Hi Walter,

"I am intrested..."

Here is an illustration::

High res: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/MEP-LineAnimation-1.jpg

Here's the result: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/LineAnimationExample.mp4

The editing to get my horizontal line to the required start and end position, and duration/speed, was not as easy as I would like. But still better than my previous attempts with key framing.

So I would still like to know how to do it more easily with key framing. Can you explain further your suggestion please?

Hi Terry

An objects reference point is the top and left settings, effects such as rotation use this and the width/height to calculate the centre point about which the object rotates.

If the top/left settings change as the object rotates the centre point will move and the object will follow an odd arc rather than rotate.

For travel routes I use a different method - mainly because I am following roads - the timeline is shown below

I create the red route line in PSP as a layer on the map then export just the line as a png with transparent background.

In MEP I use a specifsc shaped mask to reveal the route animating the map, mask, route lines and labels with keyframes - the odd mask shape allows for rotation without blocking already revealed parts of the route.

The result is:

HTH

John EB

Hi all,

I'm down out of the mountains after having no cell/Internet access for most of the 9 days, but still not home, camped high overlooking the St. Lawrence River near La Malbaie. My only comment on this, is that it can be done quickly and easily using the Xara Designer Pro X or P&G interface in MEP.

If anyone wants to see how, let me know and I'll do it early next week once home.

Thanks John (EB). I'll try that soon.

Another method I used ages ago with Paintshop Pro 8 had some similarities. I have a feeling I may have discussed it with you before, buy here's a paste from my notes (2007?).

1. Open map.jpg.
2. Duplicate it with Layer > Duplicate so you now have a layer version of the background map.
3. While in that map layer, draw a line of suitable type and width.
- For example, use the Line tool to draw a straight Vector, typically an arrow.
- Or use the Paint Brush with a suitable setting to draw any shape of line
- A particular case of the latter would be to use a Preset brush shape, such as the silhouette of a plane
4. [For VECTOR line only] R-click on that layer in the layer palette > Merge > Merge Down.
5. Edit > Clear, to delete the arrow. (Or use Eraser with left drag).
6. Start capture program. I used CamStudio 2.0
7. In PSP 8, select Eraser and right drag across at a suitable speed. Line smoothly reappears, making a good basis for video clip.

PSP and MEP make good companions.

--------------------

Hi John (CB),

Be careful. High altitude lack of oxygen AND lack of wifi and 3G sounds a dangerous combination!

an add on what John wrote:

here you can see a mask working (I prefer always a white *.jpg)

and the result:

and a questin to Terry: you want to have something like an arrow on a straight way to the target?

Thanks Walter. Often I do include a symbol, such as a walker / car / bus / train / plane / etc. Or even a small plain circle, which has the advantage of being unchanged whatever the current direction. But sometimes, as in this case, I prefer a simple moving line.

For straight lines like my example, this method of revealing with a mask is good. But for curved and twisty lines it has disadvantages:
- Not easy to get uniform speed
- Care needed with shape and rotation of map
- Impossible in some cases, such as when a track intersects or overlaps

I often use Google Earth to animate my GPX recordings, and the speed of such animations are directly related to actual speeds. Here's an example (which also shows the downside of using a non-symmetrical symbol!):
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/GE-Animation-Streamable.mp4

Sometimes a symbol alone is suitable:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/GE-Example-2.mp4

A directional arrow is usually a better choice!
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/GE-Example-3.mp4

Or an arrow plus an identifying label ('T+J' = Terry & Janet).
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/GE-Example-4.mp4

But I'm still loooking for a really good way to make a smoothly growing line or track of any shape and geometry entirely with MEP

--

Terry, East Grinstead, UK