Simple Question.

[AAAron]

I solved this problem by pasting a path as a motion for a square solid, (used as an trackmatte). Then I turned on auto orient a long path. Then I masked away the rest of the shape the usual way.

There is some tricks if you want the whole thing to work in 3d space though, as I remember it the autoorient flipped 90° at the corners when you turned on 3d. so that have to be solved by chancing the angle manually on the tricky spots.

[Takhisos]

Umm, thanks, I get the theory of it, but I can't seem to figure out.

Could you elaborate on the techniques a bit more please...

Thanks, Rob.

[Takhisos]

Ok I had a go, a few questions... How do you past in a path (from illustrator) as a motion path for the object? I can only figure the motion path by setting keyframes and moving the mask around.. but this itsn't very accurate.

Auto orient a long path - Sussed.

Masking the object out, I guess this is behind where the square is traveling? But doesn't the rear edges of the square go further out... and how do you perfect the corners.... This is a quick guess > Would you copy the single path in, then in illustrator use the Stroke to add substance to the path, and then outline the path, paste that in as a seperate layer and then follow the square with a mask?

"solved by chancing the angle manually" - what angle are we talking about... I'm only working 2D at the moment, but no doubt i'll take it to 3D asap.

Ok thanks for your time, I really wanna figure this style as I like it and want to use it for a little experiment...

Thanks again.

[AAAron]

Oh sorry.. going a bit to fast somtimes. Tried to give you an example project but the forum said my atachment where to big.

1. Illustrator, you draw your shape (don´t draw it by out lines, use a thick line instead) and save it. But leave illustrator and the document open since you will need to copy the path later on.

2. Afx. Import the shape and put it in to a new comp. Make a new layer with a square solid, say 100x100.

3. Now go back to Illustrator and copy the path from your shape. (make sure you got the right settings in the clipboard preprences to avoid problems geting the path into afx.)

4. Afx. again. Paste the path on to the new solid layer. You should get a new mask. Copy the mask. Select the position channel of the same layer (the solid) and paste again. You should get keyframes the matches the number of points the original shape have. Select all keyframes and move the motion path to match your shape layer. Next un select the keyframes and just select the layer (solid) go to layer - transform - autoorient - orient along path.

5. Now you should have a square solid that follows the shape layer underneath. Select the shape layer, choose layer - trackmatte - alpha inverted matte.
Hide the solid layer. Now you might want to tweek the anchor point on the solid layer so that it´s right at the edge of the solid (0 or 100 should do it).

6. Since the square dosen´t cut away all of the shape the rest is done by regular masking.

So far so good but when you turn on 3d and colapse the layers you A. have to turn on auto orient again. B. the solid layer will flip 90° in odd directions at the start and in corners so you will have to manual fix this in the direction layers of the solid when this occurs.

Thats about it:)

[Takhisos]

Ah yes... i'm almost there, got the layer pasted in and track matted... and the orient to path thing sorted, but when the thing goes round the corner, there are a few little problems, as its a square, it cuts off a section of the next bend....

I've attached what i've done so far, I can do the masking afterwards, its just the bends that are causing the problems..

Cheers mate, your a star.

[AAAron]

Try chancing the first anchorpoint value on the solid to 50 instead of 25 that shoud fix it. :)

[Takhisos]

You beauty.
Your a star.

[Takhisos]

I see what you mean about the 3d, a bit of a pain...

[AAAron]

Hehe I´ve been there too:) The piece you posted before looked great, and that was your first, so I´m really looking forward to see what you create next!!

[AAAron]

I see what you mean about the 3d, a bit of a pain...

yeah it´s odd.

A tip that i haven´t played around with my self is www.trapcode.com (http://www.trapcode.com) ´s 3d stroke. You can download the demo from there site to try it out it looks cool.

[Takhisos]

Funny you should mention that, just downloaded that the otherday. :)

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