3D Text is so 10 years ago

JasonMurray wrote on 8/12/2004, 2:26 AM

Not at all... while it may look cheesy to you, others like it (just remember, there are TONS of animated GIF sites out there...).

It's also quite appropriate for some projects, and can be nice in others used tastefully (ie, with restraint).

This kind of thing is also handy for corporate logos and the like - some of the things I've seen come out of BluffTitler are fantastic.

farss wrote on 8/12/2004, 3:00 AM

I agree,
but then again there's no accounting for taste (or the lack thereof) and there's many times when the things we hate are what the client wants.

Bob.

AlistairLock wrote on 8/12/2004, 3:55 AM

To sum up:

"Horses for courses."

TorS wrote on 8/12/2004, 5:28 AM

I don't have a position to defend here, because I don't use 3D text and don't even like it. I do believe though, that there are ways to make it look passé and ways to make it look current. Whether free apps easily can make anything look current, I wouldn't know.
But, for the benefit of this discussion - which otherwise might turn into a for and against 3D text row - and for all those who likes to move with the times, maybe DGates will tell us a little about the current trends in video and film text. What's cooking?
Tor

ken c wrote on 8/12/2004, 8:20 AM

Hey my cheesy gold 3d text looks totally ass-kicking, see it in:

www.DaytradingUniversity.com/daytradingjuly2004.wmv

I like it!

ken

bStro wrote on 8/12/2004, 8:36 AM

Okay, but who says 3D text has to be limited to being shiny, beveled, or gold, let alone tumbling?

Did you see David Fincher's movie Panic Room (with Jodie Foster)? The opening sequence used 3D text so that the credits appear to be suspended over the city. It was sort of a modern Hitchcock look, but modern nonetheless. The way I describe it probably sounds hokey, but believe me it wasn't at all, in my opinion.

Any "cool toy" will result in something passé in the hands of someone who doesn't go beyond the basic presets that are presented (ie, tumbling, shiny beveled gold text). But once they start advancing beyond that (step one -- nix the gold coloring!) and adding their own touches, even 3D text can be used in new ways.

Rob

DGates wrote on 8/12/2004, 1:23 PM

Points well taken.

Don't think I haven't dabbled in 3D text before. I've created some pretty cool logos for my company. But it's like we're still in a mid-90's mindset. While the tools weren't readily available to us then, now that they are, they're being over-relied on to make up for it.

In my opinion, The day trading spot looks tacky. Screams to me: 1995 infomercial.

bStro wrote on 8/12/2004, 1:32 PM

and for all those who likes to move with the times, maybe DGates will tell us a little about the current trends in video and film text.

Seconded. Doesn't have to just be DGates, either -- anyone else? Maybe this needs a new thread.

Rob

farss wrote on 8/12/2004, 2:32 PM

I'm so glad there's so many of us who believe what we think matters!
So far I've picked up three clients who've come to me after bad experiences with expensive post houses. The reason they prefer me, no grief and no lip. What the client wants, the client gets.
I'll pull them up over out of legal levels, wrong cadence in their source or clipped audio but anything outside of technical nasties is totally their call. Sure I'll offer a polite opinion if asked but I always try to keep it within the context of what they're trying to achieve.

Bob.

ken c wrote on 8/12/2004, 6:54 PM

Glad there's an "ignore" function. Well that was easy enough.

ken

Matt_Iserman wrote on 8/12/2004, 8:23 PM

My old boss once said to me that "feedback is the breakfast of champions" and he was right.

Ken, if you blocked someone because they stated that they did not like your work, you are doing yourself a great disservice.

Personally, I think your use of 3D text was appropriate given the subject matter. That is what we should consider whenever we think about using our available tools: is it appropriate? (Also, does it improve the project, of course?)

Matt Iserman

skibumm101 wrote on 8/12/2004, 9:01 PM

I don't personally like the text for day trader, but thats my opinion, are you going to block me too. If i didnt listen to what others thought of my work, how am i going to improve? now granted you have to talk all opinions with a grain of salt, but if most of the opinions are the same, thats one big pile of salt, and youd better take notice.

apit34356 wrote on 8/12/2004, 9:55 PM

Dgates, could you provide some examples of bad and good text designs. I'm especially interest in what the new "cool" look or trend is in titling.

