Movie Edit Pro 2013 - how to rotate image around specific point?

prizm4 wrote on 11/27/2012, 8:08 AM

I'm trying to animate a rotating image, but when it rotates it goes off-center from where I want it. How do I adjust the anchor point where the image rotates around? (In Premiere Pro it's called the anchor point).

For example, if I have an image that says the word ROTATE then how do I tell Movie Edit Pro to rotate the image around a specific point? For instance, telling it to rotate around the O or the E?

I've got a trial version that I'm testing. I'm hoping I can use this program to replace Premiere Pro.

thanks

Comments

terrypin wrote on 11/27/2012, 10:48 AM

Hi,

Interesting question. The best I could come up with so far is this crude method:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/RotationDemo-1.mp4
(Download and play at HD quality.)

I have another better idea, but I'll need to check it out when I get time. Meanwhile hopefully someone will present a smart and simple approach - maybe it's even a built in MEP feature I haven't discovered yet!

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

prizm4 wrote on 11/27/2012, 5:12 PM

Thanks a lot for your reply. Referring to your video, you're right, adding all those keyframes is just way too much work :)

johnebaker wrote on 11/27/2012, 5:25 PM

There is a simple way with only 2 keyframes as follows:

1. Use Effects, Movement Effects, Size and Position to size put the image you want it

2. Position the timeline cursor at the point where you want the rotation to start.

3. Select Rotation/Mirror as shown in the image and click the box indicated - leave the value at 0

4. Place a keyframe using the white diamond

5. Position the timeline cursor to the point where you want the rotation to stop.

6. In the box highlighted in the image, enter the number of degrees you want the image to rotate, in the image you will see 900 - the image will rotate 2.5 times clockwise. Use a - number eg -900 to rotate 2.5 times anticlockwise

7. Create the text and position the required letter at the rotation point.

This is the result

The jerkiness is a result of the video conversion in the forum a better version is here

John

cpc000cpc wrote on 11/28/2012, 12:34 AM

I've a different idea:

Working with a text object in MEP 2013 I find that rotation is about the center of the object, not the center of the screen...

...so, by judicious addition of leading or trailing spaces (which can be of a different font size than the text), you can have the center of rotation about anywhere you want. Problem is the (default?) feature that keeps titles within the 'TV safe' area -- fix is to save effects from an image (which doesn't have anti-cropping) and them load that back onto the text.

ADDED (having re-read the original which did say 'image'): What about pasting your image on a blank background so that the desired center of rotation of the image is at the center of the new canvas?

With black box effect you'd only see the aerial photo rotating about the X point.

terrypin wrote on 11/28/2012, 2:04 AM

Hi John,

But isn't that merely rotating around a central point?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

prizm4 wrote on 11/28/2012, 3:35 AM

Hi cpc000cpc,

Yeah you're right, another solution is pasting the image in a blank/transparent canvas and attempting to center it in the right location. That's probably the easier solution until Magix can add anchor points.