Smallville FX

[superman5080]

I noticed that someone sent Kryptonsite a "How to make heat vision using after affects". Making short films is my hobie, and ive been looking for tutorials like that. Does anyone know where I can find tutorials to make more smallville fx like X-ray, Heat vision, Super speed, bullet time, etc.? It doesnt just have to be for after affects, they could be for any program. Any help is appreciated.

thanks

[moomin]

As a hobby (which i've put on hold whilst i finish my degree) I do CG in 3ds max, the effects such as xray would be done by actually creating a 3d replica of what is in the scene then using camera tracking to match the movement of the 3d camera with the real camera footage, then its just a matter of animating the 3d skeleton in the same way that the people on screen are moving. The materials can be easily made, trasparent objects a blue filter over the camera. Additional touch ups done in after fx. U can tell they dont use motion capture on people moving in xray mode, the animation is dead stiff...but then again motion capture costs a bomb.

Just type in maya/3ds max and read up on some information in google. Better still check out some univeristies like vfs (vancouver film school) that specialise in 1 year visual effects courses (im planning on doin that when i finish this dull computing degree)...ill be in vancouver ...lol obsession getting too much

[Disco]

my only suggestion would be to do an internet search. perhaps there is a magazine that deals with special photography and imaging.

[UpandAtom]

I know this probably won't work but I would suggest for bullet time to have everyone move in slow motion while the main character moves at normal speed.

[lozalauren]

Don't you just love the S.E (Special effects) in smallville i love them thats one of the joys of smallville apart from my superman obsession, i just love it, and the stories are just great. But i just love the effects, especially the running hole slow motion thing, not dissing the superman movie but i also know they couldn't do the things smallville do, as they didnt have that sort of tech then, but the running wasn't really that good he wasn't even that fast. but the way as well the bullet thing its great.

And as well x-ray vision is just fab, and heat vision now thats good lol, but i always wonder can anyone see the heat/fire shooting from his eyes?

[Magus]

kind of went off on a tangent eh?
i don't like the special effects that much.

[ballofsteel]

Yeah the effects are cool. There's always at least one thing per episode that really stands out.

Also, yeah I think they can see the heat coming from Clarks eyes cause in Lockdown the two police officers say that their unit was killed by 2 people shooting fire out their eyes(or something like that.)

[red-K glory]

the special effects in accelerate when clark runs through the rain was cool! and on rogue when phelan shoots the gun and it shows clark in slow motion looking at the bullet was also cool! heck, anything with Clark in slowmotion is awesome!!!!!!!!

[RJK62284]

For a weekly show I think that the special effects are great

[superhippie2000]

ya i think the effects are great considering its a tv show. i mean look at the sci fi channels special effects they look like independent film special features where they use old programming to make things work. even south park which is a cartoon has a bigger special effect then sci fi. well back to smallville the sklow motion effects are awsome and i like the xray vision i think the way they do it is good compared to when they did it when he first got his ability and looked at naked lana. but they may have done that to show a point seeing that they use the skeleton visions later on in the episode. i did like in fanatic that balloon pop thing.

[shadowcat20x]

I love the effects! My fave is Clark super - jumping, or Kal-El flying.

But they're all awesome! I love it when stuff breaks on his skin.

[red-K glory]

some of the sound effects on smallville are cool as well. i like the sounds that are made whenever a bullet hits Clark.

[lozalauren]

one of my favourite episodes as well was 'run' and at the end when there running and the flash turns around and starts running backwards wkd!, and also wen he takes off across the water was wkd!

[TrOpiC00]

i love the effects!! i look foward to seeing them each week. i agree that they are really great considering it is a weekly tv show ^^

[tw190]

I love the special effects too. If I thought they were fake-ish or dumb, Smallville probably wouldn't be as appealing.

[smallvillerox05]

Yeah the VISUAL EFFECTS (the actual term for the computer made stuff) are awesome!! :D

Accelerate, Resurrection, Crusade, Jinx, Pariah, Arrival, Fanatic, and Lockdown are all awesome. :D

[CallMeClark]

No one has beat them in special effect, and that is obvious. Season four was filled with out of this world effects that no TV show before it had done.

