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jacobt85617231
jacobt85617231
Participant
April 15, 2018
Answered

Split a letter into multiple new objects

  • April 15, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 727 views

Hi.

I hope somebody can help with this, as I have been searching for a solution, but can only find how to morph one shape into another shape.

What I want to do, is to morph/split this letter M into a lot of +'s.

I have imported the illustrator files into my after effects project, but the M only consist of one path and the +'s consists of 85 paths. So I am not sure to handle them in order to create the morphing effect.

Thanks,

Jacob

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Kyle Hamrick

Based on your description, here's what I'd try:
1. Convert your +M to a shape layer. Add a Stroke inside the shape layer, but outside any of the + paths. (It should be sitting below all of them inside the shape layer.)
2. Drop the solid M into your comp, just above the +M shape layer. Make sure the positions are aligned. Set it to be the Alpha matte, and parent them together.
3. Animate the stroke width.

I wasn't careful about the placement of the +s for this quick example, but if this is more or less what you're after, it'd be pretty straightforward using the above method.

If you're looking for more complex behavior, this may be a job for either a particle generator or a 3rd-party effect like Pastiche.

2 replies

Mylenium
Mylenium
Legend
April 16, 2018

Another alternative to Kyle's approach would be al lsorts of particle-ish effects that respond to property maps like Particle Playground, Card Dance and a few third-party plug-ins. Scaling individual tiles/ particles could just as well give the illusion of a growing fill.

Mylenium

Kyle Hamrick
Community Expert
Kyle HamrickCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
April 15, 2018

Based on your description, here's what I'd try:
1. Convert your +M to a shape layer. Add a Stroke inside the shape layer, but outside any of the + paths. (It should be sitting below all of them inside the shape layer.)
2. Drop the solid M into your comp, just above the +M shape layer. Make sure the positions are aligned. Set it to be the Alpha matte, and parent them together.
3. Animate the stroke width.

I wasn't careful about the placement of the +s for this quick example, but if this is more or less what you're after, it'd be pretty straightforward using the above method.

If you're looking for more complex behavior, this may be a job for either a particle generator or a 3rd-party effect like Pastiche.

    angie_taylor
    angie_taylor
    Legend
    April 15, 2018

    Nice    solution :-)

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