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Animating a satellite data “beam”
I’m trying to animate a satellite data beam rotating around a part of the earth while it is fixed on a single target. I have animated the satellite by a parenting it to a solid located off screen and rotating that solid. I made the data beam using a solid with a mask. I then moved the center pivot of the data beam solid to the bottom where it lays over the target. My plan was as the satellite orbits from left to right on the screen, I’d rotate and key the data beam to match up. The problem is the satellite rotates and just doesn’t fly from left to right. This means that when the satellite reaches the center of the screen it’s up higher than it is on the sides. To compensate for that, I keyframed a non-uniform scale on the data beam to stretch it out as the satellite rotates around. The problem is.. it looks horrible. I’ve added lots of keyframes in order to keep the length and rotation of the beam matching up with the satellites rotation and I’ve tried different interpolation combinations to get it to look smooth, but the beam still doesn’t look good. Here’s a link to an example (not the one I’m working on.. but an example to show what I’m trying to do). Any help would be appreciated. I just wonder if I’m even approaching this the right way.
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4 Replies
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This is quick and dirty and there is probably a better way to do it via scripting. Maybe one of the real pros here can answer. Until then, try this.
https://www.pixel8studio.com/stage/cow/Satellite.zip
Ken
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ahh perfect. Thanks! At 6am, my brain was too fried to come up with a good way of doing it. That and I’m thinking more about the Dominion Beerfest (VA) I’m going to later on today, more than I am the work. 🙂
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I would use the “Beam” effect with an expression for Starting Point so that it follows the sattelite:
l=thisComp.layer("Satellite");
l.toComp(l.anchorPoint);
if you combine that as a track matte to a “radio waves” effect that has that same expression for “Producer point”, you’ll get something like this:
(I changed Ken’s project):
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that’s cool, but not the effect we’re looking for (radio waves)
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