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Broken line along a path – attached to nulls / points.
Hi folks,
I have an issue which I can’t work out a solution to. Web searches show the same issues a few years ago with no solution, but I wonder if things have moved on.
So, PROBLEM.
I need to have a moving dotted line.
The line needs it’s ends attached to two fixed points so I can move them around.
I need to be able to offset this line so I can put another one next to it, flowing the other way.Imagine a data flow between two computers, moving around the screen.
I need an elegant, repeatable solution as I need to make about 100 lines across 6 comps.
Things I’ve tried and their downfalls.
1/ Using a path
– issue, I can’t parent the ends to nulls / objects
(the convert path only seems to work on a rectangle, not a two pointed path shape. I tried using a rectangle, but it distorted too much as it needs to go from very small to quite large.)2/ Using beam.
This works insofar as I can parent the ends, but the beam is solid. I tried applying a venetian blind effect, which was almost there, but it has no offset command, so I cant animate the dotted line.3/ Using vegas on a rectangle.
Close, but again, the scaling of the mask was very distorted.4/ Particular emitting along a path. A potential solution for a small amount of lines, but the sheer amount of lines I need would be really unwieldy with that many instances of particular.
I’d really appreciate any input you have,
thanks,
Moog
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11 Replies
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Ourobouros comes to mind.
https://aescripts.com/ouroboros-2/
Kalleheikki Kannisto
Senior Graphic Designer -
[Moog Gravett] “1/ Using a path
– issue, I can’t parent the ends to nulls / objects”Starting with Ae CC 2018 v15.0 and higher, we now have expression access to paths. That means with just line or two of code, you CAN parent the ends to nulls.
Check out this sample project for an example:
12523_pathexpression.aep.zipWalter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive | RenderBreak [blog] | Profile [LinkedIn] -
Thanks folks. I’ll look into those options.
I did try the converting paths, but it didn’t seem to work for me – thanks for the suggestion though.
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You mentioned you had a lot of these… so I’ve made it a little more easily repeatable. The Shape layers in this project have two Layer Controls on them, so you can select which two nulls it should connect in the Effects Control Panel.
12524_pathexpressionv2.aep.zip
Walter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive | RenderBreak [blog] | Profile [LinkedIn] -
That’s amazing! Thank you.
I’m off home now but will check it out tomorrow.
Thanks again.
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Hi Walter,
I just wanted to thank you again for helping me out. I can’t begin to tell you how much time you’ve saved me here.
I appreciate your time and effort.
All the best,
Moog
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ooh – yipes. Can I bug you for a little more help?
When I copy it all into an existing comp, the expression breaks. I’m sure it must be a small thing I’m missing to get it working… Any thoughts?
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Actually, I’ve just worked out that it’s when I try and put the lines into 3d space that breaks it, not moving into a new comp.
Any tweaks to let in work attached to a 3D point? -
This should do it:
12525_pathexpressionv3.aep.zipWalter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive | RenderBreak [blog] | Profile [LinkedIn] -
I look forward to trying it out.
Thanks again!
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