Ulead COOL 3D 3.0 User Manual

[title]

Europe

Wolfenbütteler Str. 33 38102 Braunschweig, Germany Tel: +49-531-220-7920 Fax: +49-531-220-7999 http://www.ulead.de

Japan

No. 202, TE Building, 4-5-16, Yohga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-0097, Japan Tel: +81-3-5491-5661 Fax: +81-3-5491-5663 http://www.ulead.co.jp

form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or storing in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form without the express written permission of Ulead Systems, Inc.

Software License

The software described in this document is furnished under a License Agreement which is included with the product. This Agreement specifies the permitted and prohibited uses of the product.

Licenses and Trademarks

Ulead, Ulead Systems logo, EasyPalette and Ulead COOL 3D are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of Ulead Systems, Inc. Intel, Pentium and MMX are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of Intel Corporation. Microsoft, Windows, DirectX, DirectX Media, and/or other Microsoft products referenced herein are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. QuickTime and the QuickTime logo are trademarks used under license. QuickTime is registered in the U.S. and other countries. Adobe, the Adobe logo, and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. RealText and RealPlayer are either registered trademarks or trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. The RealPlayer is included under license from RealNetworks, Inc. © 1995-2000. RealNetworks, Inc. All rights reserved. All other product names and any registered and unregistered trademarks mentioned are used for identification purposes only and remain the exclusive property of their respective owners.

Sample Files

Files provided as samples on the program CD-ROM can be used for personal demonstrations, productions, and presentations. No rights are granted for commercial reproduction or redistribution of any sample files.

Ulead Systems, Inc.

North & South America

970 West 190

St., Suite 520 Torrance, CA 90502 U.S.A Tel: +1-310-523-9393 Fax: +1-310-523-9399 http://www.ulead.com http://www.webutilities.com

International

10F, No. 45, Tung Hsing Rd. Taipei, Taiwan 110 Tel: +886-2-2764-8599 Fax: +886-2-2764-9599 http://www.ulead.com http://www.asiapac.ulead.com

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Contents

Welcome to Ulead COOL 3D 3.0 ........................................................ 5

Whats new ...............................................................................................................................5

Getting help .............................................................................................................................. 6

Installation ................................................................................................................................7

Running Ulead COOL 3D ........................................................................................................ 7

Getting updates and free downloads ..................................................................................... 7

Workspace .................................................................................. 8

Getting started ............................................................................ 11

Using the EasyPalette ........................................................................................................... 11

Using Studio presets ...................................................................................................................... 11

Dimensions and display quality ............................................................................................ 13

Adding and editing text .......................................................................................................... 14

Selecting and grouping objects ............................................................................................ 15

Using the Object Manager ............................................................................................................. 16

Moving, sizing, and rotating an object ................................................................................. 17

Move ................................................................................................................................................ 17

Rotate .............................................................................................................................................. 18

Size .................................................................................................................................................. 19

Editing object style................................................................................................................. 20

Color ................................................................................................................................................ 20

Light ................................................................................................................................................. 20

Texture ............................................................................................................................................. 22

Modifying individual faces of an object ........................................................................................ 23

Basic bevel styles .................................................................................................................. 23

Adding a background ............................................................................................................. 25

Adding and editing 3D graphics and shapes ....................................................................... 25

Making basic 3D objects ................................................................................................................ 27

Animation basics .........................................................................28

Working with key frames and timelines................................................................................ 29

Creating a simple animation ................................................................................................. 31

Animating light and color....................................................................................................... 33

Animating with multiple timelines ......................................................................................... 34

Animating with multiple objects ............................................................................................ 35

Plug-in effects ............................................................................37

Key frames and plug-ins ....................................................................................................... 37

Understanding Global and Key attributes ............................................................................ 37

Bevel Effects .......................................................................................................................... 38

Board ............................................................................................................................................... 38

Custom Bevel ................................................................................................................................. 38

Hollow .............................................................................................................................................. 40

Frame .............................................................................................................................................. 41

Imprint.............................................................................................................................................. 42

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

Object Effects ......................................................................................................................... 43

Bend ................................................................................................................................................ 43

Dance .............................................................................................................................................. 44

Distort .............................................................................................................................................. 45

Explosion ......................................................................................................................................... 46

Motion Path ..................................................................................................................................... 46

Path Animation ............................................................................................................................... 48

Surface Animation .......................................................................................................................... 49

Token Move (G) .............................................................................................................................. 50

Token Rotate (G) ............................................................................................................................ 51

Token Skew (G) .............................................................................................................................. 52

Token Size (G) ................................................................................................................................53

Twist................................................................................................................................................. 54

Transition Effects ................................................................................................................... 55

Blast ................................................................................................................................................. 55

Bump ............................................................................................................................................... 56

Jump ................................................................................................................................................ 57

Global Effects ......................................................................................................................... 58

Fire................................................................................................................................................... 58

Glow................................................................................................................................................. 59

Motion Blur ...................................................................................................................................... 61

Shadow............................................................................................................................................ 61

Path Editor ................................................................................. 62

The basics of vector graphics ............................................................................................... 62

Using the Shape tool ............................................................................................................. 63

Using the Object tool .............................................................................................................64

Using the Path tool ................................................................................................................ 65

Using the Freehand tool ........................................................................................................ 66

Adjusting paths....................................................................................................................... 67

Viewing paths and images .................................................................................................... 68

Tracing and converting raster images.................................................................................. 69

Outputting your project .................................................................. 71

Saving your project ................................................................................................................ 71

Creating image files ............................................................................................................... 71

Creating video files ................................................................................................................ 72

Creating animations for the Web .......................................................................................... 73

GIF animation ................................................................................................................................. 73

RealText 3D .................................................................................................................................... 74

Appendices ................................................................................ 75

Shortcuts................................................................................................................................. 75

Main Program ................................................................................................................................. 75

Path Editor ...................................................................................................................................... 76

Index .......................................................................................................................................77

Welcome to Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

Unparalleled 3D titling capabilities puts Ulead COOL 3D at the vanguard of its kind. With this latest version, new tools, plug-ins, and other enhancements let you delve further into the unlimited depths of your creativity to produce still and animated 3D titles and other fun projects that you can use to liven up W eb pages, videos, and presentations. Experiment and take advantage of all the power that Ulead COOL 3D has to offer, and discover why it remains the industry leader in 3D titling software.

