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Reveal with hard edge?
I’ve got various paths that I’d like to reveal with a hard edge.
I’m familiar with the stroke masking method of setting start/end keyframes, but those have a rounded edge.
I would just do a simple rectangular mask reveal, but there are a number of curves in these lines.
Here are some example frames of how I’d like this to work. And while I could certainly manually set keyframes, there are a LOT of paths to do this on, so having a more automated method would save me a ton of time.
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6 Replies
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Shape Layers are the way to go for hard-edged stuff. The tricky part is
that you either start drawing the SHape Layers manually for each character or start off with Text Layers, which can be converted to Shape Layers (see Layer Menu for appropriate menu selection).Here are links to workarounds ie converting masks to Shape Layers –
https://aeportal.blogspot.com/2007/10/mask-to-shape-layer.html
and
https://www.adobe.com/products/aftereffects/features.htmlHTH
RoRKIntensive AE & Mocha Training in Singapore and Malaysia
Adobe ACE/ACI (version 7) & Imagineer Systems Inc Approved Mocha Trainer -
But you’re staying I still have to manually mask that stuff. I’m asking how to basically do a stroke mask reveal with a hard edge, specifically because I need to automate this…not build every keyframe manually.
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Once you have a Shape Layer, you can add the Trim Paths, Shape Operation, which works just like Stroke – it has Start and End properties that draw on/off paths.
The trick is to get your design into a Shape Layer. FWIW, if you’re in PS or AI, you can export paths to SHape Layers.
More info here – https://help.adobe.com/en_US/aftereffects/cs/using/WS49C4F119-DE6F-48c3-B5B6-9A2D203D56E8a.html
HTH
RoRKIntensive AE & Mocha Training in Singapore and Malaysia
Adobe ACE/ACI (version 7) & Imagineer Systems Inc Approved Mocha Trainer -
Here’s a better link on starting from AI or PS into AE’s Shape Layers –
https://help.adobe.com/en_US/aftereffects/cs/using/WSE4F03C08-9074-45eb-842E-2BF05D297249a.htmlHTH
RoRKIntensive AE & Mocha Training in Singapore and Malaysia
Adobe ACE/ACI (version 7) & Imagineer Systems Inc Approved Mocha Trainer -
Still feels like there’s got to be a better way. Trim Paths isn’t any less tedious on a complex/curvey path since you have to tweak start, end and offset so much to keep the angle correct.
If there’s no other option, then so be it, but I’m hoping someone else might have another idea.
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I don’t see why you need to tweak the Offset parameter. Only two KFs are required, 0 & 100, for either the Start or End parameter, based on the image you posted.
For complex paths that create issues with this technique, they can be simplified into multiple paths (Shape Layers) or even within a single Shape Layer containing multiple paths.
HTH
RoRKIntensive AE & Mocha Training in Singapore and Malaysia
Adobe ACE/ACI (version 7) & Imagineer Systems Inc Approved Mocha Trainer
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