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is there a plugin available for this .mov/idea

I have been out of editing for a long time. I have FCPX and Motion now (10.6.3). I used to use after effects, but think I can get away with motion for my titles and some graphics. I was using something like the attachment for an opening title and a bug down on a lower third. I want to improve upon this with motion. I still want the universal/world image (used Zaxwerks and AE years ago), but should like to have some objects circling the work using the paths that electrons take around a nucleus. Orbits if you will. I also would like them to be 3D as they rotate around and behind the earth.


I am going to do a search, but if anyone recognizes what I am seeking, send a link. If you also know some motion forums please let me know. I am trying to add a YouTube file, but it won't load, so see my pic.


I am new to motion and am learning it through LinkedIN learning. I will have AE, but I think I am going to get rid of the adobe suit and stay with apple for my small needs.


Cheers.

Posted on Jul 28, 2022 1:47 PM

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Jul 28, 2022 3:19 PM in response to nelsonmay

Don't buy anything yet!


I did this in a few minutes in Motion without any externally added plugins:



The Earth model is already in Motion. Motion doesn't "mix" 3D environments (3D objects vs 3D Text) so there is a bit of a workaround.


I have a bunch of other stuff I have to do right now, but I'll write out a recipe for you and should be back within a few hours.


In the meantime, get this font and install it:

https://fcpxtemplates.com/motion-shapes-font/ (it's free).


The reason this will take awhile to write out is that it is quite a bit of a "hack" to get the 3D object to work as 3D text... ;)




Jul 28, 2022 4:07 PM in response to fox_m

Very Cool. Thank you.


This took a while for me to build over 10 years ago. (having to map a pic of earth over a sphere and have Zaxwerks lay in the text) I figured Motion has come a long way since then and might be a very easy build. I am going to learn it and have fun with it. I don't need it right way, since this is a "just for fun" project. I am now a hobbyist with a new M1 mini. I used to use FCP until X. I thought I would come back and give the suite a try. I look very forward to seeing this.

Jul 28, 2022 5:14 PM in response to nelsonmay

I may have to do more than one post...


Start by creating a new project and adding the Earth:


Click the Library "tab" and select 3D Objects, then find Earth.usdz in the list at the bottom. It's a rather "lackluster" earth model, but that will get fixed later.


Add a Camera — type Command-Option-C or go to (the button at the top center under the window title ) Add Object > Camera. This will automatically turn the project into a 3D project.


When you add a new object in Motion, Motion will change the Inspector view to that object's parameters. In this case, it will be the 3D Object tab. You will see an Orientation parameter... you can't do much with it except look the model over — it can't be keyframed, so just ignore this... (leave it at 0,0,0).



Click the Properties tab and use the Rotation parameters (dial down the disclosure triangle on the left of Rotation). Since this is a recipe, just set the X rotation to -18º, Y to 173º and Z to -10º.


Right click on the Rotation Y parameter and select Add Parameter Behavior > Ramp. The Ramp behavior ADDs it's parameters to the parameter it is connected to, so set the Start Value to -56º. This animation will continue for the length of the life of the object it is added to (in a typical, default project, that is 10 seconds.)


Play the project, you will see the earth rotate (on a tilt axis) and end with east side of N. America just moving to the "center".


Every object in Motion MUST be enclosed in a Group, so your added Earth model is inside a Group.


Select that group in the Layers List and type "K" to Clone the group. A Clone is a flattened "projection of the object Cloned which in this case is a Group containing a 3D Model. This is an important distinction which you will become familiar with over time... for now... just follow along.


The purpose of the Clone is to become a Texture for a 3D Text character (which is why you downloaded and installed the font I directed you to because it contains a perfect circle that has 0 width and is perfectly divided top to bottom at the center.)


The *problem* with textures for 3D Text is that they really need to be 2D Fixed Resolution in order to "function" properly in place on the 3D Text surface. So, go to the Add Object and add > Generators Generator > Color Solid. Change its color to Black. Type Command-[ to move it under the Clone Layer. Select the Clone Layer's group and Select the Group tab and make sure the group is set to 2D.


Select the Clone Layer and go to Filters > Color > Contrast (this will make the earth look better). Set the Contrast to 1.57 and the Pivot to 0.38.


