Bullet Time

I have searched the forum and cannot find anything on how to create a bullet time effect (from the Matrix for those not in the know), if anyone has a good way or even just some pointers on how to make bullet time please tell me, thank you - Matt

I suppose it depends on the scene that you want to create. Perhaps a lot of layer masks and careful use of motion blurs would be a good starting point. If you could detail more what scene it is you are trying to portray, then perhaps we could help more.

I have a private compo with someone over msn about who can make the best looking shoot out on a photo editor (i use PS, she uses PSP), and i decieded to do a matrix style one, trouble is I can't do bullet time. The that is the context of what I need it for, onto replying t the reply- Motion blur and layer masks thanks thehermit I'll have a go.- Matt

The thing with that is - your scene needs to show a whole lot of movement, but stopped right in the middle. Rain falling, people diving, glass breaking, bullet's hitting the wall. All frozen, with a bullet in perfect focus.

She's goin at you with PSP? Is she insane?

Bullet time is normally caught with an array of still cameras. the cameras fire one after another in quick succession around the loop (or whatever shape they are set in) then the frames are edited together in a video editor.

Bullet time seems to work best with motion, but if you are trying to fake it in a still frame then Random's suggestion is the best to follow (in my opinion)

I have a plan to do a "poor man's" bullet time with disposable cameras, but it will still be video.

You might have better luck doing something like this in After Effects.

Sorry, I'll shut up now.

mmmmmm im just guessing here, im in college so i dont have ps to have a go,

but i remember one time on my messing about sessions.

making a black circle( doesnt have to be black), cutting out the middle so i end up with a ring, and setting that circle to screen, or dodge ( something like that ) on another layer.
i suppose, you could try messing around with soomething like that to get those air distortion things that the bullet made....

then i'd say some blurring on the actual image ( the characters and stuff )

but im just guessing here...ill have a go later tell ya what i come up with

Hmmm, uh motion blur doesn't give the right effect on its own but gaussian blur then motion blurring the circles seems to work a bit. Then, on a new layer do smaller circles and then gaussian blur those too and it looks ok, I'll make a tute and put it on here.
EDIT: Also a bit of the ripple filter in there too, I've just found that that works as well.