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Apple’s Front Row look?
Was wondering about doing a project that has the look and rotation of Apple’s Front Row app. My project will have 3 cards that are in 3D space and when they rotate in a circle around to the next card I want to keep them always facing front when position in front of the viewer. I did this manually and it worked, except for trying to place them where they are all equally space and not getting it spaced properly.
I was wondering if I can use card dance to simulate this effect. I not used card dance, so if any one could give me a hint I would greatly appreciate it!
los
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17 Replies
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Off the top of my head I would think a script/expression could distribute them. Then you could link them to a null for easy rotation.
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Do you have 3D Assistants or 3D Assitants lite (came free with After Effects 6.5 Pro)?
https://www.digitalanarchy.com/3Dassist/3Dassist_main.html
These plug-ins are designed to align and distribute multiple layers in cylinders, cubes, etc., without you having to wrack your brain trying to do the math and set up Nulls yourself.
Maybe this will help?
jdb
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I’m not sure if it’s a doubt, but if it is…
To make the cards always look at the camera, you just have to right-click the layers/Transform/Auto-orient and click Orient Towards Camera.A big hug from Brazil
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If you have AE 7, you have to buy 3D Assistants, as the Lite version doesn’t work with AE 7.
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Frank and other contributors,
I managed to parent the cards to an object that had perfect rotation. In this case a circle that was divided 3 ways and that is where the cards
fell on. It was tricky but it work and I add a camera to set a DOF to make the cards that I didnt want to view out of focus. Check it out.https://homepage.mac.com/loitz/iMovieTheater40.html
Now I can start making this work where the users can pick where to go. Its going to be a DVD menu for selection or maybe a enhance DVD-rom.
los
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Good work! — you could also use nulls for each element, and using expressions (and some creative math), have the face always be facing parallel to the camera no matter where the objects moved…
How did you get the reflection? Did you fake that, too? As I understand it, After Effects doesn’t offer true reflection (like Combustion does), or have I been missing something all these years? I have had to fake it using expressions and duplicate layers with feathered masks… how did you do it? Would you mind sharing the comp?
Thanks,
jdb
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Cool. I need to learn more into expression. I know they are powerful, but I only know a couple expression.
The reflections are faked. Good job spoting them. I tried the ole photoshop trick and you guess it. The tricky part was to make sure my cards
always faced front and in 3d space they were equally spaced. I made a pie chart in Illustrator and made it into thirds Then imported the
pie chart with percise placements for the cards and centered it in the comp. Then parented the cards to it and rotated on the y axis.I would be glad to shared the comp. Let me put in my iDisk and give you the link. If you are interested. I wish more people would let other see their comps more. (Sniff Sniff)
los
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looks awesome. i would love to see the comp as well. i am fairly new to after effects but i have quickly become obsessed with it’s endless possibilities. great work.
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Thanks. Its coming I promise.
los
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Here you guys go. Let me know if I can help with anything.
Its on my iDisk public folder. For member its loitz and for the password for access its sharing.
Hopefully you guys can pull it apart. Seemed pretty easy once I did it.
los
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