images turn into a number

[Craig Hellen]

can you explain the problem a little clearer?

[Lori Newman]

I have to take about 40 images, scale them back to form the
numbers 40. If I use a track matte then it limits the amount of images you can see. When the images scale back I need to find a way to make them form into the numbers. Suggestions?

[Steve Roberts]

By “scale”, you mean “animate Z-position”?

If so, one way is to arrange them in a “2” and set keyframes late in the timeline. Make sure you’ve created a camera layer and all layers are 3D. Then you go back to the start, add a side view and drag each layer back so it passes behind the camera. That’s old school.

Alternately, you could apply an expression to the position of the layers. The expression would refer to a slider effect (applied to a Null) that you animate to 0 from some negative value you determine through testing. All layers would refer to this slider. Move the camera to a position where this works — a high negative Z-position value worked for me.

Here’s the expression you’d use for each layer:

temp = thisComp.layer(“Null 1”).effect(“Slider Control”)(“Slider”);
[position[0], position[1], index*10*temp]

At the beginning, all layers are behind camera, offset by their layer index*10. When the slider approaches 0, all layers’ Z-position approaches 0. The X/Y positions of the layers do not change.

Other COW members may have better expressions. Let me know if that works.

[Lori Newman]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for that. Actually, my question is as the images scale back, I need them to be inside the numbers 40. I’m trying to figure out how, when they scale back, as they get smaller they fill up the 4 and 0. Thanks!

[Steve Roberts]

Do you want them to be arranged into a rough “40”, or to fit completely inside a smooth-edged “40”?

If the latter, then you might want to use a “40” as an inverted track matte, dissolving on (as the images dock into place) so the rough edges of the images are slowly faded out to match the smooth edges of the “40”. You might need to precompose the images animation, then use this matte over the precomp.

Does that make sense?

[Steve Roberts]

Or … you could make an image in PS (maybe) of all the images together, and already cut out to form a “40”. It might have to be 2-3 times the screen size, depending on how clear you want the images to be when they are close to camera. Make sure the images fit a grid pattern – they all have to be the same swize and line up.

Then you’d import that image and add it to the timeline. Then you’d apply Card Dance to the image. You’d then set it up so the image is broken up along the grid, and the sections fly in along the Z axis. Check the COW for Card Dance tutorials.

[Lori Newman]

Fill completely into the 40 smoothly. I’m trying to make the transition look believable. I’ll try that and see if it works.

thanks!

[Lori Newman]

that’s a great suggestion, thanks so much!

[Lori Newman]

I went to art school many years ago, before the computer age and I do know how to draw but thanks anyway.