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Any After Effects artist knows that a plug-in is rarely used alone, and many artists have their own recipes for creating signature looks. DigiEffects Fantazm, then, could be called a new spice rack, one with powerful and unique flavors, for the motion graphics chef.
This collection of 36 plug-ins for After Effects (or programs like Apple Final Cut Pro that can host AE plug-ins) includes some that are immediately useful, like "Blueprint," which can make a clip look like a blueprint with a paper texture, or—with some tweaking—give it an infrared or parchment look. "Color By Numbers," another plug-in, posterizes and outlines the colors in a clip.
Like salt and pepper, these plug-ins work best when mixed with others. Blueprint, for example, could be combined with additional noise and texture filters for creating an old film look, while Color By Numbers can be used with a brush-stroke filter for an effective painted look.
Other plugs in this set, though, are more subtle in their effects. "PixxyAudio" will convert the audio track of a clip into a visible wave, or it can control other Fantazm plugs by feeding the audio data to them. "PixxyExotic" is ideal for creating the look of a really weak analog TV signal. "PixxyTopo" can extrude a layer into 3D space based on pixel luminosity. (Note that it doesn’t extrude it into After Effects’ own 3D space.)
Sprinkle Lightly
But like any potent collection of spices, DigiEffects’ plug-ins must be used sparingly. They are all capable of producing beautifully rendered frames, but they do so at their own leisurely pace. I tested this package on a new aluminum Powerbook G4 1.33 GHz with 1.25 Gb of RAM; response was fair and usable, but a top-speed dual G5 would be necessary in a busy environment.
Like many third-party plug-in collections, this suite makes you stop and scratch your head and say, "Wow, cool... wonder when I’d use that." Like cooking, a certain amount of experimental playtime must always be invested in order to tease out the full potential of the plug-in and fully integrate it into one’s digital kitchen. Fantazm’s learning curve is no different; take comfort that it’s time well spent, and that the meal is worth the wait.
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