[Coyote]

I think they have a lower budget this year and haven't done as much as in past seasons, but Smallville's special effects team really has done some nice creative stuff over the years. Considering the limited amount of time and money they have to crank these episodes out they do an impressive job.

[Da-Vel]

The best special effects they have thus far will be in the episode, "Lockdown" when Clark went through the explotion to rescue Lana. That one was the best, maybe it always will be until Clark can fly.

[CallMeClark]

IMO the best was in Crusade (flying). I also like how they follow the flight of objects (Isobels's dagger, Lois' knife, etc...)

[Videogamer49107]

Yeah, they do some cool stuff. I liked in...I forget the name of it, but when Alicia reveals to Chloe what Clark can do and he catches that car in mid air...that looked pretty real.

[smallvillerox05]

That was Pariah Videogamer49107.

Anytime they show Clark at super speed from his point of view it's always awesome. :D

[myankskent]

Originally posted by Coyote
I think they have a lower budget this year and haven't done as much as in past seasons, but Smallville's special effects team really has done some nice creative stuff over the years. Considering the limited amount of time and money they have to crank these episodes out they do an impressive job.

I also think that they had to spend a lot of their budget on things like the fortress of solitude and Brainiac. I still think we are going to see an explosion of visual effects in the season 5 finale. They are probably saving up for that.

[CallMeClark]

Oh, remember the Emily scene in the graveyard where the rain freezes because he is in superspeed? So cool.

I agree, they have cut down a lot. So I think it is safe to say that the major Visual FXs will occur during the last 2 episodes.

[tw190]

One of my favorite special effects (EDIT: Visual effects, I mean) is when Clark catches the car in "Pariah", that one is really awesome. Another is anytime they show Clark actually being "faster than a speeding bullet" (Rogue, Prodigal, Heat, etc) is really cool. The FOS being made in Arrival was breathtaking, though. Really amazing. :D

[PowerofFlight]

Smallville's effects are better than many major motion pictures that take a solid year to make. Fantastic four, Mummy Returns, and others had pretty lame CGI.

Smallville owns!

[photogirl]

Yeah, the special effects are really good except for that one car crash scene in "Exposed"...it looks so fake.

[GooN]

ive always liked the meteor shower visual effects.

[UpandAtom]

I like the special effects of the first three seasons. Now I feel that they aren't good anymore.

[tw190]

Originally posted by smallvillerox05
Yeah the VISUAL EFFECTS (the actual term for the computer made stuff) are awesome!! :D

Accelerate, Resurrection, Crusade, Jinx, Pariah, Arrival, Fanatic, and Lockdown are all awesome. :D

Roxy, or someone, can you remind me of the great visual effect in Fanatic? The episodes you mentioned I can think of the awesome effect, but Fanatic has me stumped... :p


Originally posted by photogirl
Yeah, the special effects are really good except for that one car crash scene in "Exposed"...it looks so fake.

AGREED. I laughed out loud when Melissa was hit... sorry, it was just so funny to me. Not-so-great fx, plus, did we really need to see it happen? :p

[Summers]

Originally posted by tw190
Roxy, or someone, can you remind me of the great visual effect in Fanatic? The episodes you mentioned I can think of the awesome effect, but Fanatic has me stumped... :p


"Fanatic" had the slow-motion bullet time with the bullet heading for JK at the campaign rally. The bullet went through a balloon, and popped it while JK we got a 3D spin.

[Cyckness]

On a scale from 1 to 10, what would you rate the CGI effects in SV? (i.e. When Clark goes into hyper-speed, heat vision, when Clark catches cars in mid-air, etc.)

I say the effects are pretty good considering SV is a weekly TV show. 8/10

[emsfan]

I say that's was pretty awesome it was great!!!!

[superhippie2000]

the effects are great the only problem is that they dont use them as much as they should. if they made super breathe that would be a cool special effect. as long as they made it look good. i say 9/10 cause seeing how its at season 6 in a few months i would think they should be able to give better special effects for clark. i mean something that they can use over and over. the FOTW special effects are good but its only for one episode and we normally never see those kind of powers agian. hopefully if and when they do the inside of the phantom zone and flashbacks to krypton they will go all out on the special effects. and with the chances of seeing jor el in the fortress and the real zod probably being the background story there is so much they can do.

