Digital Workshop

After my list of niggles, here's a bigger wish.

I produce a lot of multimedia presentations with text animation. They're often one-off, unique presentations for big clients to use to win large tenders, for instance. A Powerpoint won't do.

So I use a lot of text animation to make the bullet points work.

So for instance, Bullet one will come on screen with voice.

Then it will scale to 70% and sit in a side panel while bullet 2 comes on. (At the same time there'll be other images and supporting stuff coming on screen, but I'm just interested in the text for now).

Generally I use timelines to do the scale and move of the text.

So when Bullet two is completed, I want it to scale down and sit neated above, or maybe beside, bullet one.

But this is trial and error... endlesssly changing the move position of the scaled bullet 2 until it lands in the right place.

Now... think of how flash works... here's my text large at position one. Then I scale it and move it to position 2. With a quick Motion tween, flash does the rest, and the text lands exactly where I placed it, first time.

Would it be possible to develop this sort of tweening into Opus?

Hi Linda,
You happy to provide the the publication, and maybe I could look into setting up the "tweening effects" programatically...
eomc40

OK, I've just run this up so you can see the sort of thing I mean.

Take the word "uncertainties". With flash I'd be using a timeline to get the start and end positions right.

Here I'm using scale and move, within the "reduce" timeline, until I finally get it in the right place.

Thanks for looking!

Linda

Hi linda,
A very interesing requirement.
Here's the building block of it all,
Items noted with current "eomc40" sampler is that the target location is determined by the move command hence the children (red,green) are having to wait for parent to first be positioned. This can still be rectified by saving possible target location and have the children ready to reposition at will.
The main issue is of timing (wait function), but if that can be sorted, the run would be smooth.
I thought I best post this since it appears alot more scripting will be required to achieve desired effect but at the end of it, I think one only needs to add the objects (3 for this code, but clever scripting can have arbitrary number or objects, depending on aparent).

Well that's given food for thought, thanks.

I understand the gist of what you've done - very clever.

Though I think I'll have to hire you if I want to take that method further.

I guess I'm after a greater change in the way Opus works... having an overall timeline for a screen (like flash) where I can visually reposition objects at different times.

Of course the trouble is that we all use Opus in wildly different ways, and all believe that it should be developed to suit OUR way more.

(But while I'm being paid thousands to produce highly animated "glorified powerpoints" I'll keep pushing for the changes I want!)

I'd be interested to hear DW's view on the direction in which Opus will next be developed.

Many thanks, Linda