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Simple 2d roling ball animation
Hey guys,
I’m in a bit of a dilemma. I have to make a DVD menu and what I want to achieve is very simple- I want to have a simple 2D football rolling into the screen/menu at the introduction. Thats it!
The dilemma is I cannot find a tutorial on this anywhere, strangely enough. I can make basic animated effects within after effects and import these effects videos into adobe encore to create a short animated introduction and the menu buttons etc but the rolling roll effect is beyond me and Iv tried everything and everywhere. Is it even possible to create this effect in after effects? Or should I use another porgram?
Could any of you guys please point me in the right direction or recommend an alternative software if necessary in order to achieve this simple rolling ball introduction?
The football I want to “roll” is a simple flat 2D photoshop layer, and I want to make this simply roll along a path so that when the user inserts the DVD they will see the rolling ball introduction before the menu is displayed. Very simple.
I am proficient in adobe encore (making the DVD and the menu buttons interactive) but my knowledge of its animation features or adobe after effects is limited. I have access to the following software: Photoshop, flash, Premiere, encore, after effects (most of the adobe creative suite).
Any help would be really appreciated guys.
Cheers
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3 Replies
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This is an AE 101 thing, sorry — it’s not an effect, it’s the setting of keyframes, which is at the heart of animation.
You need to take the football layer in an AE comp and animate its position and rotation using keyframes. If you set a key for rotation, and one for position at the start and end, you’ll have something that rotates as it moves into position.
The challenge is: the football bounces up and down as it rotates. To make that happen, you need to set keyframes in-between the first and last.
It’s really easy, but you have to read the manual on keyframes, then do it by hand.
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Yes, it’s just animating keyframes. You can get a realistic bouncing effect by changing the scale keyframes when the balls bounces down on the floor (or whatever) to make it shorter/fatter, etc. Rotation keyframes will make your ball look like its rolling (esp. if it’s not a solid color). And position keyframes tells it where to go.
Once you get keyframes, it’s pretty easy to do… I made this crappy animation in After Effects in about an hour of free time just to show a buddy simple techniques. There’s a lot wrong with this video, but see if the beginning of this video is what you’re trying to do and I can help you further if needed. http://www.digitasproductions.com/Colors.html
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Excellent thanks a lot for the advice guys. Going to give that a try and brush up pn my keyframe skills in After Effects. Will let you know how it goes or if I need any further help.
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“There’s a lot wrong with this video, but see if the beginning of this video is what you’re trying to do and I can help you further if needed. http://www.digitasproductions.com/Colors.html”
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Thats exactly what I’m looking for, a simple roll of the ball, I might give the bouncing a try if all goes well!
Thanks again guys, I appreciate it.
Darren
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