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Arrange large array of images
Greetings all,
I need to find a way to arrange many many small images into a grid-like array whereby they create the sillhouette of a larger image. As seen in the storyboard frame here – https://dev.binaryinteractive.com/public/transition.jpg
The easiest way would be to create a nested comp with all the small images laid out in a grid (very labor intensive) and then mask to create the sillhouette in the parent comp. However I would like greater control of the individual images; ie, wiggle their z-pos a bit etc. Masking would cut off parts of the images on the edge of the sillhouette. Short of laying these out by hand, is there an assistant that can help with this type of thing. Digital Anarchy perhaps, or Useful Things, neither of which I have used. But if they can do they job I will go and buy.
Also, in a similar fashion I need to arrange the same small objects into a globe to look like the world. See what I mean here – https://dev.binaryinteractive.com/public/globe.jpg
As you can see the mask technique is not very convincing (but okay for storyboard). I would like the objects to actually wrap around the sphere in 3D space. Again, any of the assistants out there that will let me wrap these around a sphere but still keep the integrity of the land-mass shapes?
many many thanks to the AE COW community up front….
mm66 -
4 Replies
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Wow, I think I actually have perfect solutions for both of your problems! First, Card Dance will let you do almost exactly what you were describing. Not actually sure if you can make each card a full image, but if not you can always use a tiling effect (motion tile or cc tiler) first and then card dance.
Second, CC sphere can make a flat image into a shperical shape. If you don’t find it under effects/perspective/cc sphere, you have to install the cycore effects from your AE installation CD. Start with a map of the earth, such as this one:
Earth Observatory
or it might be better to find one that is black and white or has an alpha channel. Check out this Glass Globe Tutorial
It might have what you’re looking for as far as getting the outline of the continents. From there just apply your tiled image to the map with a track matte.
If you have any more questions just ask. I’ve done a very similar thing except using fractal noise for the earth texture instead of tiled images.
Nate -
As Nate said, the recipe could be sometyhing like this:
– use a tiling effect to replicate the graphic.
– create a black & White mask (for example by increasing the contrast of the layer with the driver, or by rotoscoping)
– add a mosaic effect to that (precomposed) mask that replicates the same width & height of the tiles;
– reuse the width and height yet again in the card dance effect. -
Digital Anarchy’s 3d Assistants is great. I’ve used it plenty of times to create grids, spheres boxes etc… Here is a cool script for making you layers into a sphere.. It creates a Control null that has a slider to control the radius..
https://www.nabscripts.com/Downloads/downloads_en_2_createSphere.htm#createSphere -
you guys are awesome, got a lot of testing to do today, see which one of these techniques will do it for me. Only use Card Dance once in a tutorial and dont fully understand it so I got some studying to do. The mosiac matte tip is great, should work like a charm.
thanks to all
will keep you posted with progress
mm66
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