Whats new

Ulead COOL 3D brings you a wide range of new features that give you increased flexibility when creating and outputting your 3D projects. New plug-in effects add extra spice to your animation, and new tools let you do just what you’ve always wanted to do - create graphic objects and simple geometric 3D shapes that you can use in your projects.

• Path Editor With this new tool, you can create customized graphic

shapes that you’ve always wanted to use in Ulead COOL 3D projects, without having to use external vector graphics software. This feature offers you a multitude of tools for creating and editing shapes, and tracing images. It even lets you convert simple raster graphics to vector graphics.

• 3D Geometric Shapes The Geometric T oolbar makes it easy to

insert and edit simple three-dimensional geometric objects into your projects. Y ou can put spheres, cones, cylinders, cubes, and pyramids into the picture, all of which you can customize.

• New plug-ins This new version expands your creative potential with

whole new plug-ins. T ransition plug-ins make one string of text move to another in amusing and unexpected ways, and a new Bevel plug-in lets you apply special bevel shapes to your objects for eye-catching results. The Distort effect stretches your title to new perspective, while the Motion Path plug-in lets your text string move in unusual ways along specially designed paths.

• Enhanced GIF animation output Y ou now have additional options

when outputting your project as an animated GIF . Among others, you can create a global palette, remove redundant pixels, and loop the animation.

• Object Manager This convenient tool lets you easily determine how

the various objects in your project are grouped together, giving you more control when editing.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

• VIO support More options are available to you when creating

videos. Among other things, you can preview the final video file, make advanced video settings, and output your project to the QuickTime file format.

• New file formats supported Ulead COOL 3D lets you take advan-

tage of the latest in 3D technology - with this version, you can output your project to the RealT ext 3D format for convenient use on the Web, and you can also import complex 3D images in the DirectX file format (*.X).

• Key frame control improvement Create animations with even

greater control by taking advantage of modifications in key frame controls. These let you manipulate the first and last key frames (for plug-in effects) and show/hide your 3D objects as well.

• Enhanced preview performance W ith the new playback cache, you

can now preview your 3D animations with greater speed.

• Click the Help button, then move the cursor to the object in ques-

tion, and click again to find out more on that feature.

• Go to the Help: Help Topics menu command to get more detailed

information on a certain subject.

• If you are a registered user, you are entitled to Ulead technical

support. This can be accessed through the Help: Ulead Technical

Support menu command, or go to our W eb site by clicking the Ulead Homepage button on the Standard Toolbar. Other helpful

information is available through the newsgroup at comp.graphics.apps.ulead.

Getting help

The best way to familiarize yourself with Ulead COOL 3D is to experiment with all of the options provided. T o help you get started, this manual offers basic tutorials as well as a glimpse into advanced techniques. If you should get stuck at any time, you can use one of the following methods for more assistance:

User Guide

To install Ulead COOL 3D:

1 Place the Ulead COOL 3D CD into the

CD-ROM drive.

2 When the Setup screen appears, follow

the instructions to install Ulead COOL 3D onto your computer.

Note: If the Setup screen doesn’t appear after loading the CD, then you can manually start it by doubleclicking the My Computer icon on your desktop, then double-clicking the icon for the CD-ROM drive. When the CD-ROM window opens, double-click the Setup icon.

Installation

It’s easy to install Ulead COOL 3D. In the installation process, the Installation Wizard will guide you through the steps and the options.

Running Ulead COOL 3D

There are two ways that you can run the program:

• Double-click the Ulead COOL 3D icon on your Windows desktop, or click the icon on the Quick Launch toolbar.

• Select the Ulead COOL 3D icon from the Ulead COOL 3D program group on the Windows Start menu.

Getting updates and free downloads

Keep apace with the latest in Ulead COOL 3D news, updates, and free downloads - the program automatically detects and notifies you of any new events in the Ulead COOL 3D homepage. Y ou can also:

• Click the Free Downloads button located on the Standard Toolbar to

check for updates at your leisure.

• Click the Ulead Homepage button to read about other Ulead news and

products.

Workspace

The intuitive design of Ulead COOL 3D makes it easy to use the program. In this version, there are more toolbars and buttons that allow you to really take advantage of all the program’s increased capabilities and new features. The following section should help you quickly familiarize yourself with all of the main functions.

Geometric Toolbar

Standard Toolbar

Text Toolbar

Animation Toolbar

Object Manager

Location Toolbar

Edit Window

EasyPaletteEasyPalette

file directory

Attribute Toolbar

Object Toolbar

Menu Bar

Status Bar

User Guide

• Standard Toolbar Contains all of

the most commonly used functions and commands. In addition to the typical file commands, it also has object and bevel face selection buttons, as well as the three basic movement controls: Rotate, Move, and Size.

• Animation Toolbar Displays all

the controls you need to manipulate an animated project, including extensive key frame and timeline controls, animation looping modes, frame numbers, and frame rate. See page 28.

