Trapcode 3S Pack is a bundle of plugins from Red Giant Software, the creators of Magic Bullet and Colorista. In 2006 Trapcode formed a partnership with Red Giant Software, who assumed exclusive publishing rights to all of Trapcode's products. Personally, I think Red Giant Software is one of the best plugin creators out there, so when I heard news of their partnership with Trapcode I was thrilled, because I knew Red Giant would continue to refine and improve the software just as they have with their own products. In fact, since Red Giant took over this software package, they have expanded its compatibility to include not only After Effects, but Premiere Pro, Motion, Final Cut Pro, and Avid AVX.
Trapcode 3S Pack contains three different plugins: Shine, 3DStroke, and Starglow. Shine has been around for years, and continues to be used in films and commercials. In fact, if you turn on the TV and watch a few commercials, chances are you’ll see at least one instance of Shine. Basically,Shine creates light rays that can be animated and punched through text or overlaid onto graphics and video. 3DStroke and Starglow, while not quite as well-known, are also very useful. 3DStroke animates any mask line you create into a fluid three-dimensional moving line of color. You can use it over top of logos, or create a bunch of shapes that can be twisted and rotated in 3D space. Finally, Starglow is similar to putting a star filter on your camera, except that it can be applied to text and other objects. It creates a glinting star shaped effect on the highlights of your video.
Shine was used in this branding spot to create the sunlight that moves
across the landscapes.
Ease of Use
I installed the After Effects version of each plugin on my Windows XP system, and installation was a breeze. Each plugin was installed separately, with separate serial numbers for each. Be aware that the letters in the serial numbers are case sensitive. The installation package automatically detected my AE plugin directory; all I had to do was to keep hitting “next”. When I started up AE, everything was right where it was supposed to be in the Effect menu, and all three effects worked properly the first time I used them, with no additional authorization needed.
Shine and Starglow are extremely simple to use. Just apply them to a layer, and bam, you’ve got a kick-ass effect. Plus, they both come with a ton of really useful presets that change the color and the shape of the effect. From there, you can use the threshold setting to control the amount of the effect that is applied to a layer; basically this just tells it what range of highlights to use. All parameters can be keyframed, allowing you to move the effects across the screen, change the intensity over time, and even change the coloring.
