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Author
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Topic: throwing cards
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Ple-Al Daath
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posted 12-30-2000 05:14 PM
You know how Gambit from the X-men throws charged cards and they glide before exploding? Well real cards flutter, not glide, how can I get 'em to glide right? |
lyvewyer
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posted 12-30-2000 05:44 PM
weigh down one corner (the corner that you want to be the center of rotation) and then it should glide.------------------
"i dont feel the need to explain my art to you." -A.J., empire records
never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers.
if ignorance is bliss, why arent there more happy people? -unknown
visit my site www.novicepictures.com
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lucasian
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posted 12-30-2000 09:50 PM
No,no,no.
To throw a card, all you have to do is hold it right and throw it right. I can throw a card a good 20 to 25 feet.
Here's how:
hold your hand with the outside edge facing the floor(like you are doing a karate chop) anthe fingers pointed straight out.
with your fingers still straight, bend them in so that they form a 90 degree angle with your hand
now stick the corner of a card between your index and middle finger.The short edge should run along your fingers towards the crook formed by the fingers and hand, but only the corner should be between the first and middle finger, and the long edge of the card should run almost parallel to the palm of your hand.
Don't let the card droop. Keep it level with the fingers at all times.
Now bend all 4 fingers inward until the lower right corner touches the heel of your hand. In the same movement, bend your wrist in toward youself as far as it will go. Be sure to keep your forearm straight out away from you.
To make the throw, snap your wrist out as hard as you can. At the same time straighten your fingers out and release the card. With some practice you can send cards bouncing off the wall across the room. |
ADOM
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posted 12-30-2000 09:58 PM
A heavier card wouldn't hurt though. You can weigh down the edges of playing cards with some thicker cardboard, tape or a piece of a paperclip (don't throw these at people) or you can just look for a better quality deck of cards. Most stores carry those $1.50 playing cards that you're expected to leave on an airplane or park bench, so they're pretty disposable, but a magic shop should carry a higher quality set of cards that is easier to manipulate. I would tell them what you want to do with them and see what they have to say.If you can't find a magic shop near you try looking online. Good Luck.
ADOM |
EricM
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posted 01-02-2001 01:15 PM
If you're not throwing them at people you could cut out a piece of sheet metal at the right size and then glue a playing card to the front and back.
You can use a real card for close ups and the metal one for quick shots where you don't get a good look at it.
Be carful... |
FXMan
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posted 01-03-2001 08:08 AM
If you can ever find anyone who might have a tape of Ricky Jay the magician, this guy does things with cards you wouldn't believe. He can sail them REALLY far just by throwing them the right way. And he's accurate with his throws. As I recall he had an act that used to bill him as Ricky Jay and his Karate Cards or something crazy like that. And he does it with standard Bicycle type cards available at any card shop, drug store or anywhere that sells playing card decks.Check him out if you ever get the chance. FXMan |
Nayman
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posted 01-03-2001 08:48 AM
Bee decks, made my bicycle ahve a beautiful finish, cost 3 bucks a pack, look great, and their easy to throw. try em
NAYBOY
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Jeff F
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posted 01-04-2001 04:20 AM
I taped Ricky's TV show based on his book "Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women" (which is a fascinating read) and he performs one version of his card throwing act - amusing & astonishing.There are a number of magic books that describe various grips and throwing techniques. You might try a stiff plastic in place of the metal mentioned above, for safety's sake. In any case, practice is the key. ------------------
Jeff F - Moderator
Magic and FX
Amazing the Masses |
lucasian
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posted 01-04-2001 06:30 PM
Amen, Jeff!