[LionelLuthor]

I think the effects are up and down to be honest.
In season 1, the bus stopping in 'Rogue' is one of the best effects ever, as well as Lex hitting Clark with his porsche in 'Pilot'.
Heat vision was great in season 2, but they added more of a red tint and stopped making his pupils light up. It doesn't look as cool any more! His eyes flash red completely just like red Kryptonite, so it gets a bit confusing.
Also, in season 1, I loved the veins effect whenever Clark was exposed to Kryptonite- it made it look painful physically, instead of Clark just falling on the floor in pain.
They used this effect in early season 2 too, but they used a cheaper option of neon green paint instead of digital veins.

So I don't really have a problem with these effects because they were in the show at some stage, it just seems as if they've watered them down a little in terms of coolness.
All in all, I love the effects like Clark's super jumps and whever he does things in slow motion.

BEST EPISODE EFFECTS: Have to be the flight scenes in 'CRUSADE'. Overall rating: 7/10.

[goldylocks_k]

I voted 9/10 because Smallville has a very high standard for a weekly show.

[hassenmorad]

10/10, I think LionelLuthor's rating is a little harsh.

[Cyckness]

What is the name of the episode where Chloe found out Clark's secret by seeing him catch that car? That was one of my fav. CGI effects by far...

[LionelLuthor]

Originally posted by Cyckness
What is the name of the episode where Chloe found out Clark's secret by seeing him catch that car? That was one of my fav. CGI effects by far...

That was in 'Pariah' and yeah it looks amazing when he catches it, but when Clark puts the car down, it looks quite unrealistic the way it floats down. Sorry, I shouldn't really critisize the effects, it's not like I could do any better! :p

[WhiteBoy20]

they have great special effects
8/10

[luthorcorp]

i gave it a 7

the fortress raising in arrival was excellant
plus ive always been a fan of how they dealt with the superspeed effect i think its been generaly good effects for a tv show

[red-K glory]

I gave it a 10 because the CGI effects are amazing!!! Remember in the episode Accelerate when Clark is chasing Emily Dinsmore through the rain? That is one of the best effects ever!!! And then there are the special effects for the Heat vision, X-Ray vision, Superspeed, oh and the effect in the episode Perry where Clark flings the tractor into the air, that was awesome. There are a lot more cool effects but I can't think of them right now.

[Lak-El]

I liked the episode called "Crisis" where Adam dies, he shoots the bullet and Clark saves Lana. The effects in that one part were sweet. You gotta watch that episode again.

[Craig_445]

The water running scene in ''Accelerate'' was amazing

10/10

[thedarknight]

I love when Clark ran to Hondouras, that global view was awesome. Also Clark saving Lana from the warehouse explosion was just plain wicked.

[kal-el03]

They ares till great but they have less and less special fx bcuz their budget got cut snif since season 4 bouh !! Let's hope the cw won't be too greedy !!!

[Dangerous George]

ahh, that's what it is. They cut the budget, small wonder the effects are not has good as before. does this also account for the writing.....

[FreakyDroid]

The effects are amazing, but they last too short, and we dont have them so often like before. For me, S4 was the best and S5 was disappointing in that department.

9/10

[RESIDENT EVIL]

effects are great 10/10

[Pesk]

On a scale from star trek TOS to Smallville, I'd rate smallville as a Smallville. In other words, its effects are so great, they are my benchmark that I compare other shows to.

[DailyPlanetFan]

I voted eight; pretty darn good for a TV show!! :)

[Naman is 1#]

I voted 10 for the effects and I must say the BEST I've seen for a tv show.

[mxlegend99]

9/10 - Not perfect, but bloody brilliant for a TV Show. Having just started watching Lois and Clark recently, ontop of the Original movies... it makes you appreciate it LOL.

[Lexgirl33]

9, I think they do a great job with the CGI effects. Comparing it to some other shows, Smallville is up there

[MidgardDragon]

Depends on the season.

S1 - 6

S2 - 7

S3 - 8

S4 - 9

S5 - 10

[Shadowlord367]

Originally posted by Lak-El
I liked the episode called "Crisis" where Adam dies, he shoots the bullet and Clark saves Lana. The effects in that one part were sweet. You gotta watch that episode again.

