How to create a loop effect (timeline)

In this tutorial I'm going to show you how to create a loop effect using Creative MovieFX; this can be done in more than one way. Here we're going to use the timeline-approach – the procedure we recommend for this effect; don't forget to check as well the behavior-approach and also the tutorial „How to create a chain effect”. Using those two effects you'll be able to create very useful and good-looking animations (advertisement banners, for example).

Click here to download the source file and the required files for solving this tutorial.

1. At first make sure that you have the Creative Movie FX extension installed; if you encounter ay problems while installing, read the "How to install an extension" tutorial.

2. Let's create a new file in which we're going to work.

3. You should create a new layer as we're going to place two different clips on each one. If we think about a banner with many clips, we realize that indeed this method is preferable as in the behavior method we would need a table where to write down all the delays placed on the effects. So obtain the next structure of layers.

4. We're going to leave blank keyframes for both layers in the keyframe from initialization issues. In the second frame of „Layer 1” insert a blank keyframe and then place there a symbol with a Creative Movie FX on top of it; convert the ensemble into a movie clip and name it CMFX1. Configure the Creative MovieFX as in the following image; the coordinates of the symbol should be the following: W=170, H=170, X=190, Y=210.

5. Because our first effect takes about 70 frames, we have to give it at least 70 frames on the timeline as well. Select frame number 79 and insert blank keyframes for both layers. Layer 1 should contain the CMFX1 clip and Layer 2 nothing for now. We're going to work on Layer 2 from now on in order to prepare the second effect.

6. More or less, the steps are the same, only the effect applied and the coordinates of the symbol are different. We'll have a differently coloured rectangle this time with a Creative MovieFX instance on top – all placed in a clip called CMFX2. The coordinates will be: W=170, H=170, X=190, Y=20. After you configure the effect as in the next screen-shot, insert a frame in the 150th frame of Layer 2.

7. The preview should show a nice loop effect obtained using the preferred method, as I told you previously.

Thank you for your time and I hope this tutorial was useful to you. I invite you to read the rest of our tutorials and check out our other products on www.extendstudio.com. If you have any questions please contact us at support@extendstudio.com.