Text over Objects

[Dr. DOS]

Newbie user of this outstanding program... I have placed the EARTH object shape in my production but I cannot seem to place any text on top of the object. The text wants to be behind the object.... I want to rotate the text around the earth... but it is appearing behind the object. How can I....

... define a path around the earth and have my text follow that path so that when it appears in front of the earth it is visible and when it rotates behind it it disapears.

Any way to define a specific motion path for my text ... it seems the path is pre-programmed and cannot be modified.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

[Ron P.]

Hi Dr Dos, and welcome to the forums..

The easiest way to figure this out is to go to the Movies, Composition, and load the Earth with the Cool 3D Production Studio text that revolves around the earth.

Now highlight the text (Cool 3D...). What you will notice if you look at your timeline is an effect called Surface Animation. This is what places the motion path for the text. Now look at the Attribute Tab. Highlight the Surface Animation, you will notice a Pull Down Menu. This should have Path: H Line. This means that there is an Horizontal Line Path applied to the text. Below it are parameters that can be tailored to suit your needs. The X, Y, and Z are 3D coordinates, or axis. The X axis is the Horizontal axis, the Y is the Vertical axis, and the Z axis is the Depth, back and front or farther away and closer to you.

To learn to do this look at the parameters set in the Surface Animation effect. What you can do is just substitute the Cool 3D text for yours. To do that in the Object Manager hightlight the text. Then go to the Object Toolbar and click on Edit Object. This will open the Text editor, where you can change the text...

Hope that helps..

One great resource for learning about Cool3D Production Studio is a CD by Travis White. It is offered by Ulead, however you can get it through Vasst's website.

Killer Graphics and Lower Thirds

Ron P.

[Dr. DOS]

Thanks ... I will see if the Movie is part of the trial version I am using and I will also look at the other website. Thanks Much for your thorough reply.

Long time user of ULead Sofware but quite new to the Cool3d Software.

[EDIT]

Thanks for the tips... this has allowed me to create a nice intro video segment... however, for the life of me I cannot figure out how to move the text "in front of" the earth image. I've adjusted all the various settings and can't figure it out... any ideas.

[Ron P.]

Tim,

It seems that the Earth's Position is too far forward, or the Text too far back. Both of these properties can be altered.

1. Make sure you have the Object Manager open. Also go to View, and select Object Selection Indicator. This way you can see on your stage what you have selected when making changes.
2. Now highlight the Earth Group. The OSI (Object selection indicator) should show that the earth is selected.
3. On the Location Toolbar select the Move Tool(the hand).
4. Now holding down the Shift key right-click towards the edge of the stage. This way you don't change the selection from the earth to the text.
5. Drag down to move the Earth closer, drag up to move it backwards.

You will have to experiment with this adjusting a little, then viewing it, to see if you are getting the position where it needs to be. You can also do the same, substituting the text for the earth...

Ron P.

[Dr. DOS]

Tim,

It seems that the Earth's Position is too far forward, or the Text too far back. Both of these properties can be altered.

1. Make sure you have the Object Manager open. Also go to View, and select Object Selection Indicator. This way you can see on your stage what you have selected when making changes.
2. Now highlight the Earth Group. The OSI (Object selection indicator) should show that the earth is selected.
3. On the Location Toolbar select the Move Tool(the hand).
4. Now holding down the Shift key right-click towards the edge of the stage. This way you don't change the selection from the earth to the text.
5. Drag down to move the Earth closer, drag up to move it backwards.

You will have to experiment with this adjusting a little, then viewing it, to see if you are getting the position where it needs to be. You can also do the same, substituting the text for the earth...

Ron P.

You da' man. Thanks Ron for all you help --- That worked !!!



Tim

[Ron P.]

Alright..

Glad it worked, and always happy to help..

Ron P.