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A pretty simple effect (I think)
So, I did some searching but couldn’t quite find what I was looking for.
I’m new with AE, but am trying to learn the program while simultaneously using it on a project.
So, I’m working on a commercial for a construction company comprised of a series of stills.
The effect that I’m trying to achieve is to start out with the background, then the outline of the worker appears, then the “blue man” worker, then the blue will fade away revealing just the worker.
Now the part that I’m having trouble with, is the “Outline” layer. I would like it to start at one end, say his left knee cap, and kind of draw itself all the way around till it closes the figure. Make sense?
I’m not sure if I can do this with some simple cropping effect or what?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
“The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.” –Albert Einstein
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7 Replies
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Hey look! It finally decided to work!!!!!!!!
Ignore my other thread!
“The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.” –Albert Einstein
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With auto trace did you have to roto still or was it automatic? Looks cool.
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no, no. I did all this in photoshop. I’m very experienced with PS, but am just starting out with AE.
So, I haven’t actually figured out a way to animate my stroke yet.
I’m watching the Total Training DVDs, so I’ve seen auto trace, but have never used it.
I dunno, I might just do a simple cropping effect on the outline and have it appear from top to bottom like a scanner.
I would have to find out how to do that as well though, ha ha.
“The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.” –Albert Einstein
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Have you tried the “Write On” effect, for animating the outline?
Aharon Rabinowitz gives good instructions on its use in his “Animate a Signature” tutorial.
I think it could work for what you want, with a little adaptation.
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Well… to make the line to “draw itself”…
Well… you could make your life miserable and try to trace the outline again using the technique simular to handwriting…
Or… you could just simply take the existing line and place it on a layer that is the background to a mask that simply reveals the outline over a the progression of the composition (i.e., you are changing the position of the mask with keyframes). That would be the easy way to do it.
Take your pick… miserable way or easy way…
You don’t need to overthink this project… it appears the hard parts have already been done using PS… now, it appears you simply need to apply a moving mask (or masks – depending on the kind of reveal you want) to gradually reveal the line surroung your person (which is a layer that should be above the mask and line (i.e., order of layers are – person, mask (moving), line).
Funny thing about using a mask on your project… you could have gotten a 100 dollar editing software to acoomplish this effect. Or, you could have done what I would have done… spend about a couple of thousand dollars on special effect software. 🙂
FWIW Joe Moya
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Oh…
I forgot to add…
Once you have the line revealing around the worker as you like it… (i.e., using a simple mask reveal changing positions using keyframes as decribed in my previous post)…
Then save the composition as a avi., mov., etc. file.
Take that saved animation showing the reveal… and add the new background of where the worker is working. Now you have the worker with revealing line on the top layer and the background showing the worksight.
Bam! project is done… in my mind, that should take about 15-20 mins. if your not rushed and know AE well… or 30-45 mins. if you struggle with AE commands.
Joe Moya
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Okay, well, you guys have all been very helpful. I think I have enough suggestions to accomplish this effect one way or another. I’ll post the final results when I’m done.
Thanks again!
“The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.” –Albert Einstein
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