Creating starfields?

[kbrady]

This is really a DV question. Does anyone have any experience-based suggestions for PC platfrom software or plug-ins for creating outer space-type star-fields (as in Star Wars, Trek, etc)? Is there a way to pan across the starfield? I have Premiere 6.0 and AE 5.0.

Kirk Brady

[MovieStuff]

In Premier, a really easy way is to use the CG function and choose a really small type, like 10pt or less, and use the "." to create the white dots on a black field to create a variety of patterns that can then be flipped horizontally or vertically to create as many as four different patterns from a single star panel.

Then overlap those panels in a staggered fashion and use the "screen" transparency filter to overlay them on a black targa background. Then use the "video move" function to make the stars slide across the field of view in any direction you wish. If you save the program and apply it to the other overlapped and staggered layered star fields, you can have a really long pan as the moves will overlap each other and keep the star field replenished. I would apply the "flicker removal" function to keep the stars from chattering. You can also simply use either the scroll or crawl function of the CG to make an endless star field using the "period" technique but they are generally limited to either vertical or horizontal moves only whereas the "move" function will let you go any direction.

Roger

[MikeBrantley]

I sometimes work in a 3D program called LightWave to make spaceships, logos, titles, etc. fly through space. With that program, there comes a ready-made object called RandomStars. It's a sphere of stars and you set up your "scene" inside it. That way, wherever you pan your virtual camera, there will be a background of stars.

That may not be of any benefit to you working in Premiere, but it is an option in 3D software.

I used to create starfield backdrops for my Super-8 productions that used actual spaceship (or moonbase, or whatever) miniatures. I would take an old tooth brush and load it up with some white paint. Then I would use my thump to flick the bristles at a black backdrop -- either black posterboard or fabric. Instant random starfield. That's probably not what you're wanting to do either, but I thought I would through that out for anyone wanting to do it the old-fashioned way.