type – point light and I used this color #30204D.

Step 26

With ‘Violet point’ layer selected, hit ‘P’ button on the keyboard. Change the position values of the light as shown below.

Step 27

Create new Light layer: Layer->New->Light. Change type to ‘Spot’ and use position and light settings as shown below. Color I used was #3A7FFD.

Step 28

Create new Light layer: Layer->New->Light. Change type to ‘Spot’ and use position and light settings as shown below. Color that I used was #3A7FFD.

Step 29

Create new Light layer: Layer->New->Light. Name it ‘Global brown’. Use ‘Spot’ type, change intensity to 150% and use position and light settings as shown below. Color that I used was #BC7300.

Step 30

Duplicate ‘Global brown’ layer: Edit->Duplicate. Change position value as shown below. Color that I used was #FF9C00.

Step 31

Create new spot light layer: Layer->New->Light. Name it ‘Orange Spot’, use color #FDA100, change settings as shown below.

Step 32

Duplicate ‘Orange Spot’ layer: Edit->Duplicate. Change position and Point of Intrest values.

Step 33

Now adjust position of ‘Cam Null’ layer and Camera as shown below. After that move your Current Time Indicator to the 16:16.

Step 34

Add new light layer: Layer->New->Light. Name it ‘Dark blue point’, use color #0A1F3D. Change position values as shown below.

Step 35

Duplicate light layer: Edit->Duplicate. Use color #0A0C3D. Change position values as shown below.

Step 36

Add new Solid to the composition: Layer->New->Solid. Name it ‘Particular stars around’, comp size, color doesn’t matter.

Step 37

Move your Current Time Indicator to the beginning of the composition by pressing ‘Home’ button on the keyboard. After that with ‘Particular stars around’ layer selected, apply Trapcode particular to it: Effects->Trapcode->Particular.

Step 38

Select preset ‘t2_StarfieldStatic1_HD’. After that move your Current Time Indicator to 2:00.

Step 39

Modify plugin settings as shown below.

Step 40

Place “Particular stars around’ layer below ‘Particular nebula’ layer.

Step 41

Create new Solid layer: Layer->New->Solid. Name it Form Stars.

Step 42

Apply Trapcode Form plugin to it: Effect->Trapcode->Form. Actually, you can use only Particular for this action, but I prefer combination with Form plugin.

Step 43

Change Form plugin settings as shown below.

Step 44

Let’s add some planets into the scene. First you need to import texture for your planet. Actually, I used three planets, but we can use only one for these three, just will play with shading. I used textures from my collection, you can download some of similar type from here (CGTEXTURES.com). For tutorial I used ‘ConcreteBare0035′ texture. After that import it into the project by choosing picture folder and select File->Import->File.

Step 45

Rename texture by selecting it in the project panel and hitting ‘Enter’ on the keyboard: ‘planet’. Then place it to the timeline.

Step 46

Pre-compose layer by choosing Layer->Pre-compose. Choose ‘Move all atribute into the new comp’ option. Name composition as Big planet.

Step 47

Apply CC Sphere plugin to the following layer Effect->Perspective->CC Sphere. Adjust settings of the plugin.

Step 48

Turn on 3D switch for this layer. After that with layer selected, double press ‘A’ very fast, this will reveal layer material options. Turn off ‘Accepts lights’ option.

Step 49

Adjust position and scale of the planet. Also, because our planet is fake 3D (flat actually) we need to apply some tricks to hide this when our camera will be rotating around nebula. With layer selected, go to the Layer->Transform->Auto-Orient->Orient Towards Camera. After that our planet always will be facing to the camera.

Step 50

Then go to the effect control panel with ‘Big planet’ layer selected. Reveal ‘Rotation’ menu of the CC Sphere plugin, then Alt+Click on the ‘Rotation-Y’ stopwatch and add this expression (case sensitive!): thisComp.layer(“Cam Null”).transform.yRotation . This will synchronize rotation of our planet with main scene camera rotation.

Step 51

Now if you make Ram-preview (hit 0 on the Num Pad) you’ll notice that our planet isn’t obscured properly with nebula. It’s because there are some plugin restrictions. But, you can use this cool script. Or do some additional work for it like I do. We need two different layers for our planet. One above Nebula and one below it. First place ‘Big planet’ layer right below ”Particular nebula’ layer. Then duplicate it: Edit->Duplicate, and place copy above it. Name it ‘Big planet 2′.