• Location Toolbar Shows the

position, size, rotation, light, and texture coordinates of the selected 3D object. Allows you to enter values yourself, or displays the changing values of the object as you drag it in the Edit Window.

• Geometric Toolbar Activated

when you insert a basic 3D geometric shape. Lets you customize its dimensions and select individual faces to edit. See page 27.

• Object Toolbar Allows you to

place and edit text, graphics, and basic 3D shapes in your project. This is where you really begin your project.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

• Text Toolbar Allows you to adjust

the alignment of the text within a text object, as well as the spacing between lines and characters.

• Edit Window Lets you preview the

3D project as you work. You can also drag objects directly within the the window to customize basic aspects, such as position, rotation, and size, among others.

• EasyPalette Contains a file

directory of all the aspects that you can apply to your 3D object, including plug-in effects. Click on any item within each category to access dozens of preset effects in the thumbnail pane. These can be quickly and easily applied to your project. See page 11.

• Attribute Toolbar Lets you

customize many aspects of your projects, including plug-in effects. Once you understand the available options, you have the potential to create projects like a pro!

• Object Manager A floating panel

that lets you group, rename, and delete objects for improved editing control. See page 16.

Getting started

Starting a project in Ulead COOL 3D is simple. The following section takes you through the steps of beginning a first project.

Using Studio presets

Studio is the first category of presets that appears in the EasyPalette file directory . By using its collection of presets, you can easily complete a project with special animated effects, shapes, and backgrounds in no time. The following section briefly describes its preset categories and how to customize them to your needs.

• Drag and drop the preset into the Edit Window.

• Double-click the preset.

• Right-click a preset, and select Apply from the menu that appears.

Using the EasyPalette

The EasyPalette provides you with the fastest way to create astounding titles and graphics with Ulead COOL 3D. With its vast number of presets, this is where you can add color and life to your project with just a few clicks.

The EasyPalette file directory lists all of the effects that you can apply to your project. When you click on a category or a specific plug-in name, the thumbnail presets for that particular item appear in the thumbnail pane. T o apply a preset, use one of these methods:

EasyPalette file directory EasyPalette thumbnail pane

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

To create a finished title in a few minutes:

1 Drag a Composition preset to the

workspace, or double-click it. The entire composition appears in the Edit Window.

2 On the Standard Toolbar, select a text

that you want to change from the Object List.

3 On the Object Toolbar, click the Edit

Text button. The Ulead COOL 3D Text dialog box appears, displaying the text object that you selected.

4 Change the text as desired, then click

OK. The new text appears in the project, replacing the original text.

5 On the Animation Toolbar, click Play to

preview the animated project.

• Compositions Completed animated

projects that you can apply to blank projects, including special effects. See the next section for a tutorial.

• Backgrounds A collection of patterned,

photographic, and solid color backgrounds.

• Shapes A group of three-dimensional

objects inspired by objects familiar to us in daily life.

• Objects A variety of graphic objects that

you can insert into your project. Some include texture attributes and animation effects.

• Motion Animation presets designed

using the basic Position, Orientation, and Size controls.

• Camera Effects that simulate the

motion of a camera and its specific lens type to zoom in and out of the entire project.

User Guide

Dimensions and display quality

When you set up a 3D project, the dimensions and quality of your project depend on how you plan to use it. You might want to use it as part of a video, include it as a GIF animation on your Web site, or save it as a still 3D image. Regardless of your plans, try using smaller dimensions and lower display quality while editing. This allows your computer to render the project at a faster rate when you are experimenting with different effects and settings. Then, when you have exactly what you want, increase the dimensions of the project. Some commands accessible on the Image menu are listed below:

• Dimensions Click this command to

access the Dimensions dialog box. The User defined option lets you customize the dimensions. If you have inserted your own image as the background, click the Use Background Image Size button to have the dimensions of the project match the background. If you plan to output your project for the video or the Web, the Standard list has a range of commonly used dimensions.

• Use HAL Rendering Select this to have

your computer directly access the DirectX 6.1 Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) to render your project. Selecting this option enables better performance with your animations. (Available only if your display card supports this. Check your display card’s specifications).

• Display Quality Choose from several

display qualities, ranging from Draft to Optimal. However, while you are editing your project, use a lower display quality to shorten rendering time. This is particularly recommended for largersized projects or projects that use multiple plug-in effects.

• Output Quality Similar to Display

Quality, this menu lets you select the quality of your project when you convert it to its final format as a still image or an animation sequence.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

To insert a text object:

1 On the Object Toolbar, click the Insert

Text button. The Ulead COOL 3D Text

dialog box appears.

2 Select a font from the list. When

searching for a font, a ToolTip appears to give you a preview of the font currently highlighted. After selecting your font, set the size and style of your text, and then enter the actual text in the text box.

3 Click OK. The text appears in the Edit

Window of the main program.

4 If you want to insert another text object,

click the Insert Text button again. To edit the existing text, see the following tutorial.

Note: Create a text string of multiple lines by creating a line break in a string of text. In the Ulead COOL 3D T ext dialog box, simply press Enter where you want a line break to occur.

Adding and editing text

When you create your project, the first step is to insert an object. T o add and edit a text object, follow the next tutorials. (For information on adding and editing graphic objects, see page 25.)

• Object Quality Specify how smooth the

3D shapes and forms are. The higher the precision, the slower the rendering time, so wait until you’re finalizing your project before setting this.

• Cache View Select this option and play

your animation once to store the frames of your animation in a cache. This allows the animation to be played at approximately the specified frame rate the next time you preview the project.

