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C
confused AE Newbie
Participant
August 23, 2022
Question

Google Earth Studio + After Effects, Text Layer does not stay on track point

  • August 23, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 2063 views

I am trying to make an earth video that starts zoomed in on one location, zooms out to a global view, and then pans across the world with labels on particular countries. I watched a helpful video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N9iNrsaujU) that got me from making the animation in Google Earth Studio, through the export to AE, and the labels appear correct at first. As it starts to zoom out and pan, suddenly the text layers start spinning around the world rather than staying fixed to the anchor points. I cannot figure out how to keep them fixed on a particular point.

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2 replies

Mylenium
Mylenium
Legend
August 23, 2022

A flat zoom is a whole different exercise than creating a world zoom, which would include extra procedures on the AE end like pinning down 3D layers with expressions and converting their coordinates rather than just relying on parenting plus dividing the zoom into individual segments to have more control over those things. You need to watch more tutorials and in fact that guy has another one:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQXdT-odNcU

 

Not that they're particularly good - he simply assumes you'd use the plug-in and doesn't really explain anything, including how you could create soem of the stuff manually. Either way, you need to spend more time on this and learn the techniques, so a web search for "Earth zoom tutorial" might bring up some better stuff. If you need specific help, provide screenshots of your own situation and explain the issues ratehr than just pointing to someone else's "tutorials".

 

Mylenium

C
confused AE NewbieAuthor
Participant
August 23, 2022

Hi Mylenium,

Thank you very much for responding and I appreciate that I don't know what I don't know. Perhaps I am not explaining my issue well. I detect a hint of dislike for the video I watched, and agree that the 3D path animation you have pointed out that he provides is just selling a product rather than providing a guide. I have tried searching "Earth Zoom Tutorial" and watching some of the videos, but they seem to simply explain how to do the zoom in various ways but I think I am past that and it seems to be more the "Spin" part that is the issue. I also have watched about a dozen videos about spinning globes in AE, and Google Earth Studio interaction with AE. I haven't found a good explanation of the points that you mentioned:

"pinning down 3D layers with expressions and converting their coordinates".

 

With all of that in mind I have exported my video and uploaded to youtube which showcases the issue I am having well:

https://youtu.be/P_zEt0laSss

 

Additionally I have added a couple of screenshots but I am not sure what to be showing as I don't really know what the issue is. The main thing I would reference is that after the zoom out, as the world starts to spin, the XYZ axis graphic shows it spinning around on the Z axis, but not in line with the globe movement, it seems to be random and even switches direction at one stage.

 

C
confused AE NewbieAuthor
Participant
August 23, 2022

For more info, it seems like something weird is happening with the XYZ planes, it but I don't know how to stop it or if it is the issue.

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