Step 52

With ‘Big planet 2′ layer selected, hit ‘T’ button on the keyboard. Move your current time indicator to 08:24. Click on the ‘Opacity’ property stopwatch. Then move to the 10:00 – change Opacity=0%; move to the 24:00 – simply click on the stop watch (check value=0%); move to the 25:01 – change Opacity value to the 100%. Check animation with Ram preview (I recommend to set resolution of the ram preview to Quarter and skip 5 frame to get faster, we just need check out how elements interact now). Now, everything must be working properly!

Step 53

If you want to add more planets just repeat steps above, principle is the same. I add two more planets with different size and with different Z-space values. For example, you can add planets on the back side of nebula.

Step 54

Let’s add some more elements, for example, smoke. This will add some depth to our scene. I used Form for it, but you can use also Particular for it. Create new Solid: Layer->New->Solid. Make Comp size, color doesn’t matter, name it ‘Form Smoke’. After that apply Form plugin: Effects->Trapcode->Form. Change setting as shown below.

Step 55

Put ‘Form Smoke’ layer below ‘Form Stars’ layer. Change blending mode to ‘Screen’, and reduce Opacity to 20%.

Step 56

Let’s do some color correction to our planet a little bit . Select ‘Big planet’ layer, double click on it (Alt+ double click if you not in CS4). Select our ‘planet’ layer and apply: Effect->Color Correction->Brightness&Contrast, then Effect->Color Correction->Tint and after all Effect->Color Correction->Curves. Adjust your settings.

Step 57

Now let’s add Lens Flare. Create new black Solid: Layer->New->Solid. Name it ‘Lens Flare’, comp size, color black. After that apply Lens Flare: Effect->Generate->Lens Flare. Use 105mm Prime type.

Step 58

Select ‘Emitter Top R’ layer and hit ‘P’ on the keyboard. Next Select ‘Flare’ layer and Alt+click on the Flare Center stopwatch. After that take pick whip and select ‘Position’ of ‘Emitter Top R’ layer, and modify generated expression as shown below. Now our flare will be moving in 3D space with all the rest elements.

Step 59

Select ‘Flare’ layer and apply ‘Unmult’ plugin: Knoll->Unmult (it’s free, download from here).

Step 60

Select ‘Flare’ layer and apply ‘Fast Blur’ plugin: Effect->Blur&Sharpen->Fast Blur. Set amount to 10. Change layer blending mode to ‘Screen’.

Step 61

Let’s add some vignette. Create new Black Solid: Layer->New->Solid. Name it ‘vignette’, comp size. After that select Pen Tool (hit ‘G’ on the keyboard) and draw mask shape as shown below. Change mask properties and layer blending mode to ‘Classic Color Burn’.

Step 62

Now we can add some additional group of stars near our emitter lights. For that create new solid: Layer->New->SOlid. Name it ‘Form stars down L’. And apply Trapcode Form to it: Effect->Trapcode Form. Place this layer below ‘Particular nebula’.

Step 63

Select ‘Emitter Mid L’ layer and with the layer selected, hit ‘P’ on the keyboard. Now when you can see its position, copy it values to the Base Form x,y,z. Adjust another settings as shown below.

Step 64

Repeat prevoius steps and add some more stars groups near nebula light emitters using the same principle.

Step 65

Add some glow effect to the ‘Big planet’ and ‘Big planet 2′ layers: Effect->Stylize->Glow. Adjust your settings. Color A #960000; Color B #FFBE61.

Step 66

Add some glow effect to the ‘Big planet’ and ‘Big planet 2′layers: Effect->Stylize->Glow. Adjust your settings. Color A #960000; Color B #FFBE61. I also increased contrast inside ‘Big planet’ composition, set Contrast to 83,0.

Step 67

Next steps drastically increase your render time! Duplicate ‘Particular nebula’ layer:select layer, then go to the Edit->Duplicate. Rename it ‘Particular nebula blur’. Change blending mode to ‘Darken’.

Step 68

Apply CC Radial Blur to ‘Particular nebula blur’ layer: Effect->Blur&Sharpen->CC Radial Blur. Adjust your settings.

Step 69

Duplicate ‘Particular nebula’ layer one more time: Edit->Duplicate. Place it above ‘Particular nebula blur’ layer and change blending mode to screen.

Step 70

Finally add adjustment layer:Layer->New->Adjustment Layer. Name it ‘Global glow’. Apply glow effect to this layer: Effect->Stylize->Glow. After that place it above ‘vignette’ layer and also put ‘Flare’ layer on the top of all layers. Adjust settings of the glow.