Lower object precision (left) and higher object precision (right)

User Guide

Selecting and grouping objects

Ulead COOL 3D allows you to insert more than one object into your project, whether it be text or graphics. After you have created the individual objects, you can edit and animate each one individually just by first clicking on it in the Edit Window to select it. Or you can use the Object List on the Standard T oolbar to select the object that you want to edit. An even more convenient way to keep track of objects is to use the Object Manager (see the following section).

To edit a text object:

1 Click the Edit Text button.The Ulead

COOL 3D Text dialog box appears with the selected text object.

2 Edit the text in the text box, then click

OK once you’ve made your changes. The edited text appears in the Edit Window.

You can also adjust the character spacing as well as the line spacing and alignment with functions on the Text Toolbar.

Note: If you have added more than one text object, be sure to first select the one you want to edit from the Object List on the Standard T oolbar , or select it from the Object Manager (see page 16.)

A text object and a graphic objectMultiple text objects

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

Using the Object Manager

The more objects you create, the more of a challenge it can be to keep track of them. The Object Manager makes it easier for you to organize and edit your objects. Here are some of the basic functions:

• Select objects Each time you create a

text or graphic object, it appears as an individual item in the directory. Click on that item in the Object Manager to select it. This allows you to edit only that object.

• Rename objects Do this by selecting the

object in Object Manager, and then clicking it again to edit the name. This is convenient when you want to do the following:

¡ Change the name of an object to be more

specific. Otherwise, it will receive a generic name by default.

¡ Differentiate between two or more of the

same text or graphic objects in a project. Otherwise, they will receive the same name by default.

• Group multiple objects To edit several

objects together as a group, select the desired items by clicking them with the mouse while holding either the Shift key (for a row of items) or the Ctrl key (for individual items), then click the Group Objects button. The selected items then form a Subgroup. To see which objects are in the Subgroup, click the + symbol.

• Divide a group of objects To have a

group of objects form separate objects again, select that Subgroup from the list, and then click the Ungroup Objects button.

• Delete selected objects or groups

Simply select the desired object or group of objects, and click the Delete Object(s) button.

User Guide

The basic object controls (left) and the Location Toolbar (right)

Two-dimensional space (left) and three-dimensional space (right)

Moving, sizing, and rotating an object

Ulead COOL 3D makes it easy to manipulate and animate 3D objects in three-dimensional space. For basic motions that combine changes in position, rotation and size, use any of the Motion presets located in the Studio category of the EasyPalette. Eventually, you will probably want to customize objects using your own settings using the Move Object, Rotate Object, and Size Object buttons on the Standard Toolbar. You can use these to make an animation, or simply to enhance your title in a still composition.

T o begin adjusting your object, first click one of these basic positioning controls, then either drag the object directly in the Edit Window, or get more precise results by entering coordinate values in the Location Toolbar.

The variables in the Location T oolbar all involve values for X, Y, and Z, which are the three axes in three-dimensional space. The X and Y axes refer to the position of the object as it moves horizontally and vertically , while the Z axis refers to the object as it moves towards you and away from you.

Move

Insert a text or graphic object, then click the Move Object button. Notice that it is inserted by default where the X, Y, and Z axes intersect. The values of X, Y, and Z at this intersection are 0, which you can also see on the Location T oolbar. Try some of the following steps to orient yourself:

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

Rotate

Insert an object, then click the Rotate Object button. The default rotation value is 0 for X, Y, and Z. In this state, the object stands upright facing you. When you rotate an object, you rotate it around one of the three axes. The values in the Location T oolbar represent the angles of rotation. For example, a value of 360° equals one complete rotation, while a value of 180° is half of a complete rotation. A value of 720° is equal to two complete rotations. This concept becomes important when you start animating objects.

• Drag the object upwards in the Edit

Window, and notice that the value for Y increases. Drag the object downwards, and the Y value decreases.

• Drag the object left and right to see how

the X values change on the Location Toolbar. As the object moves towards the left, the value for X decreases. When it moves to the right, the value increases.

• Drag the object along the Z axis by

holding the right mouse button while dragging. This makes the object come towards you or move away from you. If you have not already rotated the object, then it will simply appear larger as you move it toward you or smaller as you push it away. (To rotate the object for a better view, see the following section.)

• Hold the Shift key down while dragging

the object along any one of the three axes. Notice that the object will move only along the axis that you drag it along.

• For more exact control over the position

of the object, enter values directly in the Location Toolbar.

User Guide

Size

Insert a text object, then click the Size Object button. The default size value for X, Y, and Z is 100. A larger X value increases the width of the object, while a larger Y value increases the height. Z values affect the thickness of the object. Again, you can enter values in the Location T oolbar , or you can either drag on the object itself in the Edit Window.

• Drag to the left and right with the

mouse, and the object rotates accordingly. Notice how values become negative when you drag to the left and positive when you drag to the right.

• Drag up and down with the mouse, and

the object rotates backwards away from you and towards you.

• Hold the right mouse button down, then

drag up and down in the Edit Window. The object spins counterclockwise and clockwise.

Note: The axes around which objects rotate are determined by the center point of the object. For text objects, this often depends on the font used, and if the character is lower or upper case.

• Drag upwards in the Edit Window to

decrease height and downwards to increase it.

• Drag the cursor left to decrease width

and right to increase it.

• Hold the right mouse button down, then

drag towards the left or right to adjust the thickness of the object. (To see this effect best, rotate the object slightly.)

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

To apply color to an object:

1 In the EasyPalette file directory, select

the Object Style: Light & Color category.

2 On the Attribute Toolbar, select Surface

from the Adjust list, then click on the Color square to the right of it. A standard Windows Color dialog box appears. Select a color.

