Re: FLASH: Rotating Globe

[Chad Hofheins]

Another thought on how to create the spinning globe--

Adobe Dimensions creates 3D effects with vector files. You can apply

lighting effects etc. Export the individual frames to Illustrator format.

I've used the the technique to make "3D" animated gifs.


>Nathan wrote, 14/2/99

>

>

>>The best way create the spining globle is to create the spinning globe in a

>>3D program and then export as large PICTs. Then all you have to do is a bit

>>of production work and trace the curves with illustrator - making sure that

>>you have a box around the frame for registration and that you only roughly

>>trace the curves. One you have done that you import each traced frame into

>>Flash.

>

>David wrote 15/2/99

>

>

>> I would find that fairly time consuming for a spinning globe effect. A

>> 3D

>> program is really not neccessary.

>> 1st layer: Create a round mask(size of globe)

>> 2nd layer: Create a flat map of continents(whatever) and tween it from

>> left to

>> right of the mask and loop.

>> 3rd layer: create a round gradient to give 3D sphere(lighting effect

>

>Nathan wrote, 16/2/99

>

>

>> Why does and easy solution have to be the best solution . You are

>> unable to make the globe spin around forever. The earth does not spin

>> back and forth. Sometimes you have to put in a little effort in order

>> to create good work.

>>

>> Nathan

>

>Gary Wrote, 17/2/99

>

>

>>hiya Nathan,

>

>>Yup, I totally agree. I personally always try to put in the best effort

>>in all my work. However there are a few "real world" issues to consider

>>when developing for internet.

>>1. How much is in the budget. Concept+complexity = timeline. Does the

>>client's expectations, concepts and budget meet my timeline? This

>>determines how complex a piece of Flash work might be. The concept might

>>require an animation of every planet in our solar system to be animated.

>

>>2. When working on the internet, size is a uge issue. Ive seen great

>>Flash work, but at a rediculas file size.

>>Is the experience worth the wait? Maybe if your a Flash developer and

>>curious to new ideas, you'll wait, but to your Joe Shmo that has no idea

>>what hes waiting on, guess your client wont be getting that many hits.

>

>>The bottom line is, I never said  the easy solution has to be the best

>>solution. I look at 2 things for global network animations,

>>budget=timeline and swf size=bandwidth. Of course I invest my resources

>>for advertising.

>>So my best interest are for the client and their potential customers.

>>The file has to be small

>>and their expectations and concepts have to fit into their budget which

>>runs on my timeline.

>

>>The reason I created that particular FLA, was because someone was

>>questioning how the site with Sean Connery did theirs and Im pretty sure

>>mine was similiar. That particular file is not the only way to achieve a

>>rotating globe in FLash even though

>>I would like to see one smaller in file size. Personally if I see

>>another spinning globe on the internet I think Ill throw up.

>

>>To create, map, set effective lighting, render, import sequence, hand

>>trace frame by frame, and export swf for internet

>>is NOT what i recommend for spinning globe technique. Unless the only

>>thing loading is the spinning globe and the client wants

>>to pay for that process. Also if thats the case and some shmuck wants to

>>wait for a 150k spinning globe, then the developer has probably found a

>>niche for developing for shmucks who search for animated spinning

>>globes.

>

>

>>Anyway, you got anything better?

>

>

>

>Gidday David,

>

>I'm am sorry but I totally disagree with your thoughts on the spinning

>globe. For a start I was the Flash Developer for the Sean Connery site

>http://www.vrlx.net - my name is in the credits section if you don't believe

>me. The spinning globe is used as a button to open up an innovative world

>map, not just some thrown on the page peice of crap that has been done

>before. I originally posted my comments on the globe as I beleive that our

>way was the most professional way of approaching the subject. Now you seem

>to think that:

>

>>To create, map, set effective lighting, render, import sequence, hand

>>trace frame by frame, and export swf for internet

>>is NOT what i recommend for spinning globe technique.Unless the only

>>thing loading is the spinning globe and the client wants

>>to pay for that process. Also if thats the case and some shmuck wants to

>>wait for a 150k spinning globe, then the developer has probably found a

>>niche for developing for shmucks who search for animated spinning

>>globes.

>

>Well our spinning globe is only 14k. - less than 1 tenth of your assummed

>size. Hand tracing in illustrator gives you control of the size of the final

>animation! You don't need a lot of detail in the spinning globe as it is

>constantly moving. So when you are tracing countries you trace roughly. the

>final .ai files will have less points hence low k. We used a Flash mask with

>a flash gradient ball to create effective lighting

>

>I think that your solution is a clever approach to the subject however only

>for flash beginners who want quick dodgey solutions.  Our technique of

>spending 2 hours on roughly tracing exported rendered 3D spinning map images

>is a technique that I posted on the list so flashers can become aware of

>professional approaches to using flash.

>

>I would be happy to email you our 14k spinning globe if you are interested.

>

>Nathan

>

>- -DG-

>

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