The "Kirby Crackle"

Edbittner · 02-26-2006, 06:31 AM

For anyone who has read comics anytime in the last40 years,(or less), there's this effect called the "Kirby Crackle". This is the effect that Jack "The King" Kirby made,(invented), to show everything from energy surges to foaming water. So, here's the deal; Does-
1). Anyone know what I'm talking about? And-
2). Anyone know how to achieve this effect in Lightwave?
I've got an idea, and this effect would be perfect for it. Not to mention that the one who comes up with a 3D version of this 2D effect will have everyone using it.
E.

Edbittner · 02-27-2006, 07:03 AM

Anyone? They kinda tried it in "Hellboy", but I don't think it worked very well.

E.

starbase1 · 02-27-2006, 07:41 AM

Looking at the example you show, I'd suggest 2 sprays of particles wiith HV's applied - one smooth volumetric gassy one with an age gradient on the colour for the fire / water jet, and a second with black knobbly lumps (ie hypertexture)that start to grow a short way into their life...

Nearest I have seen was this:

http://www.starbase1.co.uk/galleries...s/nebubok.html

Which came out of the 'KLets build a nebula' thread, only for your example you would need different geometry...

Nick

HowardM · 03-04-2006, 08:18 AM

did you search CGtalk and Spinquad, could of sworn i saw posts about this years ago...

Edbittner · 03-04-2006, 08:27 AM

Howard,
Yeah, I think it was me that posted those, but I could be mistaken. I'll run a search and see what I come up with. Thanks,
E.

jeremyhardin · 03-06-2006, 01:43 PM

a quick google search explained it further. it's apparently supposed to be used to create negative space more than defining shape itself:
http://www.penciljack.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16461

aurora · 03-06-2006, 03:28 PM

Hey Ed, I have to admit I never knew that look had a name let alone a whole major topic. l have never made that kind of effect but I believe I can come up with something simular to the 'kirby dots' as illustarted in Jeremy's link. Let me see if I can do it and if so I'll post a quick tut and scene for you.
Question, what type of lighting & shading are you looking for for this effect?

Edbittner · 03-07-2006, 05:36 AM

Jeremy,
Yeah, I understand that Jack Kirby evolved this effect over the years after seeing a photo of a deep space supernova. Thanks for the link.........

Aurora,
The lighting would be brightest at the "core" of the energy field. The surrounding "dots" would be the falloff, with maybe some vol. light shafts escaping through them. This effect is great for a dark background,(space for example), but it's in the real world lighting conditions that throw a wrench into the thing. Hey, any ideas or tuts would be cool. Heeere's a test.........
E.

aurora · 03-07-2006, 09:17 AM

Well I almost have something working and looking like the image in Jeremy's link. Still trying to fine tune the number and size of the spheres. Theres a really, really, REALLY fine line between to many and none. I've got alot of work I need to get done this morning but I'll get back to it this afternoon and post an image or two along with the details.
Till then basically what I have done is made two HV emitter's one parented to the other. The second one (child emitter) is set to be a have a nozzle type of parent emitter. I set the parent emitter up with some heacy explosion motion. The child then emits particles along the parent particles path with some vibration. Then I adjust the sizes of the child HV's with a funky gradient. So in essence's its kinda like a fireworks setup, sorta.
Once I finish tweaking the sizing, the real trick will be finding a way to back the spheres look more seperated from each other, this is were life gets nasty real quick.

Edbittner · 03-07-2006, 12:31 PM

aurora,
Listen, anything you can do to help make this happen will be GREATLY appreciated! As I said before, whoever comes up with a 3D ver. of this effect will probably be as well known as Jack "The King" Kirby himself. And surely coppied as much. The Kirby crackle is like..............immortal.
Thanks,
E.

aurora · 03-07-2006, 04:34 PM

We'll I still have abit of work to get it right but I think I finally found the right path to follow. Let me know what you think of this compared to what you envision and then I'll move in that direction.

[EDIT]FYI, render time was 1min 36 sec on a AMD 4800 64 X2 dual core, 2gig ram, FX6800GS, AA-Enhanced high, volumetric HV's

aurora · 03-07-2006, 05:27 PM

Heres another attempt

Edbittner · 03-08-2006, 07:35 AM

aurora,
It's like Jeremy and the article in the link he provided said:
"What makes the "Kirby dots" work is not the dots themselves, but the NEGATIVE SPACE around the dots."
This is more of what I had in mind,maybe a more realistic approach;
E.

Edbittner · 03-08-2006, 07:56 AM

Or even...........
E.

aurora · 03-08-2006, 09:08 AM

OK, wow, well thats a much bigger challenge. I LOVE CHALLENGES! I'll need to take a slightly different approach to this but I have a few different ideas to start with