Motion tracking 2 end points of a line, how?

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

The Effect>Generate>Beam effect is used to create a line. The effect has two positions, each representing the ends of a line. Here’s an example of what I did with three renditions of the Beam effect – https://www.broadcastgems.com/MediaServer01/TrackingTest_PavementLeaves_01.mp4

Cheers
RoRK

Intensive AE & Mocha Training in Singapore and Malaysia
Adobe ACE/ACI (version 7) & Imagineer Systems Inc Approved Mocha Trainer

[Scott Green]

Good stuff, I also found this tutorial for the beam effect:
https://vimeo.com/28245408

Thanks for the reply.

Creative Multimedia Design Manchester | S©tt Green | Splurj

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[Scott Green]

If you had 3 points to link 3 beams to, could you also links 3 points of a shape to fill between the lines to get this type of effect?

Creative Multimedia Design Manchester | S©tt Green | Splurj

[Scott Green]

Here is a link to the animated version:
https://media.smashingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/rough_seas.gif

Creative Multimedia Design Manchester | S©tt Green | Splurj

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

Was that done with Plexus?

As to your Q, you can create an Adjustment Layer, set it to the top of your Timeline. Then apply Effect>Generate>Paint Bucket. Use the Fill Point and Tolerance properties to suit your needs. Take note that you will be able to apply multiple instances of Paint Bucket to color non-contiguous areas of the layers below you Adjustment Layer.

You should take note that the Paint Bucket colors/paints an enclosed area defined within the RGB, Alpha or RGB + Alpha values.

HTH
RoRK

Intensive AE & Mocha Training in Singapore and Malaysia
Adobe ACE/ACI (version 7) & Imagineer Systems Inc Approved Mocha Trainer

[Scott Green]

I didn’t realise that the Beam effect wouldn’t work in 3D space?

Creative Multimedia Design Manchester | S©tt Green | Splurj

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

A 2D point can be made to follow a 3D point. With a 2D Solid with the Beam effect applied, you can have the start and end properties follow 3D Nulls or any other type of 3D layer.

Place the following script in the Beam’s Start Point property –

StartPointLayer=thisComp.layer(“Null 01”);
StartPointLayer.toComp([0,0,0])

——————————–
Replace the text Null 01 with your own naming convention. Then copy the same script to the layer that is being used to represent the End Point of the Beam property.

The script ‘hooks’ the said Beam properties to the top left of each Null, denoted by the values [0,0,0]. Therefore, by changing these values, you will be able to place your Beam points with precision.

HTH
RoRK

Intensive AE & Mocha Training in Singapore and Malaysia
Adobe ACE/ACI (version 7) & Imagineer Systems Inc Approved Mocha Trainer

[Mac Lanphere]

hi Roland,

I’ve got a simple rig using your expression, and it works great, until the camera moves past the beam connection point in z-space–then the beam goes haywire (flips axes? not sure….)

is there a way to avoid this?

cheers

Mac

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

Hi Marc, I’ve not faced such an issue and I’m surprised that it’s happening. My only thoughts are that if the point(s) is behind the camera, you can split the beam layer and manually keyframe the required property. See if this works.

Cheers
RoRK

Intensive mocha & AE Training in Singapore and Other Dangerous Locations

Imagineer Systems (mocha) Certified Instructor
& Adobe After Effects CS6 ACE

[Mac Lanphere]

I’m sure I can work around it (and I had the same issue with a similar expression from Dan Ebbert on a post from a couple years back)

thanks anyhow!

Mac