Building More Elements
Next, you'll create a 3D element in black and white that you can use as a matte for any color solid. It's a fun little flip that will showcase the client's products.
The first step
- In the Project window, create a folder named Flips.
- In the Flips folder, add a new composition named Horizontal Flip that has dimensions 720×540, Frame Rate 29.97, and Duration 10;00 seconds.
- Create a new solid named Flip_Square that has dimensions 150×150 and is colored white (RGB: 255, 255, 255).
- Turn on this layer's 3D switch in the Timeline.
- Set up a four-comp view (Window > Workspace > Four Comp Views) so you can see the solid rotate in space.
- Set the layer's Anchor Point to 0, 75, 0 and its Position to 360, 270, 0.
- Go to time 0;10, and add a keyframe for Y Rotation with a value of 0 x +0.0.
- Press Home to go to time 0;00, and then change the Y Rotation to 0 x +90.
Working in 3D space to make the flip
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Save and preview your work. You can then return to the default one-comp view (Window > Workspace > 1 Comp View).
A chorus line
The results so far don't seem all that impressive. You'll make the project more interesting by duplicating your comp and then repositioning the layers to create a line of flipping squares:
- Create a new composition named Line Flip that has dimensions 720×540, Frame Rate 29.97, and Duration 10;00 seconds.
- Add the Horizontal Flip comp to the Timeline at 0;00, and then duplicate it twice.
- Go to time 1;00 so you can see the squares as you work. Set the following positions:
- Layer 1: 460, 270
- Layer 2: 285, 270
- Layer 3: 110, 270
Timeline with three flips
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Now the squares flip simultaneously; but to get the domino effect, you need to stagger their In points:
- Go to time 0;03, select layer 2, and press [ to move its In point.
- Go to time 0;06, select layer 1, and press [.
Staggering the in points of the layers to time the flips like falling dominoes
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Save and preview your work.