Making a wreath grow froma donut shaped solid

[Mike Clasby]

I would think if you used the method in this tut, but instead of Illustrator Art, use the branches or fir sprigs that make up the wreath, it would work:

Growing Design Elements in After Effects

https://library.creativecow.net/articles/hansen_jaysen/growing.php

So break you your wreath into many smaller pieces, then maybe even a reveal isn’t necessary, more just with animating scale.

You could also animate scale in a non-proportional way like Jayse does, by disconnecting them (that little symbol that looks like an Infinity sign between them), then animate both x and y scale from 0 to say 25% then animate the x out to 90% and the Y to 50%, for an elongating branch, then a little while later go to 100% for each.

Be sure and reposition the anchor point like Jayse does, so that it scales in the direction you want.

If you can’t get the individual elements you could mask off parts of the wreath, feather and animate as above. Duplicate the layer to pick up the sections of the wreath to do the full effect. But having individual branches would be better.

[Dwayne Neckles]

Wow, awesome detail and analysis Mike.

You knew exactly what I wanted to do and practically laid it out.

I’ll start on it and let you know.

[Steve Roberts]

Yep, good one, Mike. You know, If we apply some slider expression controls to a null, then pickwhip the sprig (?) scale values to those sliders, the growing of multiple sprigs could be managed at once. Maybe three pairs of sliders (each pair handling X,Y scale) could animate three groups of sprigs so they all don’t grow at the same time. Just a thought …

[Dwayne Neckles]

Mike,

Taking my first crack at it:

This is what you suggested with x scaled wide first and then it all set to 100.. is that what u were thinking?
https://dnecklesportfolio.com/jigroup/Wreath2.mov

Playing around this is with the x and y scaled at the same time?
https://dnecklesportfolio.com/jigroup/Wreath.mov

Maybe adding some dust particles emitting from it after it settles..would add to the realism..