Skip to main content
R
ryan schar
Inspiring
July 22, 2015
Question

Is there a way use the end-position of an object after an effect as the start-position for another effect?

  • July 22, 2015
  • 3 replies
  • 1025 views

hello,

I am trying to create a Prezi-type panning effect in Adobe Captivate without actually creating a Prezi presentation and recording it with Captivate.

My idea is to chain several Captivate effects together.  What I would like to do is to use the same LeftToRight effect to cause all of the objects on the slide to move to the right.  A few seconds later, I would like all of the objects to move down, but from the position where they where after the first effect, not their original position.  I guess I could create a second slide for this, but then I would have to estimate the end position of each of the objects after the first effect is complete, which would be very difficult.

Any help would be appreciated!!

This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

R
ryan scharAuthor
Inspiring
July 23, 2015

A small update:  You can approximate the Prezi effects by combining all your images into one monster background image and then applying effects to this image :  RightToLeft, zoom in, zoom out, left to right, etc...

But of course there are obstacles to this approach:

  • if you have anything on top of your monster background image, you have to make sure they move in sync with your background image, but thats easier said then done
  • i have an issue with the zoom-in effect - by default it will zoom in on the center of the object and I havent figured out how to get it to zoom in on the top left, for example.  There might be a way to do this with the XML file by changing the values for the x and y attributes in the "geom:Point" element, but I havent quite succeed with that, yet.

Either way there is a lot of trial and error involved.

    Lilybiri
    Lilybiri
    Legend
    July 23, 2015

    Sighing, I know very well, cannot count the number of times I created cross hairs. You cannot save a group (crosshair is a vertical and a horizontal line) as a custom shape, you have to recreate them each time.

    Another of my feature requests: being able to move the registration point (which is the center for effects, but the top left corner for resizing and moving) from its default location to another location as is possible in other Adobe applications.

    R
    ryan scharAuthor
    Inspiring
    July 24, 2015

    HI Lilybiri,

    If you are talking about the "square part" of the arrow when you are applying a motion-path effect, you can move that...

    R
    ryan scharAuthor
    Inspiring
    July 22, 2015

    As always, the second I posted the question, I started to figure out solutions for myself.  I came up with two not-perfect solutions:

    • using the element inspector in Chrome to see how far the object moved vertically and horizontally and then creating a new slide in Captivate with the objects beginning at the end-position.  The problem with this solution, so far, is that my objects "blink" when the project moves to the next slide.  But that could be a whole separate thing.
    • adjusting the starting point of the second effect to be the same as the ending point of the first effect.  I didn't realize that you could drag the starting pointing of the vector just like you can the ending point.  But it's difficult to get them to perfectly overlap.

    Thanks, Lilybiri!  That is an interesting idea with the cross hairs.  And you may be right, Rod. At the point, I am still just playing around before I really get started on the project.

    Ryan

      R
      ryan scharAuthor
      Inspiring
      July 22, 2015

      Or is there a way of determining the exact position of an object after an effect has been applied to it?  For example, after applying a LeftToRight effect to an object, can you determine the x and y coordinates of its final position?

      Lilybiri
      Lilybiri
      Legend
      July 22, 2015

      You can calculate that position if checking the XML file of that effect. I often use a cross hair, created with a horizontal and a vertical line shape to determine the exact position of a point of the motion path. If you put that cross hair over the end point of the path, you can read the coordinates in the Options tab of the Properties panel (provided you use CP8, different location in CP7). I used this work flow in this other blog post:

      Reset Effects in Captivate 6 - Captivate blog

      If you read the blog post, to which I posted a link in your other thread, you'll learn that all motion effects are relative to the present position.

      RodWard
      Community Expert
      RodWardCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      July 22, 2015

      I recommend you forget about trying to replicate a Prezi presentation in Captivate.  It would be extremely tedious and not look anywhere near as good. If you wanted to use an Adobe product for this, use Flash instead, then import the SWF into Captivate (if you really need Captivate).

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices