Animating the Steel Box


To simplify animating the steel box and its text label, you'll animate a Null Object layer instead and parent the other layers to it. You can think of a Null Object layer as basically an invisible solid; when it serves as a parent to other layers, the other layers imitate its every move. As a result, your box will fly in from space, and the side labeled OPEN THIS SIDE will slide open to reveal the spinning globe:

1.

Choose Layer > New > Null Object.

2.

Assign the Null 1 layer as the parent to all the layers except the OPEN THIS SIDE text layer.

Parenting the layers

3.

Turn on the Null 1 layer's 3D switch, and set the layer's Position to 160, 120, 120.

4.

Go to time 3:00, and add a Position keyframe to the Null Object and to the Front layer.

5.

Still at time 3:00, add an Orientation keyframe to the Null 1 layer with a value of 0.0, 0.0, 0.0.

6.

Go to time 4:00, and change the Front layer's Position to 0.0, 270, -150 to open the door.

7.

Go to time 0:00, and change the Null 1 layer's Position to 0.0, 120, 2000 and Orientation to 50.0, 220, 300.

Click the Ram Preview button to see the results.



    Adobe After Effects 6.5 Magic
    Adobe After Effects 6.5 Magic
    ISBN: 0321267230
    EAN: 2147483647
    Year: 2005
    Pages: 236

    flylib.com © 2008-2017.
    If you may any questions please contact us: flylib@qtcs.net