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The Wayward Arrow
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Problem is, you’ll still only see the color rectangle that is closer in z-space even when the arrow flips around. Using a particle emitter or replicator would solve the issue.
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Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net -
Am I missing something here? Why not just go into the Stroke section of your paint stroke and change the Stroke Color Mode to Color over Stroke? Then you can have a gradient as soft or hard as you like where the back side of the stroke is red and the front of the stroke is green. Since you reveal the stroke by animating the last point offset, it’ll appear as if the tail changes color.
Then, for the arrow head, you simply need to keyframe the color from the original green to red as it makes that turn. Looks fine when I did it with your project.
You have another problem however, one that’s not easy to see when the arrow and the tail are the same color. Your 3D spin won’t be possible with a paint stroke, because even though you have it looking 3D, it’s still only 2D. That means that it obeys layer order over Z position.
As soon as you change the colors, the arrow head will appear to be on top of the front of the tail because it’s positioned atop the stroke in the layers pane. You could move the stroke to the top of the group of course, but then if you spin the camera around to the back side, then you have the same problem.
The solution if you really want a 3D element that you can spin a camera around is to make the tail from a replicator. Or perhaps an emitter since particle emitters can use global 3D as opposed to local 3D.
Andy
https://www.timesavertutorials.com
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Thank you Andy! My project is complete!
Color over Stroke solved the front/back color of the tail nicely Andy!
You are correct, of course about the arrowhead appearing in front of the tail, but I solved that simply by looking at it from the opposite direction. The arrow now loops closer instead of looping away. therefore when it’s in front, it’s supposed to be in front.
If I had to illustrate, say, the flow of electricity in a circuit in the opposite direction, then I could apply the template in Final Cut and flip it vertically, horizontally, make it go left or right, or with the Mirror effect (Effects>Perspective) to make it originate in the middle and TWO arrows move out in opposite directions from the center!
The purist, of course, would go after the Replicator or Particle emitter route to solve the arrow problem, but this gives me the effect without hurting my brain any further. I’m at work or I would upload a short, silent movie showing the final results. I’ll do that tonight and many thanks to you both for helping me across the finish line.
Don Smith
NewsVideo.comNewsVideo.com
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Here’s the completed arrow movie:
https://newsvideo.com/arrow.mp4
Here’s the project:
https://newsvideo.com/arrow.zip
Don Smith
NewsVideo.comNewsVideo.com
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Hello there, I’m a new member in this community. I was wondering if someone could turn me to a tutorial of how to do the wayward arrow effect. A kind of one two three guide would realy help a novice like myself. Thank you very much.
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Hello Don, I’m trying to do the Wayward Arrow effect you succeeded in achieving after much discussion. However, I am interested in doing it through the simplest way possible or the replicator! I was able to get the line to expand and turn to point at an object. But I’m not sure how I can keep the arrow head attached to the line. If you can help I’m on this I would be very grateful.
ThanksIs there a tutorial somewhere that explains how it is done? I’m under deadline and freaking out!
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