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View Full Version : Problem using a mask to stroke effect

FonteBoa
01-15-2006, 09:02 PM
I am newbie in Illustrator (here i have Illustrator 10 installed),
and i have a problem using an AI path to reveal a Illustrator artwork.

Step (1):
a simple self-intersecting line created at Illustrator. I saved it as a AI file.
http://www.wings3d.com.br/studies/path_01.jpg

Step(2):
I've imported the AI file inside After Effects 6.5
http://www.wings3d.com.br/studies/path_02.jpg

Step(3):
I switched back to Illustrator, selected all nodes and copied all them.
I've pasted the nodes as masks at After Effects.
http://www.wings3d.com.br/studies/path_03.jpg

Step(4):
I deleted all unwanted masks and kept just one, the central one.
http://www.wings3d.com.br/studies/path_04.jpg

Step(5):
I applied the Render|Stroke effect and used the single mask as a path to reveal the AI artwork.
http://www.wings3d.com.br/studies/path_05.jpg

Step(6)
At the moment the path crosses the self intersect point, it reveals parts of the line that i dont want to show at that moment (but just at the end)... :(
http://www.wings3d.com.br/studies/path_06.jpg

Two questions:

(a) at step (3), what i have to do at Illustrator so that when i use Copy command there i just get at AE the central one mask?? Why cant i get just those few nodes i can see at Step(1)???

(b) The more important: how can i generate (by copying paths from Illustrator) a mask with self-intersecting segments that works at Stroke AE effect??? Is there a procediment to follow at Illustrator???

Thnaks in advance.
Kargokultti
01-15-2006, 09:26 PM
It's not so very complicated if you do it the simple way: First do the stroke-effect, then cut the squiggle in two, clean out the end from squiggle1 and the beginning from squiggle two. Then apply the same stroke-effect on both pieces.
FonteBoa
01-15-2006, 10:00 PM
there must be another solution: the way you mentioned is almost impossible to apply on more complex artworks...
Ian Jones
01-16-2006, 01:22 AM
If you have 3dsmax I can make a tutorial showing you a technique I use.
FonteBoa
01-16-2006, 07:36 AM
Ian, i work with Max and would like to know about your technique, but i really would want to know if there is some solution between After and Illustrator. thanks.
Kargokultti
01-16-2006, 10:04 AM
there must be another solution: the way you mentioned is almost impossible to apply on more complex artworks...
Well... Not impossible, just time consuming. But the thing I've notice with growing squiggles is that you don't have to be so very accurate - if there's enough stuff happening simultaneously.

But being a pixel-monkey, I haven't really touched Illustrator. Just shooting my mouth off to pass the time.:p (Though it seems a bit like you're giving too much credit for AE; I rather suspect that even though Illustrator could figure how to deal with the overlapping, there's only so much you can do with masks in AE.)
Ian Jones
01-16-2006, 11:53 AM
I'm not sure there's an easy way to do it with AFX, but I'll try and get around to making a video tutorial. Hopefully I will make the time, and I'll get back to you.
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