3 To the right of the Color square, adjust

the Brightness, Saturation, and Hue of the color until you have the effect that you want.

Color

It’s easy to apply color to your object. You can use one of the presets that include both light and color settings, or customize the color yourself.

Editing object style

There are many ways to customize the physical appearance of your object in Ulead COOL 3D. The controls are accessed in the EasyPalette file directory , under the Object Style category . The easiest way to style an object is to use one of the presets in Object Style: Gallery, all of which combine many attributes. Or you can control each attribute individually with extensive options on the Attribute T oolbar . This section shows you how to customize color, light, texture, and bevel attributes.

Light

With Ulead COOL 3D, you can adjust dif ferent types of light that affect the look of your object. Here is a brief description of the types of light that you can control:

• Specular Commonly known as the highlights that are reflected from an

object when a light source shines on it. By adjusting the specular light of an object, you basically determine the quality of the object’s surface.

• Light The light source itself. You can have up to four light sources and

set them to be directional or diffuse. (See the following page for a tutorial.)

• Ambient The general light that surrounds the object. The light source

for ambient light comes from several sources in addition to the light itself, for example, the light reflected from other objects.

User Guide

To apply Light to an object:

1 In the EasyPalette file directory, select

the Object Style: Light & Color category.

2 On the Attribute Toolbar, select Light

from the Adjust list. The attributes for Light appear.

3 Click a Light Source button to activate

it. Then click the radio button above it to edit its properties.

4 Click the Color square to open the Color

dialog box and change the color of the currently selected light.

5 Select a Mode for the light:

Directional

Shines a direct beam of light

with a constant strength on the object. The light source position is based on the angle of rotation around the X and Y axes.

Point

Shines diffused light with variable strength on the object. The further the light is from the text, the weaker the light appears. The light source position is based on its position along the X, Y, and Zaxes.

6 Click the Position Light Source button

to adjust the direction from which the light shines. Then drag your mouse in the Edit Window until you have reached the desired effect, or specify values on the Location Toolbar.

7 Repeat steps 3 through 6 for any

additional light sources that you want to use.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

Texture

By applying a texture map to your 3D object, you can give it the appearance of being made from a specific material, such as wood or metal, or you can apply a pattern or design to it. A texture map is a bitmap image that is wrapped around the surface of a 3D object. Apply a preset, or use your own bitmap image and apply that to the surface.

To apply an image texture to an object:

1 In the EasyPalette file directory, select

the Object Style: Texture category. The Attribute Toolbar changes to display Texture options.

2 On the Attribute Toolbar, click the Load

Texture Image File button. In the dialog box that appears, browse for an image file that you want to use for your texture (*.BMP or *.JPG), then click Open. The image is applied to the object.

3 Select a Wrap Mode for your texture.

This determines how the image is applied to the object. For instance, if you have an object with a cylindrical shape, you might want to choose Cylindrical. For shiny or metallic textures, using Reflection often produces best results.

4 Use the Mapping tools to place the

image exactly where you want on the 3D object. Position, Rotate, and Resize the image by clicking the desired button, then drag the mouse in the Edit Window until the image is the way you want it, or enter values on the Location Toolbar.

5 Click the Clear Tint option if you want

to remove any color that was already applied to the 3D object, leaving you with just the color in the texture map itself.

User Guide

Basic bevel styles

A bevel refers to the edge of a 3D object. By adjusting its characteristics on the Attribute T oolbar , a bevel can be part of what makes objects really interesting. Once you become familiar with bevel attributes, you can even animate them. This section gives you a glimpse into the anatomy of a bevel as well as basic bevel styles.

Modifying individual faces of an object

The great thing about applying texture and color in Ulead COOL 3D is that you can apply them to individual faces of your object. Click a Bevel Face button on the Standard T oolbar to select the side of the object to edit. Then, drag a color or texture from the presets to the Edit Window. Try applying different colors and textures to the different bevel faces of an object. The illustration below shows you this effect when applied to an object with a Flat bevel style (see the following section for more on bevel styles).

An object with no bevel (left) and the same object with a flat bevel (right)

Front Face

Front Bevel

Side Face

Back Face

Back Bevel

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

W eight

Depth

Border

Extrusion

Precision Determines the fineness of the bevel. A

higher value creates a more precise bevel. This is useful if you have a rounded bevel and want smoother curves.

Round-RoundChiseled-ChiseledChiseled-Round

Round-ChiseledChiseledRound

User Guide

Adding a background

Once you’ve inserted and styled an object, you’re ready to add a background to your project. You can use a preset in the EasyPalette, or use your own image. For solid color backgrounds, simply adjust the controls for Color, Brightness, Saturation, and Hue located on the Attribute T oolbar for the Studio: Backgr ound category of the EasyPalette file directory .

To insert an image into the background:

1 On the Attribute Toolbar, click the Load

Background Image File button.

2 Select an image file (*.JPG or *.BMP)

in the dialog box that appears, and click Open.

3 If you want, you can adjust the dimen-

sions of your project to match the size of the image that you are using. To do this, use the Image: Dimensions menu command, click the Use Background Image Size button in the dialog box that pops up, and click OK.

Adding and editing 3D graphics and shapes

Everyone wants to use customized graphics in Ulead COOL 3D to create outstanding 3D logos and images. With this latest version, importing and editing graphic objects has become that much easier. There are four ways to do this:

• Insert vector graphics with Path Editor A vector graphic is different

from the bitmap graphics that are most widely known (for example, those in BMP, JPEG, GIF formats). Vector graphics are composed of paths and often stored in EMF and WMF formats. The easiest way to create these graphics is to use Path Editor, accessed by clicking the Insert Graphics button on the Object Toolbar (see page 62 for details). You can also convert elements

Bitmap of a logo (top), and the same logo converted to 3D with Path Editor (bottom).

