Stretching an image using bones

[georox]

Hi All,
I need to stretch an image which is initially a quadrilateral into a final shape of a perfect square. I've been able to do this by previously creating a series of images with Photoshop (from the first original quadrilateral to the final square), then simply visualizing each of them in Anime Studio Pro 8 at the right sequence times. However, with this method the animation is obviously not smooth because you see the images changing.
So I tried to achieve this result (smoothly deforming the image) using bones, but I could not do it.
Any idea or suggestion is greatly appreciated.

[Víctor Paredes]

Uhm... first, this has to be a image? can be a vector (or a textured vector)?
If it has to be an image, is there any chance to see it, I have an idea about rotating and scaling bones, but I'm not sure it would work.

[hayasidist]

does it have to be bones? would scale layer using different x,y factors work? also - you might find it easier to have the "frame 0" state as a perfect square, then on frame 1 distort to rectangle (e.g. x scale = 1, y scale = .5) then on (say) frame 20 use reset scale.

[georox]

Thank you selgin and hayasidist for your help.
Here below are the image (map) that I need to stretch in a reverse direction, from a deformed image to a rectified one. This is the initial image containing a warped map square (the ocra colored lines):



I need to modify it so that it becomes a perfect square as this final image:



Thanks in advance.

[slowtiger]

1. A task like this should be done in reverse: start with the final perfect shape, then go to another frame and do the distortion. Much easier. If necessary, move and copy keyframes to get the correct movement.
2. This looks like an easy task using AS' 3D abilities. Use the tilt and roll controls of the image layer. Make sure to "allow 3D camera" in preferences.
3. For more extreme distortions often it's enough to just deform an outer mask, and simply scale the content - especially in a fast transformation.
4. Use bones only if method 2 and 3 fail, or when the job asks for a rolled image, a spherical surface, or anything complex that way.

[hayasidist]

same principle as I suggested, but use the layer rotate (x,y), rotate z, perhaps shear (y) and probably layer translate to align the distorted image where you want.

IOW:
frame 0: import map_orig
frame 1: distort as above using the layer tools to get as close as you need to the target distortion
frame xx: reset the rotation, translation and shear.

You can put in as many intermediate keys as you want to change the precise animation of "return to orthogonal".

(The principle is essentially that the distorted image is how it would be seen by a camera that is not properly square on; or by an image that is not sqaure to the camera. Two ways therefore to get the same distortion in AS: move the camera or move the layer! Sounds as though you'll have other stuff in shot, so this is a layer manipulation...)

[edit: cross post with SlowTiger... sorry ST -- but we're saying the same thing...]

[georox]

Using pan/tilt camera works greatly, thanks a lot.