Step 71

With ‘Global glow’ layer selected, hit ‘T’ on the keyboard. Reduce opacity value to 25%. Now you can render out your scene! You can play with color correction of the whole scene, add some titles, spaceships, change textures etc.

Related posts:

1. Create a Breathtakingly Awesome Rain Scene – Day 1
2. Learn How to Create a Light Rays Custom Effect from Scratch

 

Download Script

createCustomEffect.jsx

 

Step 1

Let's start by creating the Custom Effect with all the Controls, what a Custom Effect is. It is just one 'effect' with all expression controls in it, only it is much easier to control especially if you have lots of controls. This script as is only works in AE 7 so if you are working in AE 7.0 you can skip Step 1 & 2. Otherwise we are going to quickly edit the script to make it work in CS3 or CS4. Lets open the script in Adobe ExtendScript Toolkit by double clicking it..

 

 

Step 2

Lets go in and do "Edit > Find And Replace" and find: 7.0 & Replace: CS3 (or CS4 if you are working in CS4) click Replace All, you get a Message that 5 Items are replaced, click OK Then save the script

 

 

 

Step 3

Now place the script inside of your AE Scripts Folder (C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects CS3\Support Files\Scripts\ in CS3 on Windows), (Applications/Adobe After Effects/Scripts on Mac)

 

 

 

 

Step 4

Lets start AE and start creating the Custom Effect. Run the script by going "File > Script > createCustomEffect.jsx"

 

 

 

Step 5

A New window pops up, this script is great I really like it but it is kind of limited. You can't change the order, or add groups and things like that. So let's just type a name and a matchName (that is without spaces) and leave the rest as it is. Hit Create. AE will close.

 

 

 

Step 6

Let's open the PresetEffects.XML file where all the Custom Effects Codes are saved, in CS3 on windows, the standard file path is C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects CS3\Support Files\. On Mac you need to right-click on the After Effects application icon and choose "Show Package Contents"

 

 

Then the path is "Contents/Resources/PresetEffects.xml"

 

 

Open PresetEffects.XML in Adobe ExtendScript Toolkit and scroll all the way to the bottom, there you will see our Custom effect.

 

 

 

Step 7

Now lets start by adding controls to the custom effect. I took the time to create a text file with all the Custom Effect codes I know so you can use it on your own, it is included in the preset download at the end of this tutorial. I will show you some controls to get you started. (If things don't make sense, check the Custom Effect codes text file and hopefully things will make more sense.) First add a group called Pre-Process.

 

 

 

Step 8

Let's add a Checkbox and 2 Sliders inside of this Group.

 

 

 

Step 9

We put a Point after this group, we want this Point to be at the center of the Comp at default. At the end of the Custom Effect codes text file, you see a Center Point Lets add that.

 

 

 

Step 10

You can see the completed Custom Effects from the Final Preset available for download at the end of this tutorial, so let's move on and start After Effects again.

 

 

 

Step 11

When you start you get a message asking if you want to clean up the startup script, click yes. There's a new comp automatically made called 'my Custom Effect Comp' in that comp there's a layer called 'my Custom Effect' then look at the Effect Controls for that layer, and there it is, our Custom Effect!

 

 

 

Step 12

Make a new comp, choose whatever settings you like, create some text so we can see what we're doing. Then copy and paste the Custom Effect from 'my Custom Effect Comp' to this text layer.

 

 

 

Step 13

First let's add the effect that will be the basis of our ligh rays, go "Effect > Blur > Sharpen > CC Radial Fast Blur"

 

 

 

Step 14

We want these rays to be bigger, the further the source point is from the center of the comp, CC Radial Fast blur does not do this automatically, so let's add an expression for the Amount by Alt + Clicking on the stopwatch. The first part of the expression will represent the center of the comp, so we are going to create 2 variables 1 for X and one for Y axis:

X = thisComp.width/2;  //(center in X axis)
Y = thisComp.heigt/2;  //(center in Y axis)

SP = effect("Light Rays")("Source Point"); //(the Source Point from the Custom Effect)

Now we need the expression that will calculate the distance between the XY center and the Point, there is a command for that called 'length' so lets type: length (SP, [X,Y]) That's a little too much so add /10 right at the end of that: length (SP, [X,Y])/10 now we need to add to that the ray length slider which is too small so add *2: +effect("Light Rays")("Ray Length") *2 Here is that full expression: X = thisComp.width/2; //(center in X axis) Y = thisComp.heigt/2; //(center in Y axis) SP = effect("Light Rays")("Source Point"); //(the Source Point from the Custom Effect) length (SP, [X,Y])/10 + effect("Light Rays")("Ray Length") *2