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

of a bitmap image to become vector graphics, as well as import pre-existing vector graphics into Path Editor to use in your project.

• Create simple 3D geometric objects

Insert spheres, cubes, cones, cylinders, and pyramids by using the Geometry Toolbar (see the following section). This is convenient for making still or animated props for other 3D text and graphic objects in your project.

• Import 3D objects in the DirectX file format (*.X). These are special files that contain complex 3D shapes and textures. Included with the program are a number of these samples that can be used in your project. If you are already using this format in other 3D modeling software, you can create your own shapes to use in a Ulead COOL 3D project. Import these files by using the File: Import X Model menu command. In the dialog box that appears, you can import them as C3D data type (without color, lighting, or texture attributes) and then customize its attributes yourself. Or you can import them as D3D data type (with its inherent color, lighting, and texture attributes intact).

• Insert symbol-type fonts (such as Wingdings). Then, you can either use them as they are, or adjust the shape by clicking the Edit Graphic button on the Object Toolbar and working with Path Editor (see page 62.). You can also change the shape of text with the Edit Graphic button. However, once you edit it, the text will be converted to graphics, meaning that you will no longer be able to change the text content itself.

Examples of symbol-type fonts.

3D geometric objects

Objects in the X file format, as C3D data type (top), and as D3D data type (bottom)

User Guide

Making basic 3D objects

Ulead COOL 3D lets you insert 3D geometric objects into your project with just a click of the mouse. The fun part is when you use them with text and graphics to create unique 3D animations and stills. You can use several 3D shapes together to create an alien object, or just a few as props for an animated title. In this tutorial, learn how to edit a cylinder .

To insert and edit a geometric shape:

1 On the Object Toolbar, click the Insert

Geometric Object button.

If the current icon doesn’t display the desired shape, click on the bottom right corner to view a menu with other shapes on it. Select the shape you want, then click the button to insert it. The object appears in the Edit Window.

2 On the Geometric Toolbar, enter values

to adjust the dimensions of the object. Then, select the desired Face buttons to edit Color and Texture attributes individually or as a group.

3 You can now apply plug-ins to it, or use

the basic animation buttons on the Standard Toolbar to create an animated sequence.

Note: Bevel attributes and plug-ins cannot be applied to geometric shapes.

Other things you can do with geometric objects

Animation basics

After familiarizing yourself with three-dimensional space, you’re ready to start making fun animations. While there are many factors you have to take into consideration when creating an animated project, it’s definitely worth taking time to learn some basic ideas. From there, it will be easy for you to learn to create stunning and complex animation sequences. The Animation T oolbar is what you will work with the most when you start animating your objects. Brief descriptions of its functions are listed below .

• Properties Menu Lists all of the basic properties of the 3D object. If you

have applied a plug-in effect to the object, this will be listed as well. The Timeline Control, just to the right of it, shows the timeline and key frames that are related to only the property that you have selected from the list.

• Timeline Control Allows you to choreograph your animation with key

frames. The top line represents the frame-by-frame position, while the bottom line displays any key frames. Key frames are those frames in which you specify an attribute or behavior of an object. For plug-in effect timelines, an additional Control Line (in red) appears between these two lines (see page 37 for details).

• Add/Delete Key Frame Lets you add or remove a key frame from the

Timeline Control. Each time you add a key frame, you can change the attributes or behavior of an object. When you remove a key frame, all attributes associated with that key frame are also removed.

• Reverse Allows you to reverse the sequence of key frames on the

Timeline Control, so that the animation starts with the last frame and ends with the first.

• Smooth Motion Path Plays the animation smoothly, where the transition

from one frame to the next becomes less noticeable.

• Current Frame Denotes the frame number that is currently displayed.

Smooth Motion Path

Current Frame

Properties Menu Timeline Control

Add/Delete Key Frame Reverse

Ping Mode

Loop Mode

Play

Stop

Show/Hide

Number of frames

Frames per second

ULEAD COOL 3D 3.0

Working with key frames and timelines

When you start to create an animation, you begin with a timeline. The timeline represents a number of frames in the animation. In Ulead COOL 3D, you use the Timeline Control to edit the attributes of timelines. Many properties of the 3D object (such as size, position, color, and any plug-in ef fects) have individual timelines that you can edit independently . These are listed in the Properties Menu.

Key frames let you choreograph your animation sequence as you work with the timeline. By adding key frames and editing attributes in those key frames, you can, for instance, set your object to move from left to right, and then rotate. Any adjustments you make to your object at a given key frame determines the state of the object at that frame of the animation (for example, the position, size, color, etc.). The following describes some basic controls of the Timeline Control:

• Ping Mode Plays the animation forwards and backwards infinitely.

• Loop Mode Plays the animation repeatedly in its normal sequence,

skipping the last frame.

• Play/Stop Plays and stops the animation.

• Show/Hide Allows you to display or hide the selected object. Use it to

hide the object for certain parts of the animation or simply for convenience when editing multiple objects.

• Number of frames Sets the total number of frames in the animation

sequence.

• Frames per second (fps) Sets the speed at which the animation plays.

• Properties Menu Use this to select the timeline for a specific object

property that you want to edit. By default, the basic attributes are listed (i.e. Position, Rotation, Color, etc.). If you apply a plug-in effect to the object, that will be added to the list. Once you select a property, the timeline for that property will appear.

