VFX question

[Dave Buckley]

I've just landed a new project (it's mechanically based) but the guys want some effects going on the product visuals, for example, thermal imaging style amongst others.

 

I'm happy with everything they've asked me to do, however there is just one thing that I don't really know how to show. I want to make this creative and not-boring (typical) so that they stand out from the crowd at the exhibition which the animation is for.

 

They've asked if I can show electricity (signals) being sent along wires to and from sensors.

 

Any suggestions on how I might achieve this? I was thinking perhaps going inside the wire and having a really dynamic camera following the current. But it will still require some form of electric pulse to show the signal being sent

[Dave Buckley]

ignore this now, done it using a gradient ramp as a mask on a glowing material and animated one of the offset values

[Fooch]

Was just about to suggest adding an animated diagram in. Or give icon / diagram overlays for it in post.

[JamesL]

a good answer - nice work.

[nelpiper]

If you use After Effects, the advanced lighting is a pretty cool effect and can save you a lot of time.

[Dave Buckley]

i have also been advised to use an animated sphere which has a glow that affects FG and then to render its matte in order to use a post glow - but that went over my head a little