It Works Like This

Check out the Ch17 Saleen Heartbeat.mov file in this chapter's folder on the book's DVD to view the final results of this chapter's project. Video footage featuring a Saleen automobile serves as the background for the real star of this spot: an animated heartbeat. You'll learn to use combinations of effects and blending modes to create the layered look of the final project.

You'll use the following techniques:

1. Draw the path of a heartbeat with the Pen tool, and stroke the path with color.

2. Animate the heartbeat's path by animating the Stroke and Lens Flare effects.

3. Fade out the heartbeat's path by animating the Ramp effect and assigning a Track Matte to the heartbeat's layer.

4. Build a monitor for the heartbeat's path by using the Grid effect and an Adjustment layer.

Video footage plays as the heartbeat goes across the screen.

A ball of light leads the heartbeat's path across the screen.

The logo blurs into the scene.