Properties Menu

Slider Move to

Next Frame

Move to Previous Frame

Jump to Next Key Frame

Jump to Previous Key Frame

Key frames

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

In the next diagram, two key frames have been added to the color timeline. At key frame 1 the object is red, at key frame 5 it is blue, and at key frame 10 the object is green. When previewing the animation, you see the object’ s color start out at red, gradually transform to blue and finally to green.

Below is a simplified diagram of the default timeline for an object’ s color. It contains 10 frames and always has a key frame at frame 1 of the animation. At this key frame, the object is set to be red. When you preview the animation, the object remains red in all frames.

Because each property has its own timeline, you can control multiple timelines in your animation, as shown in the following illustration. Not only can you set the timing within each timeline, but you can also control the timing of events between the many timelines by coordinating their key frames, as if you were a director telling your various actors what to do and when to do it. After you familiarize yourself with timelines and key frames, you can also work with multiple objects that have multiple key frames.

Frame 1 Frame 10 Frame 30Frame 20

Start at far left Move to far right Move to center

Red Red Green

No rotation No rotation Rotate 360º

Position

Orientation

Color

Frame 1 (Frame 10)

Red

Frame 1 Frame 5 Frame 10

Red Blue Green

• Slider Drag this to move to any frame in the animation, or click the Move to Next/Previous Frame buttons.

• Jump to Next/Previous Key Frame Click these buttons to move from one key frame to the next, or directly select a key frame by clicking it.

User Guide

To create a simple animation (I):

1 Insert an object to the Edit Window. On

the Animation Toolbar, the default frame number should be 10, and the default fps should be 15. Change the frame number to 15. Notice that the current frame is 1, and that the timeline already contains a key frame.

2 On the Standard Toolbar, click the

Move Object button. In the Edit Window, drag the object to the left side of the window. On the Location Toolbar, the coordinates change to show the object’s position at the first key frame.

3 Drag the Timeline Control slider to the

last frame of the timeline, or type 15 as the current frame number. Click the Add Key Frame button to add a key frame.

4 Drag the object to the right side of the

Edit Window. The coordinates on the Location Toolbar change to reflect the position of the object at frame 15 of the animation.

5 Click the Play button to view the

animation. The object should move from the left to right in the Edit Window.

6 Save the project by clicking the Save

button on the Standard Toolbar. This allows you to save it in the Ulead COOL 3D file format (*.c3d). You can open this file later from within the program to edit the project.

Creating a simple animation

The best way to understand key frames is to actually create an animation. The following section shows you how to create simple animated sequences with a single object and a single timeline, as well as some more complicated sequences involving multiple objects and timelines.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

To create a simple animation (II):

1 Open the project that you created on the

previous page (part I).

2 In the Properties Menu, select Position.

On the Timeline Control, move the slider to frame 7 of the animation.

3 Add a key frame by clicking the Add

Key Frame button to the right of the Timeline Control.

4 On the Standard Toolbar, click the

Move Object button, and drag the object in the Edit Window so that it is at the top and center of the window.

5 Click Play, and notice how the object

now moves in a triangular path.

6 Now you have key frames at frames 1,

7, and 15 of the animation. If you want to change the position of the object at any of these key frames, click one of the key frame controls. Then, drag the object to another position. Click Play to view the animation.

7 Increase the number of frames to 30.

Notice how the motion of the object becomes smoother.

8 On the Standard Toolbar, click the Save

button to save the animation. Your project will be saved in the Ulead COOL 3D format (*.c3d).

User Guide

Animating light and color

The most obvious thing to do when you want to animate an object is to make it move. T o animate the color and light of an object itself is less obvious, but can result in interesting effects. In these tutorials, learn how to make light and color change on a stationary object. Try animating texture as well.

To animate the color of an object:

1 Insert an object, and apply a color at key

frame 1 (to apply a color, see page 20).

2 Add a key frame control at the last

frame of the animation, then apply a different color to the object. Remember that you can also apply different colors to individual bevel faces.

3 Click the Play button to preview the

animation.

To animate light on an object:

1 Insert an object, and at frame 1 of the

animation, define the Light settings (see pages 20 and 21).

2 Add a key frame at the last frame of the

timeline, then apply a different Light setting to the object. You can change the color, brightness, hue, saturation, and position of the light(s).

Note: The number of lights and the light mode remain constant between key frames. If you change these, they will be changed in all key frames. These are called global attributes (see page 37).

3 Click Play to preview the animation.

Experiment with inserting more key frames into the animation.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

To animate position and color:

1 Insert an object in a blank project (with

a black background). At frame 1, set the object color to be black.

2 On the Properties Menu, select Color.

Then, on the Timeline Control, add a key frame at the last frame of the animation. Set the color to red.

3 Click Play on the Animation Toolbar to

preview the color animation.

4 Click the Move button on the Standard

Toolbar. The Properties Menu changes to display Position. The timeline that appears pertains only to Position.

5 On the Position timeline, select the first

key frame, then on the Location Toolbar, enter 200 for the Z coordinate.

6 Add a key frame at the end of the

Position timeline, and then enter -200 for the Z coordinate.

7 Preview the animation. The object

should emerge from the background color and come straight towards you.

Note: If you want to change the color or position for specific key frames, make sure you select the relevant property in the Properties Menu first before you edit the key frames and their attributes.

Animating with multiple timelines

Inevitably , you will want to animate more than one aspect of your object. This means that you must work with multiple timelines. When you are working with multiple timelines, keep your eye on the Properties Menu - this will tell you which timeline you are currently editing. This example shows you how to make a basic animations with two timelines.

