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Dotted, animated beam line
Hi,
I’m not sure if this belongs here or in Expressions. (I’m honestly not even sure if it’s possible). I”m trying to create a Beam layer for which I can attach the start and end position to Nulls. (I already know how to do that). But, I want the beam to have dashes instead of a solid line. Playing around a bit, I figured out that Vegas would work. However, I can’t figure out how to make those segments move along the path of the beam. The rotation parameter in Vegas doesn’t work. Neither do other effects like Offset or Transform. Any ideas? I’ve attached a screenshot for reference.
Thanks!
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7 Replies
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I had thought of that. But the problem is there’s no way to connect it to both nulls on either end of the line (like you can with the Beam). I want the nulls to be able to move and the lines to follow them, without having to hand animate that section, since I don’t have time. :/
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You could do this using shape layers and the BAO Mask Avenger 2 script, it’s not inexpensive though.
Johnny Cuevas, Editor
ThinkCK“I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
—THOMAS EDISON on inventing the light bulb. -
Unfortunately, I don’t have the budget for that, but thanks.
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I created one example, see if it helps.
10057_strokeddashedbeam.aep.zip
Cassius Marques
http://www.zapfilmes.com -
If you somehow can’t open the file, here is what you need:
Create a dotted, animated line(with a shape layer for example, just make sure its long enough). Set its anchor point to its left. move it and link it to your left beam null.
Add this expression to its rotation:a = thisComp.layer("Point A").position;
b = thisComp.layer("Point B").position;
v = b-a;
radiansToDegrees(Math.atan2(v[1],v[0]))Set this layer as to alpha matte bellow your beam.
Cassius Marques
http://www.zapfilmes.com -
That worked perfectly! Thank you!
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That is an awesome solution, Cassius. I’ll be saving that one myself.
Johnny Cuevas, Editor
ThinkCK“I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
—THOMAS EDISON on inventing the light bulb.
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