AJP

Blues_Jam wrote on 8/12/2004, 10:53 PM

I have to agree with bStro about Panic Room. I thought that was an incredibly imaginative intro and set me up for some great effects in the movie. Unfortunately, after that awesome loooooong fly thru they did with the camera thru walls and floors they must have run out of either money or time or imagination because it seemed to die quickly after that sequence.

As far as 3D titles are conscerned, how can it be passe when ALL network news, ALL cable news, and ALL local news programs use it liberally.? In fact, I love to watch the opening graphics to programs like The Abrams Report on MSNBC and am blown away at how much 'stuff' in motion they can pack into just a few seconds.

That's just my shiny copper, beveled, spinning and tumbling two cents worth...... ;)

Blues

ken c wrote on 8/13/2004, 9:32 AM

Yes, helpful comments and feedback are useful. Blind attacks without alternatives provided, eg "you may want to try ... instead" are much more professional and helpful..

Ken

kcrosley wrote on 8/13/2004, 10:45 AM

Did somebody say BluffTitler? Did somebody say retro? Hmmm... A major update to BluffTitler is coming soon. Here's a quick preview of just *one* of the new things you'll be able to do with particles:

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

Other examples from cool to cheesy can be found here:

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

As always, you can buy (still under $40 US!) or demo (free!) at:

http://www.blufftitler.us/

Cheers,
Keith

DavidMcKnight wrote on 8/13/2004, 11:13 AM

Keith - are you connected with BT, and is this upgrade free to registered users? I bought the program about a month ago. Sorry to swing this off topic, I don't mean to hijack, and I will head over to the BT site now....

BrianStanding wrote on 8/13/2004, 11:38 AM

The problem with following what everyone else is doing, is that it gets pretty dated as soon as the fashion changes. Remember the "whooshing" sound Fox was using everytime a graphic flew in? Man, did that get old!

2D titles, cuts, dissolves, fade-ins and outs, and J and L cuts accomplish 99.9% of what I need to do. I don't even have the transitions window up on my default Vegas screen. I can't remember the last time I used it.

Of course, it's all a matter of taste. I'm sure some folks look at my work, and think "What kind of dinosaur put this thing together?" just as I look at some stuff, and think "What kind of amphetamine-addled squirrel put this thing together?"

kcrosley wrote on 8/13/2004, 1:27 PM

Yep, I promote the product here in the states. The new features should be available within a month and I'm putting together an actual User's Guide for the product that I hope will be helpful to people! Yes, the new version will most likely be a free upgrade.

Cheers,
Keith

BluffTitler DX9 - Realtime 3D titling for video editors
http://www.blufftitler.us

jetdv wrote on 8/13/2004, 2:15 PM

Keith, could you get in contact with me?

ken c wrote on 8/13/2004, 7:49 PM

Well I like bluff a lot, great application and a super price.

Ken

vicmilt wrote on 8/15/2004, 1:22 PM

Looks good to me... (bluff titler)

I LOVE that swing time title effect.

Film/video production is all about end-use, style and taste... as is most art.

It's easier to understand in music... some people love Beethoven, some love Miles Davis and some love Emminem.
All totally different - all with huge followings.

Film/video adds CONCEPT to style. I believe that if the concept is great - the execution really doesn't matter that much (although I love and respect craftsmanlike execution). On the other hand, all the spinning titles in the world won't ever make a crappy concept be Good.

epirb wrote on 8/15/2004, 4:02 PM

Here Here Vic, I agree,its all in how you use it and the concept and context of how it's used.
The music analogy is right on as well,
I really dont like country and western music, but then again I dont want Willy Nelson rapping either. Somethings fit better for certian ideas.
BTW I didnt see the movie but didn't Spiderman 2 use a 3D font for its titles?from what I saw on the trailers it looked like it fit to me .

bStro wrote on 8/15/2004, 6:02 PM

BTW I didnt see the movie but didn't Spiderman 2 use a 3D font for its titles?

Yes. If I recall correctly, so did Spider-Man.

(BTW, go see Spider-Man 2. It's fantastic. ;)

Rob