Tutorial: Page (1) of 1 - 03/19/05 Email this story to a friend. email article Print this page (Article printing at MyDmn.com).print page facebook
Shuffle It Quick Tip 3D arrows in After Effects Part 2 By Stephen Schleicher

Last time we created the iPod Shuffle commercial arrows.  In this installment, we?ll expand upon the 2D effect and have these arrows move in 3D space.  It isn?t that hard and makes this exercise an After Effects Quick Tip.

If you haven?t already read the last exercise, click here to catch up .

In order to have the long arrows extend into Z-depth space, we need to make one modification to the Final Arrow composition we created in the last exercise.


Step 1:  In the Project Window, select the Final Arrow composition.  From the Composition menu, select Composition Settings.  Change the Width amount to 2000.  This is the same width as the Arrow Shaft layer we created in Part 1.

Step 2:  Open the Shuffle Comp you created last time, and in the Timeline, Parent one of the Final Arrow Comps to the other.  You can do this by dragging the Pickwhip from one layer to the other.

Step 3:  Change both of these layers into 3D layers by clicking the 3D layer icons in the Switches/Modes column of the Timeline.

Step 4:  From here you can open the Rotation Property for the Parent Arrow Layer. By changing Orientation and Rotation values, you can position these arrows in 3D space.

In the case of the iPod Shuffle commercial, you can align the arrow layers with the floor of your dancer to give the illusion of a stage with depth.

Finally, with a little imagination and some well placed masks, you can create the illusion that the arrows are turning corners.

Experiment and see what you can come up with.

If you are looking for even more After Effects tutorials, check out my website at www.mindspring.com/~schleicher which features over 90 exercises for AE alone.


Page: 1


Related Sites: Creative Mac ,   Digital Producer ,   Digital Video Editing ,   Digital Animators ,   Animation Artist ,   Siggraph News ,   Audio Video Producer ,   Digital Post Production ,   Oceania ,   MacAnimationPro ,   MacVideoPro ,   After Effects ,   CEN - iPod
Related Newsletter: DMN Newsletter ,   Timeline Newsletter ,   Mac Alert Newsletter ,   Renders ,   Digital Media Net ,   DMNForums ,   Tutorial Finder
To Comment on This Article, Click HERE

Most Recent Reader Comments:
  • Shuffle It Quick Tip by DMN Editorial at Mar. 19, 2005 6:49 pm gmt (Rec'd 3)

    Click Here To Read All Posts
    Must be Registered to Respond (Free Registration!!!, CLICK HERE)

  • DMO TEXT LINKS
    (Click here to place a textlink on this site)

    Keep your camera rolling with Sony Mobile Storage for XDCAM EX Camcorders.
    Offload SxS memory cards onto 240GB HDD removable cartridges and accelerate your workflow on the go.
    Click Here!!!

    AV-HS450 16+ Input HD/SD Switcher w/ dual screen MultiViewer
    This 16+ input switcher is the best value in its class.
    Its exclusive dual screen MultiViewer lets you view up to 20 windows on just two displays.
    CLICK HERE!!!

    Vegas Pro 8 + Free Vegas Seminar Series
    Master classes for cutting-edge video production
    A $100 value free with purchase
    CLICK HERE!!!


    canon pro camcorder
    XH A1S 3CCD HDV Professional Camcorder (20x Opt, 2.8" LCD)
    By Canon, start from $ 2699.00
    HOT THREADS on DMN Forums
    Content-type: text/html  Rss  Add to Google Reader or
Homepage    Add to My AOL  Add to Excite MIX  Subscribe in
NewsGator Online 
    Real-Time - what users are saying - Right Now!
        • Re: Reverse Mode in Vegas 9 • gspencer
    Dexim P-Flip Power Play Dock for iPhone/iPod touch
    polymer battery all in one neat device. Plug the P-Flip into your computer to charge its battery, then plug your iPhone into the P-Flip, and it charges the iPhone battery. Read More
    Apple Intros iPad
    After years of hype, Apple, Inc. today introduced the iPad, a portable computing device that looks like a big iPhone. Introduced today by Apple CEO Steve Jobs, the iPad features a touchscreen keypad, wireless capability, the capability to run all iPhone applications, all in a form factor that fits in between an iPhone and a MacBook. With the iPad, you can play movies, load maps, view photos, update your calendar, basically do the same things as on an iPhone, and more. Read More
    HDTV Buyer's Guidelines
    When it comes to choosing between Plasma and LCD, it's important to shop in the mindset that one high-def TV is not necessarily better than another - rather, it's a question of which one is right for you. That said, it can be a tough call to make when all that meets the eye are sleek screens and vibrant pictures - are Plasmas and LCDs really that different? Read More
    Tritton AX 180 universal gaming headset
    The Tritton AX 180 universal gaming headset is designed to work with the three major gaming platforms (Wii, xBox 360, and Sony PlayStation 3, via analog inputs), but also with both Macintosh and Windows based computers. Read More
    @ Copyright, 2010 Digital Media Online, All Rights Reserved