Any idea how this is done?

Question

Hello,
I'm wondering if anyone might have insight on how this effect was created:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0d0GpzSSc8
Any insights would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Tawny

Answer 1

Well I don't think it was done with screen capture but you can easily do something like that  in After Effects or Flash.
But if you use Photoshop you simple make another layer for each size of the tear drop.
I would make two documents one that is large enough to make the background darker gray color so that when it is move will still over the fram of the background image.
You make that document a transparent background rather than white.
Then fill it with black or a dark gray and give it a transparency then make a selection of the teardrop shape and delete it from the fill color.
Then turn that selection into a path and stroke it.
Then make a document the size of the background image with the background image either opened or placed in it.
Then copy and paste the Gray transparent art from the other document and turn on animation in the PS window menu.
Use the time line method,
In the time line expand the dark gray layer and click the clock icon next to position and you will see a diamond shape appear at the first frame of the time line for that layer.
Now move the tear drop to the starting position then the time line frame indicator to the frame where to you want it to reach another position and then move the tear drop to that position, you will see another diamond appear where the frame indicator is, this is a key frame.
You move the frame indicator again and then move the teardrop again.
The white text is done naturally on a layer with white text and no background color and you move it he same way.
When you resize the tear drop you do it by copying the layer resize that copy you place it in the time line under the first teardrop layer but start it where you want it to first appear in the animation
At the same time you end the first presence of the first layer by resizing its duration in the time line. Now the first one disappears and the second size appears you can fade then as well.
Same with the text.
In photoshop it is more difficult than in after effects but you can get similar results. But it is still not too difficult. Animation requires a bit of patience and logical thinking and a there are mistakes to be made.
Here's a little video.
http://mysite.verizon.net/wzphoto/Teardrop.mov