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TROUBLES WITH WRITE ON
I’m animating a map graphic and using write-on to reveal a route taken. The map and the route path are AI files. I bring in the map, then the path, I precomp the path–then use the pen tool to create a mask to be pasted into the position keys for write-on. my problems start when i try to scale the image — i want to zoom into the area on the map as the path is moving/revealing. I’ve tried precomping then precomping again but AE only lets the map which has been precomped once rasterize properly the path ends up low res. and if I don’t precomp it all I lose the write on effect. I’ve also tried creating a larger precomp then changed the comp settings smaller towards the end but then i lose the path again.
I don’t know what to do at this point. HELP!
thanks,
patrick -
8 Replies
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Did you try clicking the “Continuously Rasterize” swith?? (looks like a sun)…
Jim Dodson
Quad 2.5 gig Mac – OSX
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I cringe when I hear people pasting a path into position keyframes for Write-On… It’s the virtual equivalent of nails on a chalkboard. Why don’t you apply the path as a mask on the layer you’re trying to reveal and use the Generate>Stroke effect instead? Stroke strokes along a mask to reveal instead of using position keyframes, eliminate the middleman!
In your case you probably don’t even need to use ‘Reveal Source’ if you’re animating a route, a colored line should probably work fine.
Copy the route path directly out of Illustrator, paste it as a mask onto your map AI layer, make sure that it lines up properly (it should, but if it doesn’t select the mask shape and hit cmd-t/ctrl-t to free transform the mask) and then apply your Stroke effect. If the mask is on the same layer it should scale and move with your map, otherwise if you have it on another layer you should try parenting that layer to the map.
Darby Edelen
DVD Menu Artist
Left Coast Digital
Aptos, CA -
The only problem with apply the stroke path effect is that you can’t use a drop shadow on it thus the need for the Illustrator Path. Yeah, click on the Rasterize button and you should be fine. A
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[Aaron Aphasia] “The only problem with apply the stroke path effect is that you can’t use a drop shadow on it thus the need for the Illustrator Path. Yeah, click on the Rasterize button and you should be fine. A”
Sure you can! You just need to apply the Stroke to a different layer and use ‘on transparent’ or ‘reveal original image’ so that the effect defines the alpha, then apply the Drop Shadow effect. Same as the Write-On effect, which will not allow you to use a drop shadow either if you’re using the ‘on original image’ paint style.
Darby Edelen
DVD Menu Artist
Left Coast Digital
Aptos, CA -
i think i would do the stroke approach on a separate layer and parent that lyaer to the map layer to maintain the scale and position relationship. if you wanted the line weight to scale with the map, you could add an expression for brush size to link it the scale of the map, like:
effect(“Stroke”)(5) * (thisComp.layer(“MapLayer”).transform.scale[0] / 100)
if you had a drop shadow, you would probably want a similar expression for shadow distance and softness…
Kevin Camp
Designer – KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW -
Hmmmmm…I’ll have to give that a try! A
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thanks I’ll give this a try!
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Thank you Darby — It worked like a charm!!!
Patrick
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