creating this effect in AE

[evanfotis]

You will need a vector graphic like an illustrator file with each path in different layers so you import as comp, or create it in AE with masks.

Using 3d stroke ,you will stroke sequentially the masks/paths playing with the parameters thickness, rotation, z space etc.

Then Particular is used on another layer, and its animated position parameters are taken from the underlying stroke/path (copy the mask and paste it in Particulars position parameter)
The particles are rather custom made little circles.
More or less that is the proceedure.

[assistant pimp]

Thank you for the insight, I think I understand a bit more. Now to give the illusion of the camera following the motion is a 3d camera used? I know it is a bit of a stretch but if anyone has a link to a tutorial and or can make a small .aep for me study of this I would be most appreciative.....

[beenyweenies]

Thank you for the insight, I think I understand a bit more. Now to give the illusion of the camera following the motion is a 3d camera used? I know it is a bit of a stretch but if anyone has a link to a tutorial and or can make a small .aep for me study of this I would be most appreciative.....

I don't have a link to a tutorial, but setting up well-animated 3d cameras isn't hard, it's just time consuming. Here's my basic process:

1. create your 3d camera

2. open two or more seperate comp views (dual monitors helps here), setting one view to "top," another to "side" and, if you have space, a third to your camera view. AE7 makes this easier since your camera views can be grouped together into one single panel with tabs. This setup will mimic the viewports you might find in a standard 3d package, and makes keeping an eye on everything much easier.

3. rough in your camera move from beginning to end using hard keyframes. In traditional animation this is referred to as pose-to-pose animating. Once the basic moves are signed off on by the client/agency/you, move to step 4. otherwise you will find it much harder to implement changes later.

4. go back through the animation, and control-click/drag keyframes in one of the comp windows (preferably top-view for better control) to get bezier handles. adjust the position of the keyframe and its handles in BOTH the side and top views to get smooth movements. This part takes some time, because you may find that when you adjust the bezier handle in the top view and get a nice arcing move, the change you just made will ALSO cause the camera path to dip horizontally. I generally work one keyframe at a time, starting in the top view and get a nice smooth path, then move to the side view and clean it up so the path is nice and straight, then move to the next keyframe. At times, changing one keyframe's bezier handles will affect the animation of the keyframe before/after the one you are working on. Scrub the timeline as you work to make sure your changes aren't causing problems with keyframes you've already adjusted.

Plan in advance if you are going to use 3d cameras, it does add a layer of complexity and you will be rewarded down the road if you have a solid gameplan for managing change requests, etc.

[assistant pimp]

great info beeny....:D Thank you for the time to post that wonderful bit.

[ages]

This is a great thread.
Can I ask you guys is it possible to get the same 3d stroke effect but not with paths, but images?
EG. I have rendered out a 3D ribbon and want it to swirl around in AE like its in 3D space with shadows etc but using the same fluidity as 3d stroke does?
So in essense can you use 3D stroke wityh things other than vector paths?

[scrimski]

No. As the path defines the shape of the stroke it is not possible to create one without a path.
Why don't you animate/render the ribbon with shadows and all that in your 3d app and add it in AE later?

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