Andy Neil
Forum Replies Created
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Ok. A couple of things here. First, Motion is not a 3D modeling program, its a motion graphics program. Typically this means moving 2D images in 3D space. For true 3D text, you’ll need a 3D program.
Second, the extrude filter will rasterize the layer to which it’s applied, making that layer obey layer order instead of XYZ space.
There’s a tutorial here on the Cow I believe which shows you how you can use the replicator to create pseudo-3D text. This might work for your needs.
Andy
https://www.timesavertutorials.com
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When you exported the tiff sequence, did you see any ghosting in the stills? I wonder if the XDCam EX codec’s compression doesn’t handle that horizontal movement well.
Have you tried rendering out the project (or a small portion of it) in 32-bit float? I did a project once where I had intricate snowflakes in an emitter that looked horrible when rendered out. I ended up having to render them in 32-bit before the animation was smooth.
Andy
https://www.timesavertutorials.com
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Is field rendering active in the Motion file? I’ve noticed bad strobing issues when field rendering is enabled in a progressive project.
Andy
https://www.timesavertutorials.com
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Hit X on the keyboard. It produces an expose-like feature that separates all the layers visible at that point in the timeline. Then select the dropzone, and Motion will open the pertinent layer in the layers tab.
Andy
https://www.timesavertutorials.com
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No, I’m afraid text does not make the trip. You can however place markers in your timeline at start and end points and even label them as such and the markers will make the trip. Then rebuild the text elements in Motion.
Andy
https://www.timesavertutorials.com
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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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Clever solution. Linking layers is often overlooked (even by myself). This definitely deserves more attention.
Andy
https://www.timesavertutorials.com
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I don’t understand your last post. If you created a video of it, then it seems as if you CAN do that.
Plus, my post was showing how that particular animation might be accomplished by moving the arrow’s anchor point and applying the spin and oscillate behaviors.
Andy
https://www.timesavertutorials.com
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Your problem has to do with a limitation with shapes and with the align with motion behaviors.
Despite being able to arrange shapes in 3D space, they are only 2D elements. Trying to make them behave as a 3D element as in 3D motion paths and such can be an incredible headache.
Also, the snap alignment to motion, and the align to motion behaviors are limited in that changing the axis of rotation and the axis will change the default orientation of the layer it’s applied to. They work great in a 2D animation, but fall apart in a 3D one as you are noticing.
However, there is a simple way to approach your animation. It involves simply moving the anchor point of your arrow.
Once you have your arrow, adjust the Z position of your anchor point. Then apply a spin behavior with an X axis. The arrow will now orbit in a circle around whatever you want. If you want an elipse, then all you need to add is an oscilate behavior to the Y position of your arrow and adjust the speed so that the top of the oscillation coincides with the arrow’s apex.
It’s a lot simpler than dealing with the Motion path behavior and alignment behaviors.
Andy
https://www.timesavertutorials.com
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The problem is that “horrible” is not a descriptive term so it’s near impossible to suggest anything.
You should upload an image of the problem, and give a description of each step in your workflow that results in the problem.
Remember, no one is seeing your computer and your problem. The answer isn’t something as easy as “oh, just hit the Not Horrible key”.
One thing to try is to not embed the alpha, but create a separate alpha clip and use the matte key effect in Avid.
Andy
https://www.timesavertutorials.com