We also need to add an expression for the center of CC Radial Fast Blur, so just use the pickwhip to the Source Point. The expression should come out to this: effect("Light Rays")("Source Point")

 

 

 

Step 15

If CC Radial Fast Blur's Amount is at 100, it will not go any further because that is the maximum value of this effect, to overcome this we need to duplicate CC Radial Fast Blur. To this duplicated effect we need to add at the end of the amount expression -100 so when the first one stops, the second one starts growing. The expression for the duplicated effect should look like this:

X = thisComp.width/2;  //(center in X axis)
Y = thisComp.heigt/2;  //(center in Y axis)

SP = effect("Light Rays")("Source Point"); //(the Source Point from the Custom Effect)
length (SP, [X,Y])/10 + effect("Light Rays")("Ray Length") *2 -100

 

 

Step 16

Everything looks great so far, now we are going to take a look at the Pre-Process group, which are the mask options. We are going to use 'Circle' for that. Go "Effect > Generate > Circle" and put it above the CC Radial Fast Blur.

 

 

 

Step 17

The result is not what we want, we want this to represent the alpha so let's set the Blending Mode of 'Circle' to Stencil Alpha.

 

 

 

Step 18

If the 'Use Mask' checkbox from our Custom Effect is checked, we want our circle to not be visible. We can't shut this effect off with expressions, so as a workaround we can make the circle very big so it never cuts off the text or whatever layer you are using it on. Let's alt + Click on Radius to add an expression, Type:

if( 

and Pickwhip The 'Use Mask' Checkbox. Then after that type: 

== enabled){	//(this is what happens when it's checked, make sure there's 2 =='s) 

and then pickwhip the Mask radius Option from the Custom Effect. 

effect("Light Rays")("Mask Radius")
}else{  // this is what happens when it is not checked
10000 }  //(which is the maximum value) 

Here is the full expression:

if (effect("Light Rays")("Use Mask") == enabled) {
effect("Light Rays")("Mask Radius")
} else {
10000
}

And finally, under the Group 'Feather' from the Circle effect, Alt + Click on 'Feather Outer Edge'
and use the Pickwhip and pickwhip to 'Mask Feather' from our Custom Effect:

effect("Light Rays")("Mask Feather")

also, do the same thing for the Circle's Center and the Source Point.

 

 

Step 19

We're gonna work on the Blur Group now. Go "Effect > Blur > Sharpen > Radial Blur" and put it right below Circle. Set the 'Type' to Zoom & the 'Antialiazing (Best Quality)' to High.

 

 

 

Step 20

We're going to add an expression for amount (Alt + Click) almost the same as the last one:

if(effect("Light Rays")("Use Blur") == enabled){
effect("Light Rays")("Ray Length")
}else{
0
}

and again pickwhip the center to the source point: effect("Light Rays")("Source Point")

 

 

 

Step 21

Let's move on to the color group, there are 3 colors so we are going to use the 'tritone' effect. Let's add "Effect > Color Correction > Tritone" making sure to keep it below everything and Alt + Click on the colors from tritone and pickwhip them to the Color Controls from the Custom Effect with the same name.

 

 

 

Step 22

Nothing happens, the colors won't change. This is because Tritone looks only at RGB channels. To fix this we need a kind of Alpha to RGB + Alpha (or RGBA) converter, we can do that using a cool technique that I found. First let's add a Glow effect: "Effect > Stylize > Glow"

 

 

 

Step 23

That's not quite what we want, it is really bright and blown out. To achieve the effect we're looking for lets use these options: Set the Glow Threshold, Radius and Intensity To 0, 'Composite Original' to On Top And the 'Glow Operation' to None. Now, we have our neat Alpha to RGBA converter, which is also included by the final preset file as an individual preset (Called 'Alpha to RGBA Colors').

Quick Tip: As you can see in the image below, you can't see the Shadow color. Duplicate the Glow to see it, or if you want a bit more glowy look.

 

 

 

Step 24

Twirl open the 'Circle' and Alt + Click on the Opacity in circle and pickwhip that to the Shine Option From the Custom Effect. The Glow will make a weird, but cool looking effect that, while fading the opacity, first lowers the highlights, then the midtones and then the shadows, pretty cool. For a normal opacity, you can use the layer's transform opacity.

