Making Smoke Follow Curves? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

02/21/2005 12:21:29 PM · #1

Not sure if this is the right place to post this but i'm wondering if it is possible to make smoke follow the curves of an object. I've tried and it does follow the curve a little bit but tends to wander, i'm thinking zero-gravity will help but i'm not sure i can make such a machine in a few hours.

Any tips on coaxing smoke round the curves of an object? i'm not asking it to fall again, just rising around minor curves.

thanks.

Message edited by author 2005-02-21 12:21:50.

PeterC

Canon EOS-7D

02/21/2005 12:25:14 PM · #2

You could try an additional flow of air in the direction you require maybe from a low speed fan or even the convection current from a heater.. it might be a direction to try

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/21/2005 12:27:22 PM · #3

yeah i was thinking along the lines of that (i tried blowing) but it was way too strong.. i'll see if i have something that would gently blow it along...

thanks.

jemison

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

02/21/2005 12:30:32 PM · #4

I'm thinking "wind tunnel".

soup

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/21/2005 12:38:45 PM · #5

dry ice steam is heavier than air ( looks like smoke ), and will fall around objects as gravity pulls it downward...

just a thought/.

PeterC

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

02/21/2005 12:42:11 PM · #6

Another point is to duct the air into a narrow slot this will control the flow for longer distances but its still a case of trying to balance flow with the lowest possible air velocity to minimise turbulance..

Like the dry Ice concept:)

Message edited by author 2005-02-21 12:43:02.

totaldis

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/21/2005 12:58:02 PM · #7

i see we have no physicists in the crowd.

Mal37

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

02/21/2005 01:03:55 PM · #8

What type of object do you want the smoke to curl around? You could try placing a heat source below the point where you want it to rise.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/21/2005 01:29:01 PM · #9

well i was hoping to get it to follow a piece of card with a bit of black cloth around it, just the outline of say, a face...

it follows it to some extent but keep the ideas flowing! I don't think i can use the shot for now but it will be handy to know in the future.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

02/21/2005 02:16:45 PM · #10

Build the face as a three dimensional box with a black front and place it in front of a black background. With good lighting, you could create smoke beneath the box, and it will flow around as it rises while the box disappears into the background.

bitfarmer

Nikon D70

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

02/21/2005 02:17:40 PM · #11

If you tilt the object in a way that makes the path that the smoke should follow more in the ceiling (top), then the smoke will be forced to go along the curve.

For instance, if you want the smoke to follow my face curves, instead of look ahead, I should look a little (45Âº) down to the floor, so the curves stay on right-top of the shoot and the smoke will tend to follow.

Of course tilt the camera too, so the final efect is ok.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/21/2005 02:46:25 PM · #12

Originally posted by K_Pugh:

, i'm thinking zero-gravity will help but i'm not sure i can make such a machine in a few hours.

It's not like you need a special machine to get zero G.

sheesh