Practice! |
SAFilms
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posted 01-04-2001 09:26 PM
i doubt you could use them in your film, but www.jlsdp.com has some razor sharp edged throwing cards.or try www.selfdefenseproducts.com if the above doesn't work, and you care. |
Louis M
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posted 01-14-2001 11:54 PM
I know this can be annoying but what about "creative filmmaking" this would be a perfect use of throwing cards and CGi, it could look really cool.------------------
Louis Matthews
If You Will, Karma Points Will Pay the Bill |
B. Rhomboid
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posted 01-15-2001 02:22 AM
Wow, FOUR grand gurus on one post! Gotta be a first. Guess they're taking time out from that VIP area poker game  |
Gamecat
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posted 01-15-2001 03:07 PM
Using the magician techniques is fine I think, but a little to risky in my opinion? I mean why not go with the weighted cards that will fly with every throw instead of worrying that your actor might not throw it perfectly this time ruining a shot? You know what I mean? |
Jeff F
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posted 01-15-2001 07:42 PM
Hmmm, 4 Gurus in one post - I think if you hit 5 in a single post your camera gets sucked in a multidimensional improbability vortex.  Even a weighted card is going to take a little practice to throw reliably - just a lot easier than a normal playing card. For the sake of simplicity I'd cut away from a shot of the actor shown flinging the cards to a shot of them striking their targets instead of using a single shot. You can split cards and glue them back together with a metal shim inside, (also described in some magic books) or simply paint a properly sized & shaped piece of stiff material to resemble a card. ------------------
Jeff F - Moderator
Magic and FX
Amazing the Masses |
SentinelX2
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posted 02-13-2001 06:44 PM
About the cards, try using CGI effects for the actually flight and path. You can use a real card at first to show the audience, and then use a 3d program (such as Bryce 4), apply a card texture (which is really easy and it looks very real), and then animate with a path according to your desire. I am making a x-men film, as you'll see on the Trailer portion of LAS and Gamibt's playing cards will be shown as I stated above. Check out the making shots on my link soon on the Trailer section of LAS entitled "X2"."The War Is Here!"
Spring 2001 Ashton Edwin-Kent
Director "X2" www.edwin-kent.com |
crazy lou
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posted 02-13-2001 06:49 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Jeff F:
Hmmm, 4 Gurus in one post - I think if you hit 5 in a single post your camera gets sucked in a multidimensional improbability vortex.
just wanted to see if it would happen. could this magician throw multiple cards at once or did he only throw one? if that were the case i'd say CGI, you're going to have to do some CGI or roto work anyway with the "glowing charge" oh well vortex here we come later
Tom ------------------
What everyone seems to forget is that once we look past race, religion, gender, and all that, everyone on this planet is first and foremost... ...a PERSON new and improved links(added to 02/11/01) |
SentinelX2
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posted 02-15-2001 04:05 PM
If you want to do this trick, I forgot to mention that you'll want to make the path simulate a real throw as much as possible. Spin, speed, direction, gravity, just anything to make it look real (but still give the comic effect). You'll need this if your throwing more than one card. You may want to record the actor throwing real cards, in the position that you want, just to get an idea of how they'd look in reality. This will be a big help in determing where and when to place the card animation. Then just have the actor fake the card throw (by hiding the real card), then add the rendered card scene on top of the video of your character. When rendering the cards, use a basic blue(my preference) background (I'm assuming you know about bluescreen compositing) so you can easily matte the card with the video frames. Or if your software allows you, just render it on to the frames. These are the two easiest ways that I have used to get as close to having a life-like effect as being an effects artist. Hope this helps.Ashton Edwin-Kent
Director "X2" www.edwin-kent.com |
MagicsBack
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posted 02-16-2001 03:42 AM
Hmmm, depending on the shot required, couldn't you just get the actor to throw the cards in a medium shot, and if the flight path looks good cut to the card a destination, or a rigged shot (CGI, stop-frame animation, fishing line, whatever) of it close to impact.However, for sheer perfection find a copy of Ricky Jay's "Cards as Weapons". If you find two copies, I'll buy the other, I've been looking for five years!!! It'll teach you everything you need to know, even how to cut watermelons at thirty paces!!!  |
MagicsBack
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posted 02-16-2001 03:43 AM
Hmmm, depending on the shot required, couldn't you just get the actor to throw the cards in a medium shot, and if the flight path looks good cut to the card a destination, or a rigged shot (CGI, stop-frame animation, fishing line, whatever) of it close to impact.However, for sheer perfection find a copy of Ricky Jay's "Cards as Weapons". If you find two copies, I'll buy the other, I've been looking for five years!!! It'll teach you everything you need to know, even how to cut watermelons at thirty paces!!! |
Sarge
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posted 02-17-2001 12:04 PM
Six? Do I hear six? Anyway, when I was spending my misspent youth, some friends and I used to play odd games... one involved a vacant lot, a handful of dart-board, English pub darts, and seeing who could keep their foot motionless with darts humming in toward your instep... but enough of that. We also tried throwing cards. The motion is the same as for shiruken, and is outlined quite ably above.
It does work, works well, and is a heck of a lot of fun. In my heyday, I could spin a card across a forty foot lot... not with ant great accuracy, but it works. And, as stated, practice makes proficient.Sarge | |
