On the Road to Delhi
Classic B-movies used all sorts of low budget conventions to get the hero from one exotic location to the next. Raiders of the Lost Ark paid homage to these classic movies and techniques by using the now classic animated line moving from country to country tracking the flight path of the plane the hero was traveling in. In this After Effects exercise, we’ll recreate that classic B-movie shot using modern day technology.
In this exercise, we’ll be using the following tools/effects to complete our shot:[an error occurred while processing this directive]Mask(s)
Stroke
Roving keyframes
And Nesting Compositions
Step 1: Begin by finding an atlas of the world. Then use a paint program like Adobe Photoshop to create a well aged map that fits with the time period. Also create a triangle to use as the tip of the future graph.
Step 2: Launch After Effects and import the two graphic elements. Drag the Map clip to the Create New Composition icon in the Project Window to create a composition that is the same size as your map.
Step 3: With the Pen Tool selected (keyboard shortcut G), draw an open ended mask on the Map in the Comp Window. Keep the lines straight and do not use Bezier Curves by placing control points on the key locations your hero will travel through.
Step 4: Place the Triangle clip in the Comp Window. Use the Pan Behind Tool to move the Anchor Point of the Triangle layer to the base of the arrowhead.
Step 5: With the Map layer selected in the Timeline, press the M key on the keyboard to bring up the Mask for the layer. Select the Mask Shape and Copy it to memory. It is important that you copy the Mask Shape and not the entire mask.
Source: Digital Media Online, Inc.
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