Trish Podell
Ruggleini Studios

Tell me about Ruggleini Studios

Ruggleini is an experimental digital media studio which combines elements of video, special FX, 3D, animation, stills, and music to create contemporary motion graphic art.

What tools do you use?

I use a variety of software but for the MDM 007 video specifically I used the following: After Effects with several Digieffects plug-ins, Daz Studio with aniMate plug-in, Poser with eagle and safari 3D models, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Sonicfire Pro.

How did you find out about Simulate: Illuma?

From the Digieffects website. I am always prowling for the next new idea for motion graphic art.

Tell us about this latest project using Simulate: Illuma

For MDM 007, I used all five of the included plug-ins in the Simulate: Illuma package. The five are Halo, Light Tracer, Luminus, Photogust, and Radiance. Of the five, Luminus is my favorite, and has become a staple for my workflow. My footage just doesn’t look right to me without it. I generally first use MPEG Streamclip to deinterlace my footage (a free high quality converter at http://www.squared5.com) and then bring the footage into After Effects to tweak color via curves and hue/sat. Next I drag and drop Simulate: Illuma’s Luminus plug-in onto the footage and change the glow mode in the effects control panel from the default setting of screen to multipy and adjust the source blend to taste. SWEET! (your settings will vary depending on your footage) My second favorite in the package is a tie between Halo and PhotoGust. They are both awesome mood enhancers. Halo provides an ethereal quality, and PhotoGust provides tension and focus. PhotoGust actually makes you feel like you are going to fall into the waterfall in MDM007.

I also very much like Radience which shifts your colors and also provides focus. LightTracker I find most useful for bringing life to static areas. I used it on the dog statues. All in all, you will find use for all five of the included plug-ins in Simulate:Illuma.

What do you like most about Digieffects tools?

They expand your artistic possiblities and are easy and fun to use.

Would you recommend Simulate: Illuma to a friend or colleague?

I would recommend Simulate: Illuma to a friend, collleague, or stranger. I believe once you try it you too will want it as part of your everyday video or motion graphic workflow.