Page de Jean-Paul Molina

Light rays

 

The purpose is to create a lightray effect on a text. To make simpler, we 'll take the 'i' character which produces an outstanding effect due to the dot.
The effects used are Shape, color gradients ( linear and radial ), Move, Fade In and Out.
The different stages gonna be described now.
( For convenience, think about hiding object with a click on the eye icon in the 'Outline' tree)

Remark: To minimize the filesize of images, the color gradients you'll see in this page are not the true ones.

⇒ see animation ⇐

Creating a text and a mask

1 - Set up width, height, background color for the movie.

2 - Click . Enter 'i'.
Select a font so that the dot above 'i' is round. ( Century Gothic for instance ).
Size 72 , italic , bold ( buttons I et B ). Take White for the color.

Eventually, move the handles to enlarge. At this stage, the tab Shape has not yet replaced the tab Text.

3 - Click in the Menus bar Modify / Grouping / Group as Shape. In tab Shape, replace Merged Shape with 'i'. Enter the data as mentioned underneath.

4 - Right now we 'll create a mask over the dot to get a spot effect. Click button
Draw a circle over the dot of 'i' in the graphic zone. Enter the data as mentioned underneath. (same color as background)

5 - Click button from the buttons bar. The mask stays at the bottom of the 'Outline' tree. In 'Timeline', click Frame 0 from row idot_mask, then 'AddEffect', then 'Place'. Keep the default values.

Creating a light effect at the right side of the dot

The process is as following :
     - first we draw a rectangle on the right side of the dot. (tool Rectangle)
     - then we convert it in a trapeze. ( tool Reshape )
     - We set up a linear gradient color.
     - In 'Timeline', we add a Fade Out effect.

1 - Click . Draw a rectangle at the right side of 'i'.

2 - Click . Move some handles to get the trapeze ABCD.

3 - Click button

A this stage, there is no gradient effect, the limits are those of the trapeze

4 - In tab 'Transform', select 'Center' X,Y coordinates are related to the center.

5 - In tab 'Shape'   Name : i_rayTRight   Line : None.   Fill : Linear gradient   Colors unchanged.

6 - In 'Timeline', click Frame 5 in row i_rayTRight, then 'AddEffect', then 'Fade Out' with 5 'Frames'. Change the tab 'Motion' as shown.

At last, test the effect by clicking or frame by frame by clicking 5 in the graduated rule in 'Timeline', then button , puis l'onglet 'Start at'.

You must note that the trapeze starts to 10% of its initial color, then fades out as it moves.

3 - Creating a light effect at the right side of the 'i' bar

Do the same as I just have explained. The following images 'll show you how to.

       

In 'Timeline', click Frame 5 in row i_rayBRight, then 'AddEffect', then 'Fade Out' with 5 'Frames'. Keep the default values.

Creating a light effect at the left side of the dot

Do the same as I just have explained. The following images 'll show you how to.

   

In Fade Out properties, keep the other default values.

Creating a light effect at the left side of the 'i' bar

Do the same as previously mentioned. The following images 'll show you how to.

   

In 'Timeline', click Frame 5 in row i_rayBLeft, then 'AddEffect', then 'Fade Out' with 'Frames' = 5. Keep the default values.

6 - Creating a big spot in the middle of 'i'

1 - First we draw a circle. Click button
Draw a circle as shown in image, then set up a radial gradient color.

       

2 - In 'Timeline', click Frame 5 in row Ellipse, then 'AddEffect', then 'Fade Out' with 'Frames' = 5. Keep the default values.

7 - Creating a light centered on the dot

1 - We draw a circle to set up a light. Click button
Draw a circle with diameter 2.5 times bigger, then set up a radial gradient color. Select the same color for 'Line' as the gradient one

       

2 - In 'Timeline', click Frame 5 in row Light, then 'AddEffect', then 'Place'. Keep the default values.

3 - Click Frame 6, then 'AddEffect', then 'Move'. Enter the values mentioned then test.
Light gonna get transparent (Alpha 0%) White color (Color 100%)

8 - Creating a brilliant cross in the middle of the 'i'

The process is as following :
     - first we create a flat horizontal ellipse centered on the dot. ( tool Ellipse )
     - then we set up a radial gradient color.
     - We make a copy of the ellipse.
     - We rotate it by 90°.
     - We group the 2 objects.
     - In 'Timeline', we add an effect to the group.
Result

1 - Click button . Draw a flat horizontal ellipse, then set up a radial gradient color.

     

2 - Copy and paste the ellipse hitting CTRL C, then CTRL V. Click button . Move the mouse cursor on the right handle of the ellipse.
(The cursor changes in an inclined arrow and a circular arrow)
Maintaining in down state the left mouse button, rotate by 90° the second ellipse so it stands vertical.

3 - In 'Outline', Maintaining in down state the left mouse button, select the 2 ellipses ( names are now highlighted ).
Hit CTRL G or menu Modify / Grouping / Group. In tab Group in the right zone, name that group 'Star'.

4 - In 'Timeline', click Frame 5 in row Star, then 'AddEffect', then 'Place' (Frame 1).
This group is about 50% of its initial size, transparent ( Alpha 0%) and 100% of the mentioned color.

5 - In 'Timeline', click Frame 6 in row Star, then 'AddEffect', then 'Move' (Frames=3).
Enter the values mentioned, in tab Motion. The group gonna recover its initial size, opacity ( Alpha 100%) and 100% of the mentioned color. Besides, it turns by 90° from its initial place.

6 - To finish, click Frame 10 in row Star, then 'AddEffect', then 'Remove'.

Conclusion.

If all has been well done, you should have in 'Outline' and 'Timeline'.

     

Now you can test the movie : menu File/Test/ in Player, then export in an HTML file hitting CTRL P. Don't forget to save your work hitting CTRL S..