Spider Legs

We had a little problem with this scene when we tried to track in 3D and again being pressed for time I suggested perhaps we could try compositing in 2D. So I went ahead and had a go with it to see how it turned out.

I tried to track the scene in After Effects but it was quite difficult because there were no tracking markers in the scene so I had to make do with finding points in the scene that I could track.

I have never tracked in After Effects before so I have learnt a new skill from doing this short piece so even if this sequence isn't used I learnt a lot from doing it and I enjoyed doing it. Its made me want to learn more about After Effects and what it can do.

So all I did in this scene was track it and then from Photoshop import some spider legs I quickly drew into the composition. I parented them to the tracking layer and animated them with puppet points to make them move slightly.

I'm kinda happy with the scene I did. Probably more so that I learnt some new skills more than the outcome of the scene. I did try my best with what little time we had. It wasn't liked by the group much, I tried the best I could with what little time we had and the limited skills I have.

Credits

I decided to make a short title/credit sequence for our video. Its nothing too over the top I just thought it would be good to have one after our last project that didn't have one.

I just made a simple sequence on After Effects for our group, with all our names on it. Whether or not we use them yet is to be determined. But they are there if they are needed.

I was happy with the outcome of the credits, they were simple and easy to make. I made all the images on Photoshop and Illustrator and imported them into After Effects. I went through about 4 different music tracks until I picked one that seemed to suit out theme best. Whether or not it will be chosen by the group yet I don't know. But its there if its needed.

Spider Animation

Here is a quick play blast of the spider animation I did for our project. I'm not entirely happy with it. It was a lot harder than I was expecting I didn't think it would be so hard. But for my first ever attempt at making a spider walk I'm just glad I got all the legs moving.




I'm not completely happy with it. But we were quite pressed for time and I spent a lot long on the animation than I thought I would. The model and the rig were made by Dominique so I had to wait for those before I stared animating. All of us learnt something new on this project so it was good practice. I understand how a spider walks a bit more than previously. But I still hate the little buggers.

I couldn't apply the animation to the tracking as I had trouble opening it with the tracking so, again being pressed for time, I had to animate something because I had never animated a spider. So after animating the spider I gave it to Oly to add to the tracking. We then came across a problem, the spider was ten times bigger than the tracking scene, so after panicking a little Oly managed to solve the problem and managed to finish off the scene.

Incy Wincy Spider

I've been tasked with animating the spider for our project....I hate spiders. I hate the way they walk and I have to watch videos on them walking so I can produce a convincing animation.

I am not enjoying this. Its freaking me out >.<



I looked at some simple animation tests to get an idea as to how a spider actually moved. It looks a lot more complicated that it actually is. After watching loads of videos I noticed that the spider moves its legs in pairs.



I liked this one because it slowed down half way so I could see what was happening. This helped in seeing how a spider walked.



This is of an actual spider. I noticed how it walks a bit then stops. Then walks some more an stops. its quite erratic. Spiders don't walk then keep on walking like a human they walk a bit then stop for a while.



This tutorial was really helpful for me and I learnt a lot from it, it helped to to see which legs moved when. I've never animated more than 2 legs before so this was a bit of a challenge for me.