[Trent Armstrong]

Hi!

I think the issue here is that you are using the anchorPoint to offset the objects because when you try to rotate the objects they still want to point at the camera which keeps them from rotating at all.

Try setting a NULL where your character is and parenting each of the objects to the NULL. Reset each of the anchorPoints and then offset the objects using their positions. Then rotate the NULL. This will send the objects spinning or revolving around the character.

The important part then is to get the objects to face the camera. That is going to require an expression.

Opt+Click or Alt+click (Windows) on the Y rotation property of one of the objects. With the expression area highlighted, Pick-Whip the Y rotation of the NULL.

The go back to the beginning of the expression and put a “-” (minus sign) in front. This will tell the object to rotate the opposite direction as it revolves around the character and will essentially cause it to point at the camera at all times.

If the camera is off axis, it might be necessary to add a little rotation offset to your expression. You could put parenthesis around the whole thing and then add “-20” “+30” or whatever will get the object pointing directly at the camera.

Good Luck!
Trent

[Trent Armstrong]

One option is to do a Save Frame As… and use the Photoshop template. If there is no background in your composition, an alpha channel will be saved in the file. You should just make sure that your output template has RGB+ALPHA selected instead of just RGB.

I usually do a TIFF with Alpha, but that is not necessary.

Save Frame As… is located in the Composition Menu in the Menu Bar.

I hope this helps!
Trent

[Trent Armstrong]

Hee Hee. The second film is up, and they can both be found at https://www.mannerscast.com. Just click on the “films” link.

Trent
The MannersCast