[Jon Okerstrom]

Nice work, John!

Can’t wait to see the rest of your tutorials.

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi Kevin,

The answer depends on what you mean by Zaxwerks Pro.

If you mean Invigorator Pro for After Effects, yes. The technique is called layermapping. Simply add the movie to your AE comp and turn off its visibility. Then in the Invigorator effect controls assign the movie layer a layermap number. Then, build a material using that layermap number and apply it to your object. The documentation goes into this in greater detail, or let us know if you get stuck.

If you mean ProAnimator, the standalone application, the answer is not yet. The feature is part of version 4, which we previewed at NAB this Spring. That feature, plus the ability to cascade opacity are huge improvements in ProAnimator.

Does this help?

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi banshee,

I’m going to make some assumptions here…. that you’re using Invigorator for AE and that you’re using text convered to outlines in Illustrator. If so, perhaps the letters are all part of the same grouped object in Illustrator? If so, ungroup them there or use the check box when you import them into Invigorator.

I could be way off base. Please describe the situation a little more and we could give some more specific advice.

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi Guy,

Select the object then try using the scale portion of the object stats diologue box to scale your object.

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi guys…

Another option you may not have thought about…

You can use the sides/faces visibility checkboxes to temporarily remove objects from your scene. Getting them back (including any set movement you may have created) is a matter of a few clicks of the mouse.

Sometimes its a more efficient solution… like multiple-pass rendering for example.

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Thanks, Marcelo,

Instead of doing a write-on effect as the tutorial demonstrates, simply vary the shape of the stroke slightly in each layer to make the film strip edge appear to animate.

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi Don,

Which version of Invigorator are you using – Classic or Pro?

Invigorator’s internal lights are not animatable. Depending on the movement you desire, you may be able to move the camera rather than the set.

Another option: Choose the use comp lights and camera checkboxes. The abilty of Invigorator sets to track 3D AE layers (new in Pro version 4.0) should give you more than enough power and flexibilty.

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi Brandon,

Second question first: try adjusting the camera lens to wider angle. This amplifies the difference between how objects near and far appear and should give you what you’re after.

First question: without looking at the tutorial, I’d use layer cycling to animate the shape of a path which becomes the edge of the film strip in Invigorator. Perhaps this will give you some ideas.

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Way to go, Serge.

You proved the point about primatives. After working with Invigorator for a while, I started to break down just about everything around me into primative shapes. It’s kind of how I think about television. The fact that I’m in the business makes me want to analyze technique all the time. Sometimes it gets in the way of enjoying the show, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Try 3Dcafe.com for starters.

Turbosquid.com also has lots of models for sale.

Jon