Making a spotlight effect

dxdy wrote on 9/27/2009, 4:01 AM
I am looking for a way to link the motion of two tracks that are not adjacent, for example tracks 2 and 4, but leave track 3 independent.

I have been working on a spotlight effect for an animated band project. I want the spotlighted character to throw a shadow, giving the viewer a sense of the light's placement. The effect should support moving in and out of the spotlight.

This sample shows how far I have gotten (figure made with Stykz, music from Cinescore of course). There is a screen shot of the .veg file at the end of the clip.

http://www.vimeo.com/6777392

Now I want the figure to walk across the stage and the spot to follow. The tip of the spot (the top) has to remain fixed.

The problem I am having is the spotlight is on track 2, the dancer on 3, and the floor highlight on track 4, so I can't make #2 and #4 child tasks and use track motion for both.

If I move the spot track after the dancer, the arm doesn't gray out when it leaves the spotlight. If I move the ellipse track above the dancer track, her legs turn blue. (I know, the floor is cold).

I know I could keyframe the ellipse and the spotlight separately, but I am hoping for a more automated way.

BTW, this has been a super exercise for learning event motion, track motion, and parent motion.

Comments

farss wrote on 9/27/2009, 5:33 AM
" I am hoping for a more automated way. "

I don't think there is a way in Vegas to achieve this. I'd love to be proven wrong of course. The problem I see is that Vegas doesn't have 3D light sources.

Bob.
Tech Diver wrote on 9/27/2009, 6:11 AM
The main problem is that Vegas propagates motion to other tracks only through a parent-child hierarchical relationship (a very limited approach). Compositing tools like Boris Red have more sophisticated ways of doing this. After effects for example, can link the motion of any track to any other track (or mathematical equation) regardless of where it lies in the composit's stack of tracks.

The only suggestion I have is to work out the motion for one track, then duplicate that track to another location.

Peter
Chienworks wrote on 9/27/2009, 7:28 AM
Just my own two copper baubles ... but this seems like a task that would be much better and more easily accomplished in the animation software rather than at the editing stage.