#Winding Filmstrip Effect
3 messages in this thread
Jack:
Uh, isn't that what I said? <g> If not, that IS what I MEANT to say. I'm
getting a handle on how the deformation/twist grid works. It took a bit of
experimentation, but I've got a nice, fluid-looking "H" now.
My next problem: the map. I created a small cel (black w/ white sprocket
"hole"), with the intent of tiling it. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to
want to follow the film. I aligned the mapping icon with the film's
starting face, and scaled it properly (I think). The first portion of the
film renders the map properly, but once the film begins twisting about the
mapping looses all relationship to the film.
Can anyone explain to me how to make the map "stick" to the film as it
winds around?
Thanks,
Jeff
Sorry, I added the bit about the Twist deformation as opposed to editing
the path vertices with the Path/Move Vertex tool which sometimes causes
problems.
As far as aligning the map, are you using the Mapping option when you loft
the film strips? (See page 6-99.) If so, there should be no problem; if
not, check it out. With the right calculations, you should be able to
create a relatively short, looping flic consisting of a single "frame" of
film moving once past the frame-sized window. (This is confusing using the
word "frame" to mean a celluloid file frame and not an animation frame.)
Anyway, once you've got this looping flic, you can tile it along the length
of your lofted film strip using the Mapping parameters. It's a little
frustrating getting it right, but I know it can be done because I did
something like it as an experiment where I had what looked like a stream of
arrows traveling along a helix object. The flic for the texture map was the
size of one arrow and as many frames as was necessary to scroll the arrow
once.
Hope this helps. If it doesn't, you're on your own. I'm off to Sigraph in
about an hour, so don't bother replying to this.
– Jack
Jack:
Sure enough, I RTFM and figured it out. The mapping option works GREAT! I
now have a beautiful filmstrip, sprocket holes and all! Note that the
filmstrip does not have individual "frames". The desired effect is of
negative/positive contrast.
Next step, animating it.
Sorry I couldn't be at SIGGRAPH this year…fill us all in when you return.
Jeff