It Works Like This

Check out the Ch22FinishedProject.mov file in this chapter's folder on the book's DVD. This project shows you how to create and animate a 3D cube that's formed from a circle of movies that fly in from behind the viewer to become the top, bottom, and sides. The cube spins, pauses to reveal a movie on one side, and then spins fast to reveal a different side. You'll use these techniques:

1. Position a movie and still layers to form a 3D cube.

2. Use a Null Object layer to animate the cube's sides so they implode into the scene, forming the cube; spin at different rates of speed; and then explode out of the scene.

3. Create a background made of words that crisscross the screen and recede into the distance.

4. Create a virtual command line, complete with blinking cursor and letters typed onscreen.

5. Gradually reveal the logo, strip by animated strip.

Words scroll in both directions as walls of video and a logo fly in.

The cube spins and pauses at each side's video while a blinking cursor types out titles.

Invisible stripes wipe the logo in as the cube explodes.