NEC wrote: So, I’ve been playing with the effect editor for a while now and have managed to get some effects built, tweaked things etc. However, I’d love to find some sort of a ‘reference guide’ so I can get proficient. I’ve seen plenty of amazing effects created but I’m having a hard time getting past the basics. Is there something I’ve not found yet (hidden URLs?) or is there something in the works/available I’ve not found ? If not, I’d really like to see something, even if it was a pay-to-watch tutorial series.   You’re not missing anything. The effect editor has been under rapid development and has only existed as you see it today for a relatively short time. We’ve been putting all of our efforts into the features and haven’t quite gotten to writing documentation or creating tutorial videos. Now that the feature set has started to solidify and mature and the pace of development has slowed, we should be able to turn our attention to support content and tutorials fairly soon. In the meantime, if you’re having trouble in a specific area, or trying to create a specific effect, post it here and I’ll give you some tips.

  NEC wrote: So, I’ve been playing with the effect editor for a while now and have managed to get some effects built, tweaked things etc. However, I’d love to find some sort of a ‘reference guide’ so I can get proficient. I’ve seen plenty of amazing effects created but I’m having a hard time getting past the basics. Is there something I’ve not found yet (hidden URLs?) or is there something in the works/available I’ve not found ? If not, I’d really like to see something, even if it was a pay-to-watch tutorial series.   Have you checked this place?　　　　　https://finale3d.com/documentation/vdl-effect-glossary/

  DrewFinale wrote: Hi Pyro_297730000, arranging individual shells (i.e., singles shots, cake shots, etc.) on the timeline is a great way to begin making a cake in smaller, more manageable pieces. Just keep in mind, to enter the contest, you need to submit the complete full VDL for each cake – you can’t submit VDL for individual effects within the cakes. This means you need to create the VDL for the entire cake by going to ‘Effects (menu) > Combine as cake effect’. There are several videos that demonstrate the steps to create cakes this way in the Creating and Editing Effects playlist in the Finale 3D Help Center.   Ok, I’ll check that out! And thank you!

Hi Pyro_297730000, arranging individual shells (i.e., singles shots, cake shots, etc.) on the timeline is a great way to begin making a cake in smaller, more manageable pieces. Just keep in mind, to enter the contest, you need to submit the complete full VDL for each cake – you can’t submit VDL for individual effects within the cakes. This means you need to create the VDL for the entire cake by going to ‘Effects (menu) > Combine as cake effect’. There are several videos that demonstrate the steps to create cakes this way in the Creating and Editing Effects playlist in the Finale 3D Help Center.

  DrewFinale wrote:     Hi Pyro_297730000, welcome to the Finale 3D community! Have you checked out the Glossary of VDL Effect Terms?   I figured it out. But would I be ok with making the cakes out of shells on finale 3d and just timing each shot to the same pace as the cakes?

I figured something out. But would I be ok with using just shells and timing it the same pace as the cakes?

  Pyro_297730000 wrote: Hello, I’m having troubles finding a solid looking red plum on the fade to red cake. I was wondering if that effect could possibly be under a different name other than plim? Thanks in advance!     Hi Pyro_297730000, welcome to the Finale 3D community! Have you checked out the Glossary of VDL Effect Terms?

Hello, I’m having troubles finding a solid looking red plum on the fade to red cake. I was wondering if that effect could possibly be under a different name other than plim? Thanks in advance!  

  DrewFinale wrote:     Make the cake the same way you would any other – arrange the shots of the cake on the timeline with the desired timing and angles > select the shots > go to the Effects menu > Combine as cake. If Finale 3D can’t simulate the cake using a standard firing pattern, it will automatically switch to the exact syntax. The exact cake syntax allows the angle, effect, and timing of each shot to be specified individually.   That’s what I figured I would have to do… I didn’t now if there was a way to JUST use the VDL language to do this.

  Curtis B wrote: Next question then as it relates to what we are talking about:   If I want to make 2 parts of a full cake have varying degrees, how would I go about doing this? Say Rows 1,3,5 are a 60 degree cake and rows 2,4,6 are a 40 degree cake… as in Rows 1,3,5 have degrees from -30 to 30 and 2,4,6 have degrees from -20 to 20.   Make the cake the same way you would any other – arrange the shots of the cake on the timeline with the desired timing and angles > select the shots > go to the Effects menu > Combine as cake. If Finale 3D can’t simulate the cake using a standard firing pattern, it will automatically switch to the exact syntax. The exact cake syntax allows the angle, effect, and timing of each shot to be specified individually.