3 Replies Latest reply: Apr 22, 2012 7:46 AM by Mylenium RSS

    panels folding out

    tallula984
    tallula984 Apr 22, 2012 6:31 AM

      I'm trying to make an animation which shows one solar panel (vector) and then lots of solar panles folding off it to create many rows of solar panels

       

      Has anyone got any ideas of how to do this?

      The only helpful tutorial i've found is this but only works with a shape created on after effects not on my detailed image i've drawn on illustrator

      http://lesterbanks.com/2011/03/creating-an-animated-fold-out-effect-in-after-effects/

       

      cheers

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        • 1. Re: panels folding out
          Andrew Yoole CommunityMVP
          Andrew Yoole Apr 22, 2012 7:05 AM (in response to tallula984)

          Your link results in an error for me.

           

          The secret to fold-out animation is careful management of anchor points and parenting.  Wherever an element needs to pivot, it's anchor should be at the pivot point.  Then, work backwards and adjust the rotation of your layers from fully extended to fully folded.  Set each layer as a child to be parented with each layer that will fold before it.

          • 2. Re: panels folding out
            tallula984 Community Member
            tallula984 Apr 22, 2012 7:11 AM (in response to Andrew Yoole)

            http://lesterbanks.com/2011/03/creating-an-animated-fold-out-effect-in-after-effects/

             

            so i'll to just keep duplicating the image and flipping it individually?

            i hoped there would be a cheat way

             

            i tried using paths like on the tutorial, starting from my final image of loads of panels but the path just revealed the next panel instead of flipping it

             

             

            thankyou

            • 3. Re: panels folding out
              Mylenium CommunityMVP
              Mylenium Apr 22, 2012 7:46 AM (in response to tallula984)

              Depends on the number of panels, I guess, but I really do think that this is one of the simpler things in the life of a graphics artist down to the point of being ridiculously trivial. Even if there are 20 panels in the comp, it's easy enough to animate them by hand and if you have the wits, you could facilitate this with expressions. For the latter, Trapcode Echospace could probably do it easily. And then of course there's also Card Dance... So many possibilities. If you get my meaning: Instead of wasting time looking for shortcuts, just start working on it. It's much less complicated and less daunting than it looks.

               

              Mylenium