Universe

LINE

Create an animated straight or curved line between two points, with elements that move along that path. Useful for flight path simulations, drawing paths on maps, and a variety of other motion graphics projects.

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Getting Started        

• Drag the uni.Line effect onto your clip.

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Presets

• Click the Browse Presets button to see a preview of all the presets available. Double-click any preset to apply.
• Presets are available in 2 categories:
  • Color Styles - will affect only the colors of the line, leaving the style choices as is.
  • Line Styles - will affect only the style of the line, leaving the color as is.

Modify the End Points

• Point 1: either type in X and Y values for the position of the element, or use the crosshair to drag it where you want it to be.
• Point 1 Shape: Choose the shape you want to be located at Point 1. The default setting is Circle, but you can choose from 14 different shapes, or set it to None.
• Point 1 Attributes:
  • Point 1 Color: Set the color desired for the point shape.
  • Point 1 Opacity: Set the level of transparency for the point shape.
  • Point 1 Size: Control the size of the point shape.
  • Orient Point 1 to Motion: By default this is checked on so that the point shape rotation will orient to the motion angle of the line. If turned off, the shape rotation will stay static.
  • Point 1 Rotation: The starting rotation of the point shape can be altered with this control. 
  • Point 1 Offset X and Y: Offset the position of the point shape from point 1 itself using the X and Y controls here.
  • Point 1 Text Label:
    
    • Click Edit to modify the label above the point.
    • Point 1 Text Justification determines whether the label is aligned Left, Right, or Center
    • Point 1 Font Size controls how large the font is.
    • Point 1 Font Color choose what color the label's text is.
    • Point 1 Font Opacity adjusts the transparency of the label.
    • Point 1 Tracking control the spacing between letters in the label.
    • Point 1 Text Offset X and Y adjusts the position of the label on the X or Y axis relative to its default point.
• All these controls are then also available to modify Point 2.

