Control Point -> Path

[Steve Roberts]

In the timeline, select the path (mask path, or mask shape) property, copy, select the flare center property, and paste.

[Nate Hanson]

Thanks, Steve! I swear I tried that…but I must have done something wrong when I did.

So it basically works now. The only problem is that flare follows the path about an inch above where the text is appearing. My quick fix was to just move the position of the flare’s layer down until it lined up with the text. Normally this would cause a problem with the edge of the layer cutting off some of the flare effect – but I’m zooming in on this scene so that will be out of frame.

So the question is: Why does the path data offset the flare’s center? Is there a better way to realign the flare center with the text?

Thanks for your help!

Nate

[Steve Roberts]

Hmm … maybe the flare is following the path, but the *text* is offset from the path?

(on a different note, try applying “grow bounds” before the lens flare effect so you don’t have to scale it up)

[Nate Hanson]

The problem seems to be with the range of numbers the two properties are operating on. At the start point of my animation the numbers look like this:

Flare Center
x: -.10
y: .10

Path (from stroke effect)
x: 129
Y: 283

So the numbers aren’t on the same scale. I moved stuff around and sort of forced it to line up, but I did it the hard way. How would I write an expression to compensate for this? Could I do it using the linear function?

Linear(-.10, .10, 129, 283)

or something like that?

Nate

[Steve Roberts]

Odd. I just did it and it worked.

1. make one solid – call it “solid”.
2. make another solid, call it “flare”
3. draw a mask on “solid”.
4. apply lens flare to “flare”.
5. select solid’s “mask shape” property, copy.
6. select flare’s “flare center” property, paste.

The flare center follows the mask shape exactly.
Both solids are the same size, filling the comp, 2D, no scaling or repositioning.

Any help?

[Nate Hanson]

Thanks for the help, Steve. You were actually correct in the earlier post when you asked if my text layer was offset. It was. I just didn’t realize I had moved it.

As for the weird numbers (-.10, .10) that I was getting…those were from a particle effect control point I was trying to add. I just confused myself and thought it was the flare’s property.

The effect now works exactly as I hoped it would! Thanks again for helping me figure it out!

Nate

[Steve Roberts]

Excellent. 🙂