Create a New Group (Command-Shift-N), select the Text Tool and click in the Canvas — type the number 0. Set the Font to ZZSC Motion Shapes Three - the character will now become a center-balanced circle. Set the Font Size to 518 (closely matches the default size of the Earth Model).


Select the Appearance tab and Check 3D Text. Go down to the Material section and select the "chiclet" (if it is not already selected) and set the Substance to Generic. Set the Surface to Image. In the Image drop box, drag the Clone Layer group into the box and drop it.


Go down to Scale and dial down the disclosure triangle. UNCHECK Scale with Font Size and set the Scale to 100%. You should see the Earth — it should look "full" and it should animate when the project is played. It also should look like a sphere and it should look better than the original.


I'll add the orbiting text and background in the next one... If you get a chance to try this out and you run into any issues, let me know.


Jul 28, 2022 6:47 PM in response to nelsonmay

Take your time...


Orbiting 3D text...


In the same group as the 0 character, add another Text object (use the text tool and click in the canvas). Type the text you need and in the Text inspector > Format, change the Font to what you need. Use a font that will be easy to read under animation - something bold enough (start with Helvetica Neue > Condensed Black, or Misadventures [installed with FCPX and Motion]). [I used a free font called Dead Jim (Star Trek title copy)]. Set the Font Size to about 105.


Select the Appearance Tab and check the 3D Text option.


On the Title bar for Material, go to the right edge and select Multiple from the drop-down.


Select the "Front" chiclet and change the Color. A Plastic substance can be a little troubling for color appearance, so you might want to change the Substance to Generic (or you can choose one of the other options.)


Select the Front Edge chiclet and change its color to something adequately contrasting. For this recipe, go back to the top under 3D Text and set the Front Edge Size to 2.


Go back to the top of the inspector and click on Layout. For the Layout Method, select Path.


Go down the column to Path Options and select Circle. Set the Radius to about 285 or so. The Text should now be arranged on a circle.


Go back to the Format tab and in the Advanced section, dial down the Rotation and set the Rotation.X to -90º. To get the same orientation I used, go to the Properties tab for your text, set the Rotation X to 79º and Rotation Y to -312º. Set the Rotation.Z parameter to -157 (this will be flexible and probably dependent on the length of text).


Right Click on the Rotation.Z parameter and Add Parameter Behavior > Rate. This is another **Additive** behavior — set it's rate to 71.5º.


Now, you'll need to center the text + it's animation path to go around the Earth (0) character.


In the tools menu at the bottom left side of the Canvas area, the third from the right icon is the tools menu. Click on that and select Anchor Point Tool. If you do not see the On-Screen Controls appear (bounding box and 3-directional arrows), type Command-/ (forward slash). Click on the center circle area in the midst of the 3-way arrows and drag it to the point at which the text "goes around" the earth at about equal distances on the left and right edges.


To create a Drop Shadow, Add Object > Light. Set the Intensity to 50%. Click the checkbox to turn on Shadows. Set the Opacity to 167% and the Softness to 17. Click the Properties tab and set the Rotation.X to -5º and the Rotation.Y to 3.5.


——————————————————

Starry Night Background (a different approach).


Right click in the Layers Column (outside of any other group) and select New Group.


Add Object > Generators > Clouds.


Set the Horizontal and Vertical Scales to 8 (minimum).

Set the Speed to 0.


Dial down the Gradient triangle. Click on the Black tab of the Gradient and set the Location to 85%.


Set the 1st Layer Strength to 1.0.

2nd Layer Strength to 0.

3rd Layer Strength to 0.38.

4th Layer Strength to 0.


You can change the look of your night sky by adjusting the Offset > X and Offset > Y parameters. (You can also animate these parameters to move the stars if you like.)


That should complete the "recipe" — if I skipped something or you have trouble making things work right, just let me know...I'll try to straighten it out.


[Optional]

Add Filters > Color > Threshold. Set Threshold to 0.11. Smoothness to 0.15 (default).


Add Filters > Glow > Glint. Set Exposure to 6.0. Glint Size to 1.0. Streaks to 3. Glow Amount to 0%. Intensity to 2.01. Color Fringing to 0. [Leave all unmentioned parameters at their defaults.]


is there a plugin available for this .mov/idea

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