Ahaha thats my favorite episode! The way everything works out lol its just amazing

[msw44]

After seeing Superman Returns, which I thought had amazing CGI effects, I gave Smallville an 8. Considering it's a weekly show they do a nice job, but some stuff looks really fake. I don't like the effect when Clark is talking to Jor-El in Commencement or when Jonathan is talking to him in I think Exile where it's just a bunch of tubes of light. I think that looks silly and I don't get the point. Other than that, pretty awesome!

[DarthClark]

I gave it a 9/10...You can rarely find shows anymore which such graphics...The flying looks real, the take off's in Episode 1 Season 4 looks like The Matrix a little bit but it's pretty sweet...After seeing Superman Returns they look a little bit simular...

[kal-el1513]

I like how they do superspeed like he is traveling supersonically, that actually makes it sound like the power, faster than the speed of light, superman returns did not pick up on this, big mistake, in supes returns they just made it look loke he wasnt running very fast.

[kf6tac]

Originally posted by kal-el1513
I like how they do superspeed like he is traveling supersonically, that actually makes it sound like the power, faster than the speed of light, superman returns did not pick up on this, big mistake, in supes returns they just made it look loke he wasnt running very fast.

Faster than the speed of light... err... even the Flash can't pull that off without essentially dying. Superman definitely doesn't run faster than the speed of light.

As far as effects go, most of them are and have been good. The one real exception is the Fortress. I hate it. It looks totally fake and CGI. But I can't complain too much for a TV effects budget.

[kal-el1513]

actually kf6tac, at one time superman could run faster than the speed of light, but the writers slowed it down because he was to invincible. oh, the flash today can run faster than the speed of light

[BAK]

Hallo everyone! im kinda wondering what softwares smallville crew's uses to create the effects on the show i.e the superspeed etc.
Anyone got any ideas of what might be used?

If so please tell me :).

[Matriculated]

Microsoft Paint.

[MidgardDragon]

Right, because that made perfect sense when it has some of the best effects on television. :/

To answer your question legitimately, BAK, most effects teams develop their own software and ways of doing things. You wouldn't be likely to be able to do what Smallville does in Maya or anything like that.

[BAK]

Well that would make sense :p just had to ask, cheers for the answear MidgardDragon

[smallvillefx]

The thread has my username yeah! haha:lol:

I have no idea what the show uses but I would recommend Adobe After Effects preferably the 3.0 version.

[BAK]

The thread has my username yeah! haha:lol:

I have no idea what the show uses but I would recommend Adobe After Effects preferably the 3.0 version.

Was kinda leaning that way aswell, seen alot of movies with the simliar effects using After Effects and Sony Vegas

[smallvillefx]

Either way hats off for the people behind the effects seen in smallville.

[BAK]

Couldnt agree more :)

[kal-lad]

Howdy all,

Ok, my inner nerd is about to burst out now through my chest like that thing did with John Hurt in Alien. But, I have to say I really really like the new effects in Smallville, particularly the heat vision. I remember when they first started doing it in Season 2 it looked good and somewhere along the line it became kind of grainy and octagon shaped.

However since the episode where Clark was trapped in the kryptonite cage, they seem to have changed it and made it look a million times better. It was especially cool when he de-frosted Lois and Jimmy :)

I think it's pretty cool anyway, but I'm a geek for all that. Everytime they do the X-ray vision I always wish it lasted a bit longer so I could absorb it in and see what it's like.

I actually have a Superman game for the original Xbox. I don't really care about completing the missions, I just want to fly around and use the powers. It has a cool x-ray vision thingy in it.

Ok, nerding over for now.

[marcella]

With the low budget the shows has,I give 10/10

[redkryptoniteisthebest]

8/10 - Its not great, but for a show on a low budget channel, its really good.

[Krypto~Luan]

anyone notice that the lightbulbs flash green when clrk is near kryptonite? it was in an episode with Alicia

[redkryptoniteisthebest]

Really? I've never noticed that...

[ClarkyBoy14]

8/10 - Its not great, but for a show on a low budget channel, its really good.