 

 

 

Step 25

For the boost light option, add Brightness & Contrast "Effect > Color Correction > Brightness & Contrast And Alt + click on 'Brightness' and Pickwhip it to 'Boost Light' and Add *2:

effect("Light Rays")("Boost Light") * 2 

do the same Thing For 'Contrast':

effect("Light Rays")("Boost Light") * 2 

 

 

Step 26

Use the image below as a reference to give all the controls appropriate names by selecting the effect name and hitting Enter. Finally reset the custom effect by clicking 'Reset' at the top of the effect. Now it is ready to be saved as a preset (Glow is now Called: Alpha to RGBA Colors (Copy Me))

 

 

 

Step 27

To save it as a Preset, open the Effects & Presets window, Select everything you want to save and click on the little post-it button in the lower right corner.

 

 

 

Step 28

A save sialog box comes up, go to "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects CS3\Support Files\Presets" on Windows or on Mac go to "/Application/Adobe After Effects CS3/Presets" I'm going to create a new folder called 'Jorrit Schulte' and inside another one called 'Light Rays'. In there, i'll will save the preset as 'Light Rays.ffx'

 

 

 

Step 29

Now that we have our preset saved, lets create a little project using the preset. Create a new Comp, choose whatever settings you want. and a layer that is comp size. Call that layer 'Planet'

 

 

 

Step 30

Add "Effect > Noise & Grain > Fractal Noise" Change the 'Fractal Type' to Dynamic, set the 'Contrast' to 75 and set the 'Brightness' to -15

 

 

 

Step 31

Add "Effect > Color Correction > Curves" Play with the settings until you get a cool looking color like this orange:

 

 

 

Step 32

Let's add "Effect > Perspective > CC Sphere" Set the 'Radius' to 150. Under the 'Light' Group set 'Light Height' to 100.

 

 

 

Step 33

Now that we have our simple planet, lets go on with the Light Rays part. Create a new solid called Light Rays, make it comp size and hit OK.

 

 

 

Step 34

Let's add "Effect > Noise & Grain > Fractal Noise" again. Set the 'Fractal Type' to Dynamic, set the 'Contrast' to something very high like 700 and the 'Brightness' to about -100

 

 

 

Step 35

Copy The 'CC Sphere' Settings to the 'Light Rays' layer. Pre-Compose it, we do this because otherwise the edges will get cut off.

 

 

 

Step 36

Apply our Light Rays preset, and hit Reset for 'Light Rays'

 

 

 

Step 37

Lets set the shadow color to a pure black, and we can set the midtones to some cool fiery orange color (I use #B46928 here). Also set the 'Boost Light' to 7.5 and the 'Ray Length' to about 43. Finally, set the transfer mode of the Light Rays Pre-Comp to 'Add'

 

 

 

Step 38

Under 'FX: Rays' set the 'Zoom' to Brightest, set the Custom Effect's 'Opacity' a little bit lower. I also added a curves effect to get this final look (I'll leave this part for you to figure out).

 

 

 

Step 39

We're going create a quick star background. Create a new white solid called BG, make it comp size and hit OK. Place the solid on the bottom of the timeline.

 

 

 

Step 40

go "Effect > Simulation > CC Star Burst". Play with the settings until you get something you like this. Make sure 'Speed' is set to 0 so the background doesn't move.

 

 

Here's what it looks like:

 

Conclusion

We have created a preset from start to end, including creating the custom effect, after that we've created a very basic planet with our preset We've had some fun time, well… I did, if you not, you are probably not reading this… ah well, I will see you next time

Related posts:

1. How To Create A Surreal Outer Space Nebula
2. Realistically Light and Render Interior Scenes using 3ds Max and Vray

Related posts:

1. Create a Breathtakingly Awesome Rain Scene – Day 1

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Hit ‘Pg Up’ button (Page Up) once and change ‘Flow X’ and ‘Flow Y’ values back to 95.

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That’s it. Hope you find this tutorial helpful and useful! Have a nice day!

Related posts:

1. Create a Breathtakingly Awesome Rain Scene – Day 1
2. How To Create A Surreal Outer Space Nebula

This is a great tutorial form Mr, Alex Verlan from Ukraine

Guys if you want the TrapeCode plugin for free here are the file link, its from my personal collection

www.ziddu.com/download/6094259/TrapecodePluginpluscrack.rar.html

Create a Breathtakingly Awesome Rain Scene – Day 1 from zullee72 on Vimeo.

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Select Skyscraper.psd in the project window and place it in the timeline.

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Apply Glow (Effect->Stylize->Glow). Set parameters as shown below. Sounds like poetry

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Related posts:

1. Create a Breathtakingly Awesome Rain Scene – Day 2
2. How To Create A Surreal Outer Space Nebula