zoom in froum earth

[Filip Vandueren]

I’ve done this a few times:

I start with Screenshots from Google earrth, though I think you can’t use them in commercial products, best check their licensing.

Anyway, I start Close (the final image) looking straight down, save the image.
Then double the elevation, and save again (always put the elevation in your filename)
Keep on doing this untill you get as high up as you need to be for your start shot.

I would then go into photoshop and create some soft feathered masks on the outside, don’t do it with masks in AE, it will render much slower.

Import the screenshots in After Effects, and parent them together, each “closer shot” a child of, and above of the next “wider shot” layer. Always setting the Scale to 50% after you’ve parented.
It’s best to add one layer at a time, then Zoom further in by scaling the last layer (the

[John Rich]

Filip,

That’s really a great answer and idea. Have you ever used Camtasia for a screen capture of Google Earth ( the free version?)
I was just thinking about just typing in the city I wanted to scan to and then capturing the motion of the screen so I could create an AVI with Camtasia, but I haven’t used it yet?

I suppose I could use the Pro Version, but it is a little expensive. However, have you used the pro version and is it worth it.
Thanks again for the great idea.
John Rich

JOHNR