to flap the wings of a butterfly...
by Darren Neupert
on
Jul 26, 2005 at 2:44:17 am
Hello everyone,
It has been ages since I posted to this forum. So long, in fact, that I forgot my old password and had to create a new login. lol
Anyway... to the point... I am trying to figure out how to flap wings on a 2D butterfly image. Well, not necessarilly flap as in flying madly about, but rather gentle motion... as in opening and closing wings while at rest on a flower.
My butterflies are probably... oh... 150 x 150 pixels.
Re: to flap the wings of a butterfly... by Christian Remde on Jul 26, 2005 at 3:11:00 am
I created something that sounds like what you're talking about...
I found a flat, top-looking shot of a butterfly and brought it into AE. Using masks, I cut it in half and then made each half a 3D layer. I moved the anchor points to the edge so that when I rotated the Y axis they "flapped". I added a light to give some shadow and had it fly around the screen...
Re: to flap the wings of a butterfly... by Steve Roberts on Jul 26, 2005 at 3:15:54 am
1. Dupe the butterfly layer (in a comp) twice, so you have three butterfly layers.
2. Draw a mask around one so you just have the body.
(Solo each layer as you work to avoid confusion.)
3. Draw a mask around each of the other layers to only show one wing: left for one layer, right for the other. You should have a body on one layer, and a different wing on each of the other two.
4. Make all three layers 3D.
5. Use the Pan Behind tool to move the anchor point of each wing layer so it is where the wing hinges at the body.
6. Animate the Y-rotation of each wing to your taste.
You might also want to parent both wings to the body, then move the body where you want, and the wings will follow.
