Newbie here: Sustaining text in static position:

[Fortsand]

I have just begun to use C3D and I did my first title. I have the text spinning around and then it stops as I wish at the end of the spin. I haven't figured out how to make the text hold a static position a couple of seconds at the end of the spin. This should be fairly simple I know, but I am at a loss as to how to perform this simple (I think) task.

[rguthrie]

Fortsand,

Yes, it's easy to do. Please tell me how many frames your animation is, and on what frames the key frames (those little diamonds) are on, that way I can tell you step-by-step.

[Fortsand]

X-Minus 141
Y- 0
Z-Minus 47

[rguthrie]

Fortsand,

Above the Y: box do you see a line with little blue diamonds on it? Click on each diamond and write down the number that is in the box to the right of that line. If you hover your mouse over it, it will say Current Frame. Further to the right on that same lines is a box that has the word Frames to the right of it. And next to that is another box that has fps.

The box to the left of Frames is the total number of frames your animation has and the box next to fps is the frames per second. Normally for a DVD project, you will use a fps of 29.97.

So let's say that your current number of frames is 90, i.e., 3 seconds long (at 29.97 fps). Now let's say that you want to add another 2 seconds so that you can have your text pause at the end. Simply type 150 into the Frame box. But wait! If you do that, Cool3D will adjust your keyframes to the new number of frames. So the easiest way to get a pause at the end is to slide your keyframes (the little blue diamonds) to their original frame. So what you should do is click on each keyframe and write down the current frame number.

For example, I had a keyframe at frame 50 in a 90 frame project. When I changed the length to 150, my keyframe moved to frame 83. So I have to move it back to 50.

I sure hope this isn't confusing you! It's really not that hard once you get use to the interface. Cool3D is a fantastic program.

[Fortsand]

Ron, I lost you there somewhere. What I have now is the text swinging around almost in the desired position, then it jumps to the final position, but no duration in the static position. This is a simulation of what I am trying to do.

xxxxxxxx

xxxxxxx

xxxxx


Each line is supposed to be staggered, but I couldn't get it to show up that way.
Just imagine the x's as a title. It begins looking from an end view and swings from a counterclockwise position to the readable position and stops abruptly. Try to tell me another way to do it. Thanks.

[rguthrie]

OK. Let's try this a different way.

Below, you'll see sample settings for an animation: 15 fps, 30 total frames (that's a duration of 2 seconds).






Now I'll add 30 frames to the project, for a total of 60 frames, which makes the animation now 4 seconds long.




However, I want my text to stop spinning at the original 30 frame mark, so I'll move the blue diamond with my mouse until it is on 30. And this is what I get.





Clear now?

I even created some animated gifs but photobucket must do something to them 'cause they won't work. Oh well, I hope you get the point.

[Fortsand]

Thanks for going to the trouble to post the pictures, it is a lot easier to understand. I have played with this same text for so long, changing the spacing, etc. there is a slight amount of movement when it is in the static position due to all the space inputs I had entered over the past few days.
I tried to go back and adjust it out frame by frame, but I couldn't get it dead on. I guess I should have started with a clean text. Actually, I think it looks pretty cool, so I am going to go ahead and use it.
Thanks so much for taking the time to make this clear.

[rguthrie]

Glad I could be of help! If you have VideoStudio as well, I've got some tutorials posted at YouTube. Check out 3D Transition Overlay.

[Fortsand]

I have VS10. I'll check out Youtube, thanks.