Text on Rotated Layer Moves Unexpectedly

[94253]

I have a ball with some text written across it. The text moves when I bounce the ball, but not the same way the ball moves. I used the "Rotate Layer XY" tool, so the text layer probably isn't facing the same direction as the layer my ball is on, and that may be why it looks strange.



I would like the text to appear "stationary" on the ball. Then when the ball goes up and down, the text should move with the ball. If I save the ball and text as an image, and import that image as a layer, the ball and text move together. I would prefer, however, to get the text to move with the ball without exporting an image first.

You can get my *.anme file at http://www.gfcmedia.net/share/RotateTextExample.anme if you would like to see what I'm talking about. I added a bone with amazing strength, as that kept the gradient on the ball in place. I don't think the existence of a bone really makes any difference with the text...even after the vector points on the text layer have been mapped to the bone.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I'm likely just doing something incorrectly. Please let me know if I'm missing a step, or if I should perhaps be doing this in an entirely different manner.

Thank you very much in advance for your responses!

[elbramtsol]

Well there are different ways to make that effect. I love to use bones to create a 3D illusion.
This is going to be hard to me to explain ( I don't have very good English skills) but this is what you have to do:

1. Use the ball as a mask to hide the text.
2. Create bones pointing to the center of the ball.
3. Use the scale bone tool to shrink all the bones at the same time.
4. Move the text layer with the Translate Layer Tool to simulate 3D rotation.

That's it! ...if you still have doubts please ask anyone here (...but me )

In the .anme file you will find a static version as well.
http://emamix.com/RotateTextExample.anme

[elbramtsol]

I forgot to say that in order to prevent bones to affect that gradient effect you will have to use "Release Points"(from the Bones menu) in the ball's layer. You could also Bind the ball's layer in to another bone. Hope I made myself clear!

[94253]

I think I can follow your explanation, and I'm sure I'll understand after looking through the updated *.anme file. The GIF image you shared looks exactly like what I need. It even spins, too, which is better than what I was initially hoping I could do! Thank you so much for helping me out with this. :) You're a hero!

[94253]

Thank you again, but I am unable to open your file as it was created in a newer version of the product. (I'm incredibly hesitant to upgrade at this time, but that is another topic.)

I'm interested in the static version you mentioned was included in your file. Could you - or anyone - please explain what steps I could take so the text would appear static on the ball's surface? (It will move up and down without spinning.) I tried the 4 steps you listed but the text seems to move in 3 dimensions around a center point...which is a very cool effect...but not what I'm trying to do here.

I assumed at first the simulated 3D would be only when I moved the text, but it is still moving when I move the entire group folder with many other animations inside it. In my original file, this can be recreated by selecting my group layer and using the Translate Layer tool to move the X or Y coordinates of the entire folder. You will see the ball moves differently than the text, and I would like them to remain together.

Another alternative would be to create a new layer inside the group and simply trace over my warped text with new vector points, so the text would appear warped while on a "flat" layer. This method would allow me to get a higher quality render for this project, but going forward I would really like to find a quick way to just translate my text layer from side to side after warping it.

[elbramtsol]

http://emamix.com/RotateTextExample%28v.6%29.anme
Please!!! tell me you have Anime Studio V.6

[94253]

Yes; I have version 6. Thank you SO MUCH for the new file! I can play the animation and I see the text doesn't move when I drag the folder icon around. Your file clearly does what I want mine to do, but I can't figure out what I'm missing to replicate what you have done.

1. I set up the masking on the vector layer of my shape to match yours.
2. I added bones around the outside of the shape.

I then translated the bone layer, and translated the group layer. In each instance the same problem exists. I tried binding the text layer to the bones. I tried binding vector points on the text layer to bones.

I'm likely missing something very simple. The behavior of the ball & text in your file is different from mine, but as far as I can tell they are set up the same. Do you have any further suggestions for me? Thank you very much for all your efforts. :)

[elbramtsol]

I want to see your file, that way is going to be easy for me to help you.

[94253]

I'm trying to work with the example file I initially linked to. I can't get it working on either the ball example or the actual project file. In the long run I would like to just know how to do this as it's something I'll be applying to a variety of files...provided I can figure out what you're doing. ;)

I really shouldn't put the actual file anywhere public, but I could probably get away with e-mailing it to you if you would prefer working with that file. Write me at 94253@gfcmedia.net and I'll send you the file for the project I'm working on.

Thanks!

[elbramtsol]

OK. I could make the file for you but you will learn nothing. So I decided to make a step by step tutorial.
This is how I have my project:

Ball and Text layers inside a bone layer (to make the 3D effect)
The bone layer inside a group layer.

1. Select the bone layer.
2. Create at least 8 bones pointing to the center of the ball.
3. Select all the bones and then select the Reparent Bone Tool.
If you have somthing like this:

click an empty space in the work area (this is to prevent to have bones linked to each other)

You should have something like this:


4. Go to frame 1. Select all the bones, select the Scale Bone Tool and shrink the bones until you are happy with the results.

Now we have to fix:
The text going out of the ball.

5. To mask it with the ball double click the bones layer and select hide all:


6. Double click the text layer and select:


Now we have to fix:
The gradient in the ball.

7. Create a new bone and make it have 0 bone strength:


8. Select the ball layer and bind it to that bone:


There you have it. Hope it helps.

[94253]

I really appreciate all the help you're giving me!

I'm losing you around Step 4 in the tutorial. I've got all the bones unparented, but when I scale them it only affects the gradient on the ball; the text does not change. I also tried binding the text layer and scaling again, but again only the gradient scaled with the bones.

Am I missing something? It normally doesn't take me this long to learn something...especially after reading through a tutorial! I'm half expecting this to be something incredibly simple which I'm just skipping over.

[elbramtsol]

I don't know is this what is wrong with your text layer but try to select it, go to the Bones Top Menu and press Flexi-Bind Points and Flexi-Bind Layers.

Let me know if that works.