-
Panning Across Multiple Polaroids
I am trying to give the effect of multiple polaroids randomly scattered across a table and a camera panning and zooming slowly across said table. I have set up my multiple polaroids in Photoshop, imported it into AE as a comp, set comp to 3d layer and dropped a new camera into timeline. When I use the XY tool to pan across comp it wants to move the whole comp on the XY axis. How do I keep the polaroid comp still and give the effect of moving the camera across XY axis? Thanks.
-
6 Replies
-
That doesn’t sound right. If you have the camera selected and you use the XY tool, then it will appear as if the comp is moving, in relation to the camera. Move the camera left, the comp appears to move to the right. Like if you’re sitting in a parked car and you look up and suddenly it looks like you’re rolling forward and you start to panic before realizing it’s just the car next to you backing out.
Joey Foreman
Editor/Animator
Nowhere Productions, Athens, GA -
[Jeff Watkins] “I have set up my multiple polaroids in Photoshop, imported it into AE as a comp, set comp to 3d layer and dropped a new camera into timeline. “
You don’t need 3d or a camera to do this effect. Just animate the anchor point of the source comp. “Random” is nearly impossible, of course. You will need to set many keyframes and tweak the speed of motion very carefully.
the only reason you would need a camera is if your individual images are separate 3d layers and reside in different z locations above the table. Then you add some lights. This will create fabulously realistic shadows and parallax as the camera moves but if your images are all flat on the table top it’s a total waste of processing power.
You can forget using 3d on this project as you have described it. If you want to try a 3D approach, run to your local bookstore and buy all of the AE books by Trish and Chris Meyer.
bogiesan
This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”
-
[david bogie] “run to your local bookstore and buy all of the AE books by Trish and Chris Meyer.”
Or just buy the one by Mark Christianson and be done with it.
Cheaper still, watch all the free After Effects instructional videos at YouTube, videocopilot and here in this site.
Howard
-
Christian’s book is great for advanced users who want to get the most out of AE’s compositing toolset.
It doesn’t even begin to cover motion graphics, for which the Meyers books are the industry standard.Joey Foreman
Editor/Animator
Nowhere Productions, Athens, GA -
[Joey Foreman] “to cover motion graphics … the Meyers books are the industry standard.”
Yes, but for many people books covering the basics of motion graphics are much harder to follow than a movie. Movies work better for communicating animation than still images in a book. That is why even though I have the Meyers books, I tend to watch Ahaaron’s AE podcasts for learning motion graphics principles. For the basics of AE itself, I’d recommend newer users to watch the free After Effects basics series at videocopilot.net or for $25 a month, you can subscribe to the lynda.com lessons online.
Howard
-
I believe the OP would have approached his Polaroid issue entirely differently if he had started with a firm background in designing effects sequences based on how After Effects is built.
Buy or steal or otherwise take advantage of any and all AE resources you possibly can.
bogiesan
This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up