WOW! What an Amazing Plug-in for just $99.00!

Red Giant Software's Trapcode Shine (TS) is the real deal if you want movie quality lighting effects to spiff up you production. After seeing how quickly and easily this powerful plug-in is to use and adjust, I am a believer!

I downloaded TS and installed it in just minutes. I went to Red Giant's Video Tutorials page and watched as the demo walked through a couple of TS's effects. I opened up After Effects (CS3), typed in a big text title and applied Shine. It was that simple. Instantly my one-word title took on the characteristics of a mega-budget blockbuster title sequence.

I was blown away! Eye-popping is the only way to describe it. My simple text was transformed into a shimmering nova of light rays and amorphous highlights emitting from the text. Nuanced gradients and soft glows with loads of ways to tweak, cajole, and tint various aspects of the effects. TS gives plenty of tools and leeway to get just what you want.

If you want an eerie walk through the shadows effect, just adjust some of the easy to understand parameters and you can move things around in REAL-TIME! Yes, you can watch it as you make adjustments. No waiting for a rendering while wondering if you got it right... this time. Truly incredible.

My only complaint so far is with the TS documentation. I downloaded the HELP documentation, but it won't open. Clicking the link opens a browser window that couldn't find the source files. I'm sure a website builder could probably fix this in a snap, but I'm not sharp enough to know how to fix this on my own. For right now, this is a problem.

Not to end on a down note, Red Giant has a nice website chock-full-o helpful tutorials, information and links to other helpful info. I'd like to write more about this amazing plug-in, but I can't wait to get back to After Effects and play with it some more.

Hmmmm... wonder what this'll do? WOW! LOOK AT THAT!!!