tayla | 10 years ago | 28 comments | 8 likes | 3.8K views
PiPPi, jopin, snafu and 5 others like this!
Hey guys this is an observation and not a bashing session on a truly remarkable software.
This site is sadly lacking for the novice and complete beginner, a proper structured forum where they can go to and either look for an instructional video on all aspects of the workings of BT or indeed post a question for help.
What we do have is a gallery for a very limited amount of people to show off their skills to the adoring masses and use the space as a sales window for their fantastic shows.
If you go looking in the tutorial section for help ideas it is once again mostly populated with more videos of users shows and not actually anything to do in the explanation of making an effect or how to use an effect, which basically is what a tutorial should be all about.
In fact the whole site appears geared to the selling of products and very little in the way of teaching how to use the product you are trying to use.
And by teaching I mean in the video form and not by text.
I've looked on youtube for tutorials on different subjects and while there are one or two they are in non English, more often then not the Spanish guys are the ones who have taken the time and effort to pass on to their fellow countrymen the skills they have acquired.
I'd just like to see more of a community spirit going on here and a bit of direction from the company itself in producing these "how to" videos, and not just the written word, please remember not everyone have had these skills showing or taught to them or can learn from the written word, and those that have learnt the skill why not show that community spirit and pass them on through instructional videos.
I think this idea/forum would be a valuable addition to the site, if need be if Michiel was unable to do it on the BT site I would gladly offer my services to run an off site help forum if the appropriate links from BT to it were made and of course the participation of people who could actually do the most good in helping users were involved in posting "how to" videos.
I hope this idea gets the consideration it deserves.
Cheers Guys... and Ladies.
"Disclaimer"... there were no humans harmed in anyway in the writing of this text.
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!
And, of course I agree with you.
snafu, 10 years ago
I wish there was a downloadable help file. It would make life so much easier.
John P.
jopin, 10 years ago
In this gallery you can find hundreds of tutorials, show files and FXs. You can filter the articles by using the buttons on the gallery home saying: ALL, DOWNLOADS, TUTORIALS, QUESTIONS, and SHOW-OFFS.
You can search by using the search form on the right side of the same page.
To ask a question, choose the menu item GALLERY > POST QUESTION. This drop down menu is accessible from every page on this site.
To ask a question about a specific article, use the comment form at the bottom of that article.
Please allow me to point you to some very useful articles, one per comment:
michiel, 10 years ago
Here's an excellent tutorial by BillyJack showing how to export 3D models from Blender:
michiel, 10 years ago
In this article IBMedia is demonstrating how to make texts appear and disappear:
michiel, 10 years ago
In your BLUFFTITLER INSTALLED dirive C:/outerspace/blufftitler/media/shows.
You will find number of tutorial shows. If you take time observe you will find
so many tips and tricks.( folders like Online Gallery,Particle Effects,Physics Effects,Picture Effects,Plasma Effects,Sketch Effects,Text Effects and so on.
Dani, 10 years ago
Something I'm surprised no one jump on right away in response are the many basic shows that came with the installer. Breaking those down and asking questions is how I learned... and am still learning truthfully.
The problem with an "ALL IN ONE" tutorial package is that BluffTitler is so versatile, that each artist flavor decides how they use it and each one of us are different. I'm mechanical, if I taught you every trick I know it wouldn't help you much with the dazzle of Joel or the grunge of LB nor any other artist in here. The best way is to pick and choose from the basic elements that suit your style, take them apart layer by layer and apply what you learn to original work.
BillyJack, 10 years ago
Well that is a resounding no from the guys that have conquered the art of Bluff, your first example gives a tutorial where you already need to be proficient with a third party software, other examples are more like show offs than instructional videos with only a couple of exceptions.
Our definitions of instructional videos appear to be worlds apart one from the novice wanting to learn and another from people who have the knowledge already thinking their explanation is instructional, but unfortunately however good their intentions are, not giving what the novice needs, treat us like monkeys and we will learn so much better from simple instructions until we can grow in confidence to stand on our own two feet and really begin to enjoy this great software was the point of this post.
I stated it was not a bashing session or intended as a slap in the face, more a plea for help that has been declined.
I upgraded my version of Bluff to v11specifically for the new effects, and to embarrass myself further I've struggled to work out how to get a png logo of my football club to extrude with a chrome effect finish, not a predefined button just the outline of the logo, I can get it by adding the cube effect to the png but I want the original picture not cut up into little squares, sorry guys it just goes over my head.
Once again, there was no intention to offend or insult no one, just a simple request was made.
Paul.
tayla, 10 years ago
You haven't insulted or offended to anyone, just stated what in my opinion is right.
I experienced the same problem, and regarding that some people like Michiel, always willing and ready to help, and doing so, his attitude is not shared for others in this gallery.
snafu, 10 years ago
Guys, have you ever read a parenting book? I read dozens of them 25 years ago when I first became a Dad and honestly, every one of them was useless when it came to application. An "All In One" set of tutorials for BluffTitler would be just as useless once you got past clicking the BluffTitler icon to start the program.
What does work however is asking the right question about something specific. With the installer there are loads of shows that demonstration the abilities of BluffTitler. Find a show that has the feature you're looking for, identify the layer having the feature and look through it's properties to see how it was accomplished. Then if you can't figure it out, start an article asking for example:
On show "Crayon Particles" in the Particle Effects folder what particle and settings were used to create the sparkling lines in layer 5, 6 & 7?
