eScribe Technologies, Pen Animation Effect - Page 4

Create the Motion

This part is fun. Take your pen MC and place it on the timeline where desired on a new layer. Now, for each letter individually (to give a bit more control), create a motion guide for the pen that moves in the same manner that your hand would if writing it. Write it on a piece of paper several times and watch it carefully to see the direction. Make sure the path is as close to the center of the letters as possible. For each letter, create the motion tween and path, and label them. Also, for best results, modify the movie properties and give it a frame rate of at least 30 fps. Mine is set at 40.

Now, to add the realism to the pen, in each of the motion tweens you made, insert keyframes, adjust easing, and the size and angle of the pen to simulate perspective. There is no actual formula, except to watch your hand to the motions. Start out on a higher scale, and use your judgement to move it back relatively. Make sure, that if you add any frames to slow animation time, add to ALL layers or your guides will be off.