View Full Version : Creating Flickering Fire Effect


Dan Measel
September 5th, 2007, 08:01 AM
Does anyone know a good way to create the red flicker of a campfire on actors faces in Vegas? I know how to create a red glow but not sure how to make it flicker, like from a fire.

Edward Troxel
September 5th, 2007, 08:09 AM
I've seen lights that simulate burning torches. They have a fan inside that blows strips of cloth or something upwards causing the light to flicker and look more like fire.

Dan Measel
September 5th, 2007, 09:02 AM
Oh, I meant creating the effect in Vegas. The scene is already shot. Unfortunately, the fire died down a bit between takes and I want to simulate the same flicker in post, for continuity. I would think you could do it in Vegas (I'm using Vegas 6) but I could be wrong.

Emre Safak
September 5th, 2007, 09:47 AM
I need to do this too; let's brainstorm! Have you tried using the Film Effects' Flicker tool?

Greg Boston
September 5th, 2007, 09:59 AM
Just thinking out loud, but what if you could take some actual fire footage, turn it into an alpha mask and composite a red/orange gradient with it.

-gb-

Dan Measel
September 5th, 2007, 12:16 PM
I was thinking along the lines of masking out the actors face and applying a red tint to the mask to blend with the original clip. But wasn't sure how to make it flicker realistically. Possibly adding the Flim Effects would do that. I may need to learn how to use gradients too.