Motion/Speed Trails

[Chuck Engels]

Hi All,
This is a question from the ElementsVillage forum

We are using PE4 and are wondering if some one out there can help us out.
We are trying to get a "tail" effect on type as though it is flying.
We are able to fly the type through clouds etc. to pass off the screen, even include the sound effects, but as it passes by, we want a tail effect on the type. Not all the way from the beginning, only as it seems to fly off the screen for the last couple of seconds. I have thought of importing from another program eg. Font Twister, but the tail would be on the type from the start.

I had thought that the Echo Effect would do this but I can't seem to get it working on the title.
Any ideas?

[Steve Grisetti]

The Fast Blur effect, when set to Horizontal, creates a motion blur effect.

If you needed to, you could duplicate the title and put the blurred one behind the readable one.

[Chuck Engels]

Thanks Steve, that's kind of close but not quite the right effect.
The Fast Blur set to Horizontal adds a blur to the front and back of the text. To look correct it would need to only add the blur to the left/back side of the text to show motion. Close, but no cigar

[Wheat King]

The Smear transition in Version 4 might work as well. You can set the direction.

[Chuck Engels]

I can't figure out why the Echo Effect is not working on the text

[Wheat King]

I've played with this before as well. Try exporting your keyframed text flying around, reimport it and then apply the echo effect. Probably need to maintain the alpha channel but not certain.

[Chuck Engels]

The Smear transition in Version 4 might work as well. You can set the direction.

Thanks Jamal, I am checking it out now. Do you know how long it takes to render that transition? It takes a long time

[Chuck Engels]

I've played with this before as well. Try exporting your keyframed text flying around, reimport it and then apply the echo effect. Probably need to maintain the alpha channel but not certain.

Ahhhh, that makes sense - giving it a try, thanks a ton Jamal !!

[Chuck Engels]

That got the Echo Effect working Jamal, thanks again.
Still not quite the right effect but getting there. Maybe a combination of the Fast Blur and the Echo Effect

[Wheat King]

The Smear transition in Version 4 might work as well. You can set the direction.

Thanks Jamal, I am checking it out now. Do you know how long it takes to render that transition? It takes a long time

Yeah I just tried it, long render times. 5 second clip took approx 40 seconds to render on my quad core... Wouldn't wanna use that puppy too much.

[Wheat King]

Ghosting effect might work as well but no control over what it does

[Wheat King]

Zoom blur works pretty good for this and you have some additional control as you can keyframe the properties (zoom, blend and center) Center is important for positioning the direction of the blur. If you want a trail to the left simply place the center at the right hand edge of your text. Also lower the blend so that your text will be readable.

[Bill Hunt]

Chuck,

A thought about the Fast Blur and using two copies (one with it and one above without), could you use a 16 pt. Garbage Matte on the Blurred version, to remove the Blur in front and then maybe "taper" the Blur towards the back?

Also, if one were creating the Title in Photoshop, there is a very controlable Motion Blur Filter. Now, if one were going to animate that, they'd want to do several versions of the Title with Blur and maybe use Cross-Dissolve Transitions between the resulting Clips.

Just thinking here.

Hunt

[Chuck Engels]

Excellent ideas gentlemen, and all worth trying, thank you