I agree.

[lana 9]

9/10

[Pantalaimon]

They're pretty good. They've become a bit too reliant on CGI though. Remember Clark stopping the bus in Rogue, season 1? That was amazing. He also stops a car in season3 , but that just wasn't as good. I think they used CGI there and it wasn't as realistic.

The Clark time effect is also starting to bore me a little. It doesn't really give you a sense of speed.

Let me see is there anything else. They also shouldn't use the blur too much. You wouldn't see the blur if you watch him moving from a distance.

[e-µ-i]

I said 8/10, pretty much because super-speed looks a little numb, but heat vision is amazing, even better than in Superman Returns. Anyways, awesome effects for a TV show...

[Lilah]

I think they've definitely improved. Especially when Clark does the super speed. I'm watching it from the beginning again, and I saw Metamorphisis recently, and the part when Clark saves his dad from falling on top of sharp metal thingies (don't know what they were called) was just really really bad... I mean, I love the fact that they slow everything down while he's super speeding.... And the heat vision and x-ray has gotten better, even though he doesn't use it much. That's the only thing they need to improve the show, use his abilities other than super speed more often.

[Krypto~Luan]

Really? I've never noticed that...

yeah, its the one where she goes to kill lana, but he tosses lead paint on her so she wont teleport its in the red room. the lights flash green.

I thinkh its there way of showing that the Kryptonite is "glowing"

[Supermania]

I'll give it a very reasonable 7/10. As Chris reeve once said, the effects used in this show were very hard to do in one movie let alone hundreds of episodes in the 70's. Well, he said something like that anyway!

[Liquid-Prince]

For a TV show? 10.

[zorasuperman]

i gotta say that now, esp in season 8, when they don't have as high as a budget, they are doing a marvelous job

[Bane]

It seems like the best CGI effects come whenever a team of people have a small budget, whereas sometimes sloppy effects stem from big budget movies or shows.

I'd give it a 9 for visual effects. The effects were subpar in the beginning, but have infinitely improved.

[F..l]

I voted for 10! I very like it ;) smallville effects are the best I have seen :)

[Clark/Lois-fan]

I voted 10. They are perfect for a weekly tv show.

[HeartChakraBabe]

8/10. They're excellent for a TV show. Although, I must admit the effects in "Bride" were a bit fake. The wedding cake looked like white cloth over cushy pillows, and Doomsday himself was kinda off. However, I do understand that they've got a lower budget, and so I can easily forgive that. For the regular eps they do an awesome job showing us his powers, etc.

[Saturn Girl]

I voted 10! There's been a number of wow moments for our family while watching Smallville. We've made mention of the effects frequently.

[prez420]

I bring this up because it doesnt really make much sense. Many times we see a blade or other peice metal strike clark and shatter but it doesnt make any sense because the the impact force is only as big as the energy put into it. Basicly what that means is the blades shouldnt shatter when they shrike clark unless the person swinging the weapon is strong or fast enough to put enough energy into the swing to breaking force. Take the axe swing for instance u see it hit clark and shatter into a million pieces but clearly the person swinging wasnt strong enough to swing it to the point of shattering the metal head of the axe. If anything the axe should have hit clark and bounced off just like the axe would do if u picked up a axe and swung it at a thick steel plate with all ure might.

So you pretty much need super strength or super speed to swing a weapon with enough force to shatter like they do on smallville but some how the weapons just shatter like magic. The same goes for that time clark fell onto the tiler in the barn. The distance he fell wasnt enough for him to build up the speed needed to bend all the blades like he did especially falling strait down on them. There is a good chance he would have bent the blades like if he came down on them at a angle. I know these make for pretty eye candy but i think the effects would be spent else where who knows if they stop all these needless special effects they might have enough money to give us a epic season finale battle.

anyway tell me what u guys think would sticking to real physics be better for the show so that we can have big flashy battles at the end of seasons ?

[prez420]

So I am the only one that thinks they over use special effects when it comes to all the shattering hammers sword/knives and axes ? I dont really think im off base with this because how many times have we seen some normal person shatter harden steel on clark like the steel was made out of glass or something.

