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Activity Forums Apple Motion Text facing Camera?

  • Text facing Camera?

    Posted by Thomas Frank on December 5, 2013 at 10:09 am

    Hi,

    is there a way to have the Text face the camera at all times in a 3D scene?
    The camera is rotating around a map and I like to have the city names facing the camera.

    Thank you

    Thomas Frank replied 12 years, 8 months ago 3 Members · 14 Replies
  • 14 Replies
  • Simon Ubsdell

    December 5, 2013 at 12:23 pm

    Easiest way is to make the text layers 2D rather than 3D. Would that work for your project?

    Simon Ubsdell
    http://www.tokyo-uk.com

  • Thomas Frank

    December 5, 2013 at 1:24 pm

    Well the text are on top of a location (City) and should stay at that position just facing the camera. Like something from Google Earth

  • Simon Ubsdell

    December 5, 2013 at 1:34 pm

    Try linking the XYZ rotation of the Text layer (or text group) to the rotation of the camera. That should do it.

    Simon Ubsdell
    http://www.tokyo-uk.com

  • Mark Spencer

    December 5, 2013 at 1:44 pm

    You can use the Point At behavior to have the text always face the camera. Set the transition to zero.


    Mark Spencer
    Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
    Apple-certified Master Trainer
    Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
    https://www.applemotion.net

  • Thomas Frank

    December 5, 2013 at 1:59 pm

    Nope it didn’t work. 🙁

  • Mark Spencer

    December 5, 2013 at 2:00 pm

    It certainly works for me. Did you add the camera to the source well? Change the transition time?


    Mark Spencer
    Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
    Apple-certified Master Trainer
    Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
    https://www.applemotion.net

  • Simon Ubsdell

    December 5, 2013 at 2:04 pm

    I thought that Point At only gave you the option of one axis? I guess you’d need to have three instances if you wanted it completed locked.

    Link rotation is marginally easier in this case possibly?

    Simon Ubsdell
    http://www.tokyo-uk.com

  • Mark Spencer

    December 5, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    Yes you need to choose an axis but if you choose the default, z, and set the Transition value to 0, the text will always point at the camera – it’s z-axis will point at the camera.


    Mark Spencer
    Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
    Apple-certified Master Trainer
    Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
    https://www.applemotion.net

  • Thomas Frank

    December 5, 2013 at 2:20 pm

    I add the camera to the well but the text spun in another direction and its not moving with the camera

  • Mark Spencer

    December 5, 2013 at 2:21 pm

    I can’t tell what’s wrong without seeing your project but if you set the Transition value to 0 and the Source to the Camera with the Z-axis selected, the text will face the camera. Is the text in a 3D group? Tough to trouble shoot but absolutely should work.


    Mark Spencer
    Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
    Apple-certified Master Trainer
    Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
    https://www.applemotion.net

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