BluffTitler vs. Ulead Cool 3D

Nathan_Shane wrote on 6/1/2004, 6:34 AM

Okay, both of these programs are similar in price and I've downloaded both demos to check out. I really find BluffTitler's interface much more intuitive and more clear to understand, while Cool 3D seems like you have to really work with an unclear interface to get results...but that's all subjective opinion.

Is there a benefit to having one over the other? Does one produce better results than the other? What is everyone's personal preference to use and why?

I'm leaning against Cool 3D simply because of the interface, but perhaps I'm not giving it a real enough chance.

Comments

Express wrote on 6/1/2004, 7:43 AM

I have never used Cool 3D, but here is why I bought BluffTitler:

The interface is not complicated, and is easy to grasp.

Why was that important to me?

I was excited to get Grafitti (with Vegas 5) and see what I could do with it.

I understand the Grafitti interface(it wasn't easy for me!), but I feel that everything I have spent quite a bit of time learning will become a distant memory - I'll forget how to use it when I'm not using it all of the time.

I do not spend a great deal of time with titles, and there may a significant time in between title production. (for me, almost all of titles that are not at the beginning or end are simple, unobtrusive, and created with Vegas)
When I do make a main title, I want it to be an easy, creative process - like editing with Vegas.

With Bluff, it is quite easy to do things with textures and reflection mapping.
I have been able to create interesting, quick, and professional looking titles with little effort.
(perhaps it (texture/reflection mapping) is easy with Grafitti too, but it did not take any research on my part to make it happen).

For example - I have used TitleDeko, and it has a pre-defined look with white face, an offset perspective, and a raised golden 3d.

I spent many hours trying to duplicate that look with Grafitti - and I came fairly close - the lighting so that the golden part looks 'golden', not just yellow/orange - was particularly troublesome for me - but I did come close enough.

With Bluff, and reflection mapping - theGrafitti, and the TitleDeko 'golden' titles look pathetic in comparison. (anything you can produce or graphic you can find can become a texture/reflection map)

BluffTitler simply does not get in the way of creativity - it enables it.
For example, It is easy to make titles do things similar to the logo at the beginning of Harry Potter III. (a fly-through stone texture)

Grafitti can do things that Bluff cannot - but nothing that I have found to be important. (sorry for bringing Grafitti into this - I thought it might be useful to some who would wonder why I did not just use Grafitti)

For me the $38 for Bluff was worth the time that I won't have to re-invest with Grafitti when I want to do something new, or just come back to it after a while.

Chris

Spot|DSE wrote on 6/1/2004, 8:09 AM

Both are of value. I like Bluff for the short time I've been playing with it, (it was installed on a BOXX I've been using on the VASST tour)
Cool 3D is a different app altogether. It does great titles, does awesome 32 bit file renders with clean alpha channel output, extrudes, and does objects. For me, both are important. If I had to choose ONLY one of the two, I'd choose Bluff, simply because it's dedicated to only doing titles.

Nathan_Shane wrote on 6/1/2004, 9:14 AM

Great comments. I agree that Bluff is very quick and easy if doing only titles. But the fact that Cool 3D allows for "objects" as well as text seems to give it some merit in a completely different way. I just wish Bluff offered object capabilities as well.

So I could see reasons for having both. And as far as Graffitti goes, I downloaded that demo and it was far too frustrating to work with easily. And while I can love software having complex options, technical capabilites, and such...wrapping them up in a difficult user interface does sometimes work against using a program at times.

AlistairLock wrote on 6/1/2004, 2:04 PM

I've had fun using Bluff Titler, and even used it to create a Star Trek Tranporter beaming effect using the particle generator.

Alistair

epirb wrote on 6/1/2004, 4:11 PM

what format are you guys outputting your bluff movies at ? straight uncompressed avi's? I tried compressed with Microsoft 1 codec but get errors when I import to Vegas.

Express wrote on 6/1/2004, 5:08 PM

I am just using uncompressed avi's - never had any trouble bringing anything in.

For a while- until I made the decisiion to purchase - I even used the Bluff demo -keeping all of the text away from the 'Demo' on the screen, and simply 'cropped' the output in Vegas - it was workable, but a bit of a pain.

BTW - BluffTitler 1.8 was released last week. If you were not using that one, you may want to get a new download.

Chris

jsteehl wrote on 6/1/2004, 5:49 PM

I too was impressed after this thread and playing with the demo. For $40 what the heck... untill I got to the payment options!

Send a check to Amsterdam, Bank transfer! or get this "sending cash: Carefully wrap the amount in this registration form and send it:"!!!!

What no Chickens or beads!

epirb wrote on 6/1/2004, 5:54 PM

you can purchase it online via credit card , go back and look above the other payment options.
"buy bluff titler from Share -It"

jbl375 wrote on 6/1/2004, 6:49 PM

where is Share - It?

Express wrote on 6/1/2004, 7:45 PM

You simply take the credit card option for payment, you do not contact share-it directly - it is their credit card clearing house.

kcrosley wrote on 6/7/2004, 6:42 PM

Just to be clear, to buy BluffTitler via secure credit card, do this:

Go to http://www.blufftitler.us
Click "Buy Now"
On the page that appears, look at the right hand column where it says:

"Share it!" - "Buy BluffTitler from Share-It! and receive your registration keys immediately!"

Click that text! That's it...

BluffTitler just keeps getting better and better... I have some examples of BluffTitler output up on my page at:

http://www.timekillers.us/blufftitler/

Works great with Vegas.

Cheers,
Keith

ken c wrote on 6/7/2004, 6:58 PM

Keith, interesting effects on those ... thanks for posting the wmv's... any chance you could post the source BT's as well?

ken

kcrosley wrote on 6/8/2004, 12:37 PM

Hi Ken,

Yes, I could post the source .BT files for those samples at http://www.timekillers.us/blufftitler . Of course, you'd need the exact same fonts installed to get the exact same output, but you would get the idea. I was going to be working up some new examples of some of the new BT features (such as transparent render option, particle rotation, etc.) but haven't got 'round to it just yet.

Check that URL in a day or two and you'll find a package of sample .BT files, though!

Best Regards,
Keith

www.blufftitler.us -- Realtime 3D titling for Vegas and other editing apps -- still less than $40 US!

ken c wrote on 6/8/2004, 9:25 PM

thanks much, appreciated -- very good work on them!

ken