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tonofpixels
tonofpixels
Participating Frequently
September 29, 2017
Question

Dots to follow paths on a map - Use After Effects or Animate?

  • September 29, 2017
  • 4 replies
  • 10116 views

I have a map in the background and want dots from all the states to follow paths to, say, California. I tried AE using particle generators and not enough control. I want the dots to be different colors for the states. Then I tried a null object with a whippic from the dot. But not sure how to make the dots keep flowing on the same path and how to group the path and the dot. So was wondering if I should be using Animate instead. Then I want a little image where all the dots have congregated to, to blow up big and then the background fade away. Please help, I have done many tutorials. I just want advise for the best app to use for that purpose so I dont spend the next month learning the wrong app.

thanks!

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    4 replies

    R
    Community Expert
    Rick GerardCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 29, 2017

    You just start another path, copy it, and pasted to the position property of a second ball. As long as the first vertex is lined up with the first or ne everything will match up.

    If the ball ends up at the wrong end of the path use the key frame assistant to time reverse the key frames.

    tonofpixels
    tonofpixelsAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    September 30, 2017

    Thank you for your patience with me. This will be huge so I just wanted to make sure I am doing it the most efficient way.

    I have flopped the keyframes as you mentioned, I understand that part.

    When you say "start another path, copy it" Am I to make a copy of just the path and paste it in the same layer, or am I copying the whole layer and having 2 or 3 layers that say "Texas", for example, for all the balls coming from Texas? Or on layer that is called Texas with 3 paths on it? thank you, thank you.

    P.M.B
    P.M.B
    Legend
    September 30, 2017

    Holy Cow. 

    You gettin paid for this, Rick?

    ~Gutterfish
    angie_taylor
    angie_taylor
    Legend
    September 29, 2017

    If sounds like you need to persevere with a particle effect if you want a series of bouncing balls. I recommend that you use Particular in After Effects. You will need to look at tutorials regarding Flow paths. These will allow you to Control the areas that the balls travel along.

    R
    Community Expert
    Rick GerardCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 29, 2017

    Unless I am completely misunderstanding your design idea I would use a shape layer path with only stroke applied. You can set the end caps to round, enable dashes and even adjust the gaps. You can make the lines appear to be drawn on with trim paths and you can make the dots march with offset.

    The other option is a text layer with type on a path and punctuation. Adjust the kerning and baseline and you should have something you can use. You can also animate the offset the margins in the Path Options and you can make the line appear to be drawn on by adding an opacity text animator.

    Text on a path gives you more shape options for your dots.

    I hope this helps.

    tonofpixels
    tonofpixelsAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    September 29, 2017

    Thanks for your reply, but this does not apply to my question. I don't want a line or dotty lines.

    tonofpixels
    tonofpixelsAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    September 29, 2017

    It’s worth persevering with Particular, it’s a very good piece of software and will be useful in many other situations


    Thank you for replying. First, I don't have the $400 to by the trapcode particular, I don't have any aftermarket plugins in AE. Next this is way overkill. I just want one dot to go across the screen and have another dot follow it. then multiply that about 50 times and change the paths. The other man on this thread said I can do this without null or any particle plugins. Just a simple dotted line. I am trying to figure out how he is saying to do this. This HAS to be super simple. Can anyone tell me how to find the panel that lets me take the fill off my path and put dots on it? Please. Then I can see if his method is even what I am after.

    Mylenium
    Mylenium
    Legend
    September 29, 2017

    Create paths using shape layers or masks and use strokes or dingbat fonts on them. then you can have all the kinds of regulalrly spaced dotty lines you want/ need. The transition will simply have to be a separate animation. Nobody would make things endlessly complicated by trying to do everything with the same layers and compositions.

    Mylenium

    tonofpixels
    tonofpixelsAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    September 29, 2017

    Which app should I use? My question has to do with which app and how to animate the dots on the paths and group the layers together.

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