How do you have a crumbling effect that starts from the middle and works its way out?

[jakeb18357525]

I am currently attempting to make a intro in Adobe After Effects for my youtube intro starting with a crack effect then having a flame logo type entrance. I am currently making a crumbling type effect by using the "Shatter" effects. that looks something like this,

from the center of the crack i want it to start crumbling than revealing the crack as it crumbles throughout. But I don't know how. Someone please explain before I go insane I have been experimenting with this for over 7 hours.

[Rick Gerard]

I don’t have time to post an example right now but you would use a custom shatter map and custom particle size. Yoi would probably also want to have two layers so if you want to reveal the crack. You could use a fractal noise layer to make the layer break apart instead of a Force.

There are very few good tutorials on Shatter so the best thing to do is to check out the user guide. You can find it using the search help feature in the top right-hand corner of AE.

[jakeb18357525]

I am new to After Effects, so in technical terms I am confused with the break apart you talked about. I understand that you are short on time, but when you have time, could you please explain what you mean. I am using fractal noise for the animation of lava in the crack currently but i dont see how i could do what you are talking about.

Regards,

Jacob

[Rick Gerard]

In the User Manual under Simulation Effects, you'll find a link for Shatter effect.

If you read that you'll get the basic idea of how Gradient Controls work. You will also find out how Custom Shatter Maps work.

Here's what I would do:

1. Create a shatter map that looks like this (easiest in Photosbhop
   
2. Use this as in Shatter and set white tiles to remain fixed.
3. Create a gradient to control when what parts start to move and use that for Gradient control
4. Animatinfluenceluende of the Gradient Control

That's how to get started. If you have decent skills in Photoshop and you study the User Guide and maybe watch some of the tutorials they have links to you should be able to figure it out.

[OussK]

You also check this video tutorial to learn more about crack and shutter effects https://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/procedural_crumble/

[jakeb18357525]

Rick, I understand what you are trying to say, but as the video above, it has crumbling revealing the word. That is what I'm looking for, but just for the starting point to be in the middle. And all of you, thank you for your time. It means a lot to me.

[Rick Gerard]

The sample art that you provided has awfully small cracks so it's going to be difficult to get something that looks like the tutorial video. You could use one of the standard shapes and just animate the size and diameter of Force 1 on a layer that only contained the crack.

The most important part my suggestion was to read the documentation. 90% of the people that can't get Shatter to behave or implement inefficient workflows to not understand the controls. It only takes a moment. The tutorial video that was shared is included in the links provided in the User Guide. There is more info there.