Make Lightsaber Effects

After seeing Star Wars, many people want to have their own lightsaber. Too bad that they don't exist. But there is a way to make it look as though you have one, by using your home computer.

  • Note LS Maker only works on the Windows Operating system and does not run on Macs.*

Steps

  1. Purchase a toy Lightsaber (you can get these at target or Walmart). I use a cheap cereal box toy lightsaber. These are available at most toy stores.
  2. Download LightSaber Maker.
  3. Unzip the file.
  4. Take a picture or video of yourself holding the toy Lightsaber.
  5. Upload the picture/video to your computer.
  6. Import the picture/video.
  7. Left click on one end of the lightsaber, and right click on the other end.
  8. Choose color. And, if using a separate effect such as a clash, click on the button to the right of the color selector (...), and choose an image to use.
  9. Repeat the previous step on a separate layer if you wish to have multiple effects in one shot.
  10. Click: Preview "K" to view the layer you're on (default = '0') and click: Render "J" to view all layers.
  11. Export your new video with lightsaber special effects. For the best quality choose 32-bit and when asked to compress, scroll to the bottom and select 'Uncompressed'. Note this will make your video file larger in exchange for quality.
  12. Exit LS Maker.

Video Section

  1. Repeat if you want to make another Lightsaber in this picture/video.
  2. Do this frame by frame (scroll through frames by pressing the "O" and "P" keys).
  3. Finished.

Tips

  • Do not be embarrassed if you look a bit silly. If you think yours are bad, you're not the only one out there.
  • If you're going to publish your video on the Internet, please follow LS Maker's rules.
  • To make the super fast fighting style of Yoda, record in slow motion to ease coordination. Then delete frames in editing to get it to appear to normal speed, making sure the deletions are uniform (for example, every other frame). Alternately, import the video to a program such as Windows Movie Maker or Apple iMovie and place a "Speed Up Double" effect on the video.
  • Don't feel you are required to have your Lightsaber in screen all the time. Notice that in the Star Wars films, the Lightsaber is not always on screen.
  • Each shot should last 3-5 seconds. If you look at the Star Wars films, you see that they change angles so often. It also gives you the option to slide in the real light so when you change it on the LS Maker you can make a Mini-Lightsaber on one side of them and another mini Lightsaber on the other end. It'll look like you stabbed them!
  • If you are making a video, don't make an hour of special effects shots. Remember that these effects need to be edited frame by frame.
  • You can also import your video in reverse. Right under the Add button, there's a check box. Check it, import your video, and it will be reversed.
  • LS Maker is not limited to Lightsabers. You can even create your own effects by uploading custom pictures to the "Pics" folder under "LSmaker."

Warnings

  • If you're going to publish your Lightsaber video in any way, familiarize yourself with LS Maker's rules before doing so to avoid legal trouble.

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