Modify the Line and the Animation

• Draw On: This slider sets the amount of the line that has been drawn - from 0% to 100%. Use keyframes to add your own animation of the line drawing on. This value is disregarded if you choose to use the Auto Animate feature below.
• Bezier: Change the type of line that connects the points.
  • Bezier Style: By default, this is set to Auto Curve. Drop-down options include:
    • Linear: straight line between the end points.
    • 3-point Bezier: Adds a control point in the middle between the two end points, giving you 3 points to control the shape of the curve, and turning on the Quadratic Control Point below.
    • 4-point Bezier: Adds 2 points between the two end points, giving you 4 points to control the shape of the curve, and turning on Control Points 1 and 2 below.
    • Auto Curve: adds a curve with controls only at each end point. The height of that curve is controlled by Auto Tweak below.
  • Auto Tweak: turned on for the Auto Curve style, you change this slider to move the Auto Curve drawn between the end points in either direction, with zero being a straight line (no curve).
  • Control Points 1 and 2: turned on for the 4-point Bezier style, either type in X and Y values for the position of the points, or use the crosshair to drag them where you want them to be.
  • Quadratic Control Point: turned on for the 3-point Bezier style, either type in X and Y values for the position of the middle point, or use the crosshair to drag it where you want it to be.
• Primary Line
  • Primary Line Style: choose from Solid, Dashed or None.
  • Primary Shape: Choose the shape you want to be located at the end of the primary line. This shape will animate along with the end of the line, unlike the Points above. The default setting is Basic Triangle, but you can choose from 14 different shapes, or set it to None.
  • Primary Line Style Settings:
    • Primary Line Start and End Color: Select the color desired for the two ends of the line. If two different colors are chosen, a gradient will be created between them.
    • Primary Line Start and End Opacity: Set the level of transparency for the either end of the line.
    • Primary Line Width: Set the width of the line as a whole.
    • Primary Dash Length: If your Line Style is set to Dashed, control the length of the dashes here.
    • Primary Dash Space: If your Line Style is set to Dashed, control the length the space between the dashes here.
  • Primary Shape Settings:
    • Primary Shape Color: Select the color for the shape.
    • Primary Shape Opacity: Set the opacity for the shape.
    • Primary Shape Size: Set the size for the shape.
  • Primary Animation:
    • Orient to Motion Primary: checked on by default, this will orient the Primary Shape rotation to the angle of motion for the primary line. When turned off, the shape's rotation will stay stationary no matter how the motion of the line changes.
    • Primary Line Auto Animate: If turned on, this will automatically animate the draw-on animation of the line.
      • The animation length is determined by the Primary Animation Duration slider below - and is set by default to 5 seconds.
      • If instead you want this auto animation to cover your composite's duration, you can turn on the Use Clip/Comp Duration Primary checkbox below. 
      • If Auto Animate is turned on - the value in the Draw On slider above is disregarded.
    • Primary Reverse Line Direction: If checked, the primary line is reversed between the two end points.
    • Primary Line Animation Style: Choose what style of animation the line should use between Draw On, Blink, or Draw On and Blink.
    • Primary Blink On and Off Frames: If an animation style that includes Blink is chosen, these controls will be enabled. Set the duration in frames for how long the blinks should last when on or off.
• Secondary Line:
  • Secondary Line Style, Shape, Style Settings and Shape Settings work in the same way as the Primary Line controls above.
  • Use Primary Animation Settings: checked on by default, the animation of the secondary line will follow those set for the primary line. Turn this checkbox off to enable the Secondary Animation controls.
  • Secondary Animation: these controls are turned on if you un-parent the secondary animation from the primary by unchecking the Use Primary Animation Settings checkbox above.
    • Orient to Motion Secondary: checked on by default, this will orient the Secondary Shape rotation to the angle of motion for the secondary line. When turned off, the shape's rotation will stay stationary no matter how the motion of the line changes.
    • Secondary Line Auto Animate: If turned on, this will automatically animate the draw-on animation of the line.
      • The animation length is determined by the Secondary Animation Duration slider below - and is set by default to 5 seconds.
      • If instead you want this auto animation to cover your composite's duration, you can turn on the Use Clip/Comp Duration Secondary checkbox below. 
      • If Auto Animate is turned on - the value in the Secondary Draw On Percent slider below is disregarded.
    • Secondary Reverse Line Direction: If checked, the secondary line is reversed between the two end points.
    • Secondary Draw On Percent: This slider sets the amount of the line that has been drawn - from 0% to 100%. Use keyframes to add your own animation of the line drawing on. This value is disregarded if you choose to use the Auto Animate feature above.
    • Secondary Line Animation Style: Choose what style of animation the line should use between Draw On, Blink, or Draw On and Blink.
    • Secondary Blink On and Off Frames: If an animation style that includes Blink is chosen, these controls will be enabled. Set the duration in frames for how long the blinks should last when on or off.
  • Line Offset X and Y: Set an offset in either X or Y direction for the secondary line from the primary.
  • Draw Under Primary: Check this box if you want the Secondary Line to be drawn under the Primary Line.
• Master Position: either type in X and Y values for the position of the Line element as a whole, or use the crosshair to drag it where you want it to be.
• Motion Blur: To create a smoother look to the effect we’ve added Motion Blur controls. This group will allow you to simulate a low shutter speed blur and frame blending commonly seen in Film.
  • To turn on motion blur effect, choose Low, Medium or High from the Motion Blur drop-down. Higher quality blurs may affect render speeds.
  • Motion Blur Shutter: A higher number will give you more motion blur on the footage since the it mimics a longer frame exposure.
  • Motion Blur Phase: Allows you to synchronize or desynchronize the timing of the shutter opening and closing with the frame rate of the footage.
• Quality: Choose whether the Line renders at Normal or High quality. Setting the quality to high may affect render time.
• Blend Mode: Choose from the drop-down to select the blending mode used to composite the Line result over the original image.