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Custom brush with Stroke effect?
Hi all!
I’m trying to find a way to use a custom brush(like in PS and AI for example) with the stroke effect i AE. What i want to do is to be able to animate my path with the Stroke effect’s “End” attribute, but while using a custom brush. With “custom brush” i mean let’s say a leaf or an artistic brush etc, similar to those in PS/AI.
I’ve been trying to figure this out but the only way i can see now to be able to get this right is to mask in an image(made in PS/AI) manually which is, to say the least,a tedious task…Is there a way around this or a plug-in that can do the trick?
Greatful for any help on this!
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3 Replies
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I create a path in ps using “custom shape” – let’s say a leaf. Then I select the entire path, copy it, and paste it onto a solid layer in after effects. it creates a layer mask. you slap the stroke effect on the layer and choose the mask as the stroke target. then you can draw the shape of the mask by using the “start” and “end” attributes.
As far as custom brushes, I’m not quite sure. I’ve only used custom shapes from ps.
Dan
PrEditors.net
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No custom brushes as Photoshop’s (AE brushes are vector-based and PS brushes are bitmap-based).
There is a trick that may work for you:
If you get a typeface that has the sign you want (or use a type design utility to paste your shape as a character) then you can use AE’s text animation engine to reveal these characters in a vector path.You don’t get things like pen-pressure sensitive scattering and all, but it works.
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It depends on what you wish to do. If you’re looking for a custom shape, than no, but there is a way of customizing the brush a little bit, for example when creating signatures.
Take a look at my tutorial:
https://maltaannon.com/after-effects/signature-custom-brush-tip/You might also want to consider using a particle system with a ability to emit custom particle shapes. I recommend Trapcode’s Particular. It’s really great, and I’m preparing some tutorials on all Trapcode plugins, so stay tuned.
Hope that helps.
Cheers
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