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Only built-in AE functions from the AE 5 Production Bundle are used. There are no imported image files. The project is a very simple 100 frame animation (set to PAL D1 25 fps). It's a complicated render with different areas in processing (Fractal noise, glow, big size pre-comp, 3D, 3D -lights etc.) but still very simple logic. Mats actually used this project as a processor-speed test on the AE-list.

On a side note, there is a song called "Flight Tonight" on the Avalanches "Since I left you" CD. It has been going through my head for a week because of this project. It's an earworm. - Michele

Instructions

Create the Landscape

1. Create a new comp called "Landscape comp". This original project was created for PAL D1 at 25 fps. If you are NTSC, set yours up at 29.97 fps. Set the duration to 100 frames and the background color to black.
2. Create a new solid (Layer > New Solid) that is 2000x1600, black. Call it "Landscape".
3. Apply Fractal Noise to "Landscape" (Effect > Render > Fractal Noise). This will create the city grid. Use the following settings and leave the rest at the default:
   - Fractal Type: Terrain Noise Type: Block
   - Contrast: 70
   - Brightness: 5
   - Transform: Rotation 0 x 25°
   -Transform: Scale: 200
   - Transform: Offset Turbulence: 1070, 867
   - Transform: Perspective Offset: On
   - Sub Settings: Sub Scaling: 50
   - Evolution: Keyframe first and last frames to 0 x 0.0°, 0 x 25°
4. Apply Colorama to "Landscape" (Effect > Image Control > Colorama). See the settings below.
5. Apply Glow to "Landscape" (Effect > Stylize > Glow). Set the Glow Intensity to 2.0 and everything else to the default settings.

Create the Clouds

1. Duplicate the "Landscape Layer" and rename it "Clouds". Remove Colorama and Glow from "Clouds". Note: If you look at the .aep file, in the landscape comp, you can see that the two cloud layers and the ground layer are 3D and actually placed at specific and different z-positions to form three planes. They are also positioned differently in the x,y so that when the comp is swiveled in the final comp the edges will not show.
2. Change the following settings of Fractal Noise on the "Clouds" Layer.
   - Fractal Type: Sub Scale
   - Noise Type: Spline
   - Invert: On
   - Contrast: 129
   - Brightness: 2.0
   - Evolution: Keyframe first and last frames to 0 x 0.0°, 0 x 10°.
3. Set the Transfer Mode of "Clouds" to Hard Light.
4. Duplicate "Clouds". The new layer will be called "Clouds*". Change the following Fractal Noise settings on "Clouds*":
   - Contrast: 165
   - Complexity: 4.8
   - Evolution: Keyframe first and last frames to 0 x 0.0°, 0 x 25°
   -Opacity: 90%

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