Notes for Technical Talk on Cool 3D Title Animation Program

 

Tonight’s demonstration uses two versions of the Cool 3D program. One is the latest version; Cool 3D Production Suite, which is available as a free download for 30 days trial from www.ulead.com. It is dated 2002/2003. The other is Cool 3D Version 3.0, copyright 2000, which was made available as a freeware program on a CD-ROM sent with one of the last issues of Computer Video magazine before it stopped publishing in February 2005.

 

Basics

To demonstrate the basic concepts of three dimensional modelling we will put one of the preset objects into a new window and do the following things with it;

Many other things can be done to/with an object, such as;

The objects to which these things can be done can be any one of a number of preset examples offered in the program, or it can be text which you insert and edit yourself. Objects in the correct file format can also be imported from outside the program, however the few I have found on the internet look rather expensive.

The Time Dimension

The program models static objects in three dimensions. In addition it offers the fourth dimension of time, on a timeline along which you can vary the instructions by positioning key-frames over a length of your choice. Total time can be varied both by the number of frames and the frames-per-second chosen. The program uses a default of 15 fps which in some of my examples I meant to alter to 25 fps but forgot to do so, with the result that a ten second example came out at sixteen seconds. Nevertheless it looks quite smooth.

Most types of change (such as orientation or transparency) can each have their own independent timeline so that changes to one do not have to happen at the same time as changes to others. To keep track of complicated 3D productions, the PS version introduced a large scale multi row timeline. Earlier versions have small scale timelines showing only one attribute at a time.

You can produce a movie clip of the objects you are creating and manipulating, or you can import a live action movie clip and add computer generated objects and actions to it. Finished clips are saved in AVI format.

 

Examples on DVD
  1. A moving and rotating title, coming towards us. No background. Made in 3DV3.
  2. A moving and rotating title with still photo background. Made in 3DV3, sound added in Edius.
  3. A moving arrow to show position on map. Made in 3DPS.
  4. A jeep driving into a preset "tunnel". Made in 3DPS.
  5. A moving model car to show position on map. Made in 3DPS.
  6. An object coming into background still photo scene. In three sections: 1. The scene, 2. the object, 3. The combination. Made in 3DV3. Sound added in Edius.
  7. An object moving towards us with changing image beyond it. In three sections: 1. The object, 2. The moving image (a light), 3. The combined clips. Made in 3DPS, sound added in Edius.
  8. A complicated composition finishing with static title, using a preset combination. Made in 3DV3, sound added in Edius.
  9. An imported movie clip. I have added a 3D object which moves with the live action. Made in 3DPS.

 

Using with other programs

Cool 3D will normally be used to produce short clips for incorporation in longer edited movies. These clips can be complete in themselves, such as an opening title, or they may be merely a component which you want to lay over a scene in your movie. The latter can be handled either by loading your scene into Cool 3D (PS version only) and working on it there, or by exporting your 3D object as a file with Alpha channel transparency. This format leaves all of the frame transparent except the object you created. Most editing programs will allow you to lay that clip over your timeline image which will thus appear to be behind the object.

3DPS will accept sound files, but I have found it more convenient to add sound in my editing program.

Keith Head, 20th February, 2006