In all the years I've been a part of this gallery, never (((NEVER))) have I asked or seen a question like that asked and be ignored. That was just a random question I grabbed by opening one of the shows. Looking at a layer and creating a plausible question from it. To set down and figure out every question someone might ask and making a tutorial out of it would be impossible.
There is a complete "Users Guide" under the help menu in BluffTitler that explains all it's functions and shows included in the installer with examples of its features. Use those, get stumped, ask questions. That right there is the best tutorial there is.
BillyJack, 10 years ago
Well they used to have paper road maps now it's sat navs, someone thought it would be a lot better than someone searching about trying to get from A to B on a piece of paper. And having been on this planet for nearly sixty years I like this new fangled way of getting from A to B, it's a lot more direct.
And it also means I don't have to keep stopping either like a child to ask the way. It's there for me to see.
Look, we have the answer, there is not going to be a dedicated help forum, I can live with that, disappointed, but I can live with it.
tayla, 10 years ago
So how would I use tayla's dedicated help forum to learn more about reflection mapping?
Right now I would do a search on "reflection mapping" and if that would not give me the answer I would post a new question or comment.
michiel, 10 years ago
I've just used the voxel effect to get the 3d shape that I wanted, front and back are fine, but how can I change the sides if at all possible to have a shiny chrome effect, instead of the colours running over from the original 2d image.
If anyone needs an image I can post one up.
Thanks for any help.
tayla, 10 years ago
my two cents:
The blufftitler community is a relative small community in comparison with adobe a.s. so there no or little tutorials like click here than click there and without knowing why you clicked just to get the same result as presented.
Dani en Michiel already suggested to learn from the free shows on your HDD and here on the forum gallery. The Bixpacks tells a not so different story but useally more comprehensive in layers and difficulty.
Step 1:
Find a show you want to emulate or just want to know how it works
A. from your HDD, goto to File > open show
B. from forum, goto gallery/downloads, play show, save show with all media, then open show.
Step 2:
Goto to the The Layers listbox and click on the first layer (camera)
Then press shift control, and press simultaneous the Arrow down key and view each layer on this own.
Step 3:
Found a layer that peaked your intrest,
Press F9 and see which textures and effect(s) is used.
Step 4:
Goto the The Properties listbox; Make sure that in settings > general options the following:
Add + sign to animated properties is active
Add - sign to non-default propeties
Here you can see which propeties are used
Step 5:
Play around with these options and see what will happen (On of the best things is that Michiel is often suprised by users who just by trying stuff out and come up with show he didn't think of)
Step 6:
try try try test test test experiment experiment experiment
Step 7:
Post your own show as Show-offs when you are using a show without all Original content.
Post your show in a zip fileformat to share.
Step 8:
Get feedback from other Bluffers and build on that.
Step 9:
Read through the user guide especially for beginners the interface section,
If you didn't find it post your question in the gallery. Michiel or one of the most helpfull Bluffers will guide you in the right direction.
Step 10:
HAVE FUN, and don't be afraid to ask.
komies, 10 years ago
Your 2d picture to 3d object with shiny border:
First of all I would not use the voxel layer to create this (the voxel layer was many shortcomings like lighting).
You have version 11 so this means traced picture time:
Goto: Layer> Add Layer> Add Traced Picture Layer and open the picture you want.
AND DONE :)
Now try and play with the Propeties List Box,
Use SIZE third slider to make it Thicker or Smaller.
komies, 10 years ago
Thank you so much, the instruction you gave was spot on, in the past I was following directions to the letter and stupidly I was choosing a shape from the pop up Traced Picture Layer selection then adding image to that selection, the way you added that little bit of text at the end "open picture you want" made it finally sink in what I was doing wrong.
Unfortunately I don't think I can change texture on the sides to shiny chrome as the image colours are wrapping round onto the sides.
Once again thank you for your explanation, I'll think I'll make a little tutorial and post on youtube for people lost like me, lol. Might help someone.
Paul.
tayla, 10 years ago
you can play with the Stroke setting in the Propeties List to tweak the thickness of the border.
Or put a new border on the traced picture layer here is how:
Goto to the Layer Listbox, select your Traced Picture Layer and select from the menu Layer> Attach Layer> Attach Border to Active Layer> select a preset.
Done :)
If you want a different color bolder use the Color Sliders in the Propeties Listbox. Or goto to the new border layer (the next layer under your Traced Picture Layer) Press F9 and change the texture that is used to create this border.
Good luck
komies, 10 years ago
To make your football picture really pop with a shiny glance and floor reflection with 360 rotation a x axis.
Goto your Traced Picture Layer, press the wonderfull F9 and change the effect to compositions\ReflectiveFloor_ReflectionMap.fx
Adjust in the Propeties Listbox the floor level to your liking.
Goto the Time Slider (bottom right) and slide to the beginning make sure your rotation slider is on 0 for your traced picture layer. Press create key (the record button) slide to the end in the Time Slider and set the rotation to 360 and the key will be made. Press PLAY
komies, 10 years ago
If this is not popping enough add sparkles to your traced picture layer:
Goto your Traced Picture Layer, goto Layer> Attach layer> Add particles to active layer> select preset.
Done :)
In the Propeties Listbox you can play with the numerus off sliders to tweak the particles on your newly created attached layer. Press F9 to change the shape of the particle.
Have fun
komies, 10 years ago
Wey Hey, Fantastic! I have now got exactly what I was looking for, thank you so much!
Brilliant.
tayla, 10 years ago
