-First draw a curvy line in Illustrator using the pen tool keeping in mind that you are looking at the profile of your strip. (File included as “strip.ai” -- download the file from the green bar above.)
Make sure that you set the start of your line at the bottom left. This is important as Invigorator will start to map your object at this position so placing the start there will enable you to have more control on your transparency maps… without having to guess where the mapping started.
- Use a stroke for your strip and outline it.
Before importing your strip into Invigorator you'll need to create your texture map. Make this one as big as you can to keep a good resolution when animating…Or just import the file named “Strip.psd” from the folder you downloaded above.
-Drop this texture map on the comp icon at the bottom of the Project window name your comp Texture_Map and open it.
-Import any image you want, duplicate it as much as necessary and place the resulting images to create the film frames.
-Add an adjustment layer, apply the Offset effect and animate the X-Axis for the “Shift Center To”
-To create a Transparency Map import the Transparency_Map.jpg file into AE and drop it also on the comp icon. (White will be opaque and Black transparent)
-Now import both compositions (Maps) in a regular comp (Main Comp) switch off there visibility icon in your TimeLine, create a new solid and apply Invigorator.
-When the first window pops-up just click on Create a New Scene.
-Assign your maps as Layer Maps in the Scene Preview window.
-Import your strip ai file into Invigorator, go to the Set-Up window. (Click on the red button or Option for that)
-Select your object.
-Set the edge to Basic Flat Sides,
-Switch off the Front and Back Faces of your object.
-Set the Depth to (120) or so.
-Apply the maps to your object, set the Transparency value to something like (20) and click OK.
Settings:
-Set the Invigorator layer to best quality to see your texture (from 
to this /
). You'll notice that the Filmstrip is doubled. You need to get rid of the unnecessary part by doing the following:
-Open your Transparency composition, create a black solid layer at half the width of your comp and place it to start from the right side of your comp and end at the center. In other words, cover half of your comp. The black layer will make half of your object transparent.
-Go back to your main comp and you will see that your Filmstrip now looks perfect.
-Make the film start from zero transparency to full. This is what gives your object that nice flowing effect. All you need to do is to create a new black solid layer in your transparency comp to cover the visible part of the map, draw a rectangular mask then animate the mask to completely reveal your map again after few seconds.
Click the graphic above to view a quicktime demonstrating this.
You may now add a reflection map -- animate and play with the lights as you wish.
If you are adding a reflection map you should consider changing the color of your object to black in the Set-Up window so you don’t overexpose your Filmstrip.
You could also use the Mesh or Bezier Warp effect to distort your object additionally.
Schoene Gruesse.
Serge
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