[xrayvision]

I think lately they're using it too much for the Metropolis scenery. That Watchtower building looks too fake. The Luthorcorp building shot that they made in Season 6 or 7 looks better now, but I'd rather get the shots of it we got in season 3. The gargoyle in Roulette looked very fake.

[moviefan2k4]

In terms of the "physics" question, I never really put that much thought into it. I just accepted it as an example of dramatic emphasis, and left it at that.

As for the SFX budget in general, we now know that Clark remaining grounded has nothing to do with money issues (since Kara and the Legion both flew more than once). Also, I've actually been disappointed at different times in recent years, because you don't see Clark using his powers as often as before. Many times now, you simply hear a "swoosh" effect, and Tom walks into frame. I suppose it still serves the same purpose, but it'd be really nice to see it more often than we do.

[prez420]

In terms of the "physics" question, I never really put that much thought into it. I just accepted it as an example of dramatic emphasis, and left it at that.

As for the SFX budget in general, we now know that Clark remaining grounded has nothing to do with money issues (since Kara and the Legion both flew more than once). Also, I've actually been disappointed at different times in recent years, because you don't see Clark using his powers as often as before. Many times now, you simply hear a "swoosh" effect, and Tom walks into frame. I suppose it still serves the same purpose, but it'd be really nice to see it more often than we do.


Thats just what i am talking about if they made the effects more realistic when it comes to clark getting hit with axes swords etc.. Then they would have more money for the nice effects like super speed running or maybe introduce new powers like one of his billions of other types of visions or freeze breath. Flying would be nice but im not really all that concerned with it because he still has a ton more powers that we havent even seen yet. Atleast we have seen him fly a few times but we havent really seen his infrared vision microscopic vision or his uber cool freeze breath. I was hoping he would atleast unlock another vision type from his training at fos but it seems like all he ever asks about is flying and jor-el doesnt even mention his other unknown powers.

[moviefan2k4]

Well, it seems like the writers have essentially combined most of his "vision powers" into one (with the exception of heat vision). His "X-ray" sight has been used in many different forms over the years, even zooming down an elevator shaft to locate a woman's lost earring. So, it seems like they don't treat all his "eye abilities" in different ways. Also, it'd be kinda weird if every power they revealed was another form of sight...it might get old after a while.

Besides, the one ability Superman is still most well-known for is flight, even with everything else he can do. Chris Reeve even said it a few years before he died: "Batman's got a cool car, but flight is what really inspires the imagination...to take two or three steps off a building, and soar into the air..."

[erikamichelle614]

In smallville world, you have to realized that physics, they just don't exist. Don't question the fact that sometimes bullets hit his chest and smash flat, or ricochet.. There's no reasoning to it.

But I just enjoy in anyways!

[francykent]

Does anyone know why in the ninth season of Smallville, there are very few effects? in particular the effect "clark time" when Clark runs in slow motion there is in any episode for now ... i love that effect! also like to you?

[Stebob1984]

yeah I've noticed there isnt too much Clark time these days but it was overused in the early days. There was one a really good Clark time moment in the episode Crossfire.

[francykent]

yeah,the effect of the episode "Crossfire" where Clark stops the bullets is the only one I liked the ninth season ... but I miss the beautiful scenes such as "jinx" or "fanatic" where Clark runs in slow motion with the aura (the colored trails behind him) and the people around him freeze!!!:):):)

[Stebob1984]

yeah,the effect of the episode "Crossfire" where Clark stops the bullets is the only one I liked the ninth season ... but I miss the beautiful scenes such as "jinx" or "fanatic" where Clark runs in slow motion with the aura (the colored trails behind him) and the people around him freeze!!!:):):)

The one is jinx was genius saves the day and scores the final touchdown :D

[francykent]

yeah!i hope to see beautiful and genius scenes as that in the next episodes of season nine!:)

[Joker-El]

LMAO.. I voted a 9 because I thought it was referring to season 9... I laughed because most people voted for Season 10 even though it wasn't out..

Then I realized it's just a 1-10 vote.. Smallville deserves a 10/10 for sure!

[e-µ-i]

Overall, I give me it a 7/10. Nice effects for a show.
Season 9 - 3/10. When it's there, it sucks.