Sub Surface Skin Tutorial
Education
Introduction
In this exciting tutorial, we delve into the world of creating a compelling subsurface skin effect, inspired by the villainous characters from Iron Man 3. The video features a character named Sam Loya, who is being transformed for a commercial project involving a new chewing tobacco brand. The primary focus is on enhancing the visual appearance of one cheek, giving it a menacing yet engaging look.
Final Effect Overview
The final effect showcases a character with a fiery core, enhancing the perception of depth through strategic use of parallax, varying focus levels, and an eerie red glow in the eyes.
Setting Up the Shot
To begin, footage of Sam Loya is brought into After Effects. The first step is to motion track the area of his face using Mocha AE. A Bezier spline tool is employed to isolate the facial area that remains relatively consistent, avoiding dynamic features such as blinking eyes.
Once the tracking data is acquired, it is exported back into After Effects, allowing for an accurate connection of effects to that area of the face.
Creating the Illumination Map
Next, an illumination map is constructed using the fractal noise effect, providing a basis for the core energy emanating beneath the skin. This involves generating a fractal noise layer, tweaking parameters for complexity and scale, and applying masks to ensure the effect is limited to the desired personal area.
To achieve the translucent skin effect, a network of veins is created. Various vein elements are employed and adjusted in terms of scale and opacity. The layers are pre-composed for organizational purposes, and effects such as 'multiply' are used to blend them harmoniously with the illumination layer.
Adjusting Color and Depth
After establishing the veins and illumination layers, color correction is applied through curves adjustments to deepen the red, reduce green, and manage blue tones for enhanced vibrancy.
To add depth, parallax is simulated by animating the positions of layers as the character's head turns. This helps to give the feeling of hidden energy behind the skin, achieving a more immersive viewing experience.
Final Touches
Additional corrections and effects such as glow and blur can be added on top to unify the look and maintain consistency across frames. Refined details can include emphasizing the veins and ensuring the coloration appears realistic.
Lastly, the technique can be adapted to various other applications within motion tracking and visual effects, showcasing the versatility of this powerful technique.
Keywords
- Subsurface skin
- Motion tracking
- Fractal noise
- Illumination map
- Vein network
- Color correction
- Parallax
- After Effects
FAQ
Q: What software is used for this tutorial?
A: The tutorial primarily uses Adobe After Effects along with Mocha AE for motion tracking.
Q: How do I achieve the subsurface skin effect?
A: By utilizing effects such as fractal noise for illumination, creating a vein network, and applying various color corrections, you can simulate a subsurface skin effect.
Q: What is the purpose of motion tracking in this tutorial?
A: Motion tracking is used to accurately apply effects to specific areas of the face while ensuring they move with the character's movements.
Q: Can the techniques be used for other types of visual effects?
A: Yes, the techniques shown in this tutorial can be applied to various motion graphics and visual effects projects outside of skin effects.
Q: Is a specific character model required for this effect?
A: While the tutorial uses a specific model (Sam Loya), any character or footage can be utilized, adapting effects accordingly to fit the desired look.