User Guide

Animating with multiple objects

W orking with more than one object can result in a stunning project. The next tutorials show you how to coordinate two objects. In the first one, make a second object appear after the first one completes its action. In the second one, learn how to make two objects chase after one another.

To animate two objects (I):

1 Insert an object, then set the total

number of frames to 30.

2 At frame 1, on the Standard Toolbar,

click the Move Object button, then on the Location Toolbar, set the Y coordinate to 50.

3 Click the Rotate Object button. The

Properties Menu displays Orientation. On the Location Toolbar, make sure that all coordinates are set to 0.

4 Move the Timeline Control slider to

frame 25 of the animation, or enter 25 as the current frame. Click the Add Key Frame button to add a key frame.

5 Set the X coordinate to -720, then click

Play to preview the animation. The object should rotate 2 times.

6 Insert a new object. On the Standard

Toolbar, at frame 1, click the Move button. Enter -100 for the Y coordinate on the Location Toolbar.

7 At frame 1, click the Show/Hide button

on the Animation Toolbar to make the text object disappear.

8 At frame 30, add a key frame. Click the

Show/Hide button to make the text object appear.

9 Click Play. The second object should

appear just after the first object has completed 2 rotations.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

To animate two objects (II):

1 Insert an object into the project and set

the total number of frames to 30.

2 Select Position from the Properties

Menu. On the Timeline Control, add key frames at frames 10 and 20.

3 Click key frame 1 of the animation to

select it.

4 On the Standard Toolbar, click the

Move Object button. On the Location Toolbar, set the X and Z coordinates to

-350 and -200 respectively. The object disappears off the screen.

5 At frame 10, set the X coordinate to 0.

Do not adjust the Z coordinate. At frame 20, set the X and Z coordinates to 100 and 3000. The Y coordinate should remain at 0.

6 Click Play to preview the animation.

The object should move to the right and away from you.

7 Insert a second object into the project,

then select Position from the Properties Menu. Add key frames at frames 10, 20, and 30.

8 Click the Move Object button. On the

Location Toolbar, at frames 1 and 10, set the X and Z coordinates to -350 and

-200 respectively. At frame 20, set the X coordinate to 0, and do not adjust the Z coordinate. At frame 30, set the X and Z coordinates to 100 and 3000.

9 Click Play to preview the animation.

The second object should chase after the first one, following the same motion path.

Key frames and plug-ins

All plug-in effects (except for Bevel Effects) have a special red Control Line that appears on the Timeline Control. This is a special feature that lets you move the first and last frames of the timeline, so that you can determine exactly when the plug-in effect is applied within the animation sequence. T o adjust the length of the Control Line, click and drag on either end until you have reached the desired length.

Understanding Global and Key attributes

When you are working with the Attribute T oolbar to make an animated project, it’s a good idea to take note of the T oolT ips that pop up when you move the cursor over each variable. These contain a brief description of the variable in question, followed by a (G) or (K). These stand for Global and Key attributes.

A Global attribute is valid for the entire duration of the animation. For instance, if you set a Global attribute to have the value “x” at frame 1, the value “x” will be applied throughout the animation. For instance, if you change this value at frame 5, then this new value will be changed accordingly in all frames of the animation.

A Key attribute can vary with individual key frames. For example, Color is a Key attribute because at frame 1 you can have an object be red, then at frame 5 you can set the same object to be green, and at frame 10 you can make the object change to red again.

Plug-in effects

Plug-in effects are what make your still or animated title extra special. In Ulead COOL 3D, you can give objects a unique edge with Bevel plug-ins, switch to different sentiments with Transition effects, make objects move in special patterns with Object plug-ins, and give them a unique flair with Global effects. The various categories are located in the EasyPalette file directory . Click a category or plug-in name to view and apply the presets that come with it for instant results. If you have a specific effect you want to achieve, try applying different presets, and see how the attributes change on the Attribute Toolbar . This gives you a better idea of how the variables affect the object. To view the Attribute T oolbar, click the Attribute Toolbar button on the Standard T oolbar.

Control Line

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

Bevel Effects

You can create interesting still and animated titles with these plug-ins. These allow you to add a frame, a special hollow or engraved board, or a shape preset to your object. Once applied, you can further customize them by adjusting the standard bevel attributes.

Board

This effect is perfect for stunning rotating signs and banners. Not only can you put different objects on the front and back of the board, you can adjust basic bevel attributes for the text and board independently . This tutorial shows you how you can create an animated effect with the bevel. (Settings: 30 frames, 15 fps)

To animate the Board effect:

1 Insert a text or graphic object into the

Edit Window. In the EasyPalette file directory, select Bevel Effects: Board. The Board presets appear.

2 On the Attribute Toolbar, select Board

from the Bevel Mode list. The Attribute Toolbar displays the Board options, and the Edit Window displays the object on the default rectangular board. To use a different board shape, drag a Board preset to the Edit Window.

3 On the Timeline Control, add a key

frame at frame 30.

4 At frame 1, on the Attribute Toolbar,

click the Text button to make basic bevel settings to the text. Enter 0 for Extru- sion, Weight, Border, and Depth. The text object should disappear on the board.

5 At frame 30, enter 1000 for Extrusion,

5 for Weight, 20 for Border, and 20 for Depth.

6 Click Play to preview the animation.

The text should appear to grow from the board.

User Guide

Custom Bevel

Create unique and wild three-dimensional forms by applying one of the dozens of preset bevel shapes to any of the objects in your project. When working with this plug-in, experiment freely with applying various Custom Bevel presets to various objects.

To apply a custom bevel effect:

1 Insert an object into the Edit Window. In

the EasyPalette file directory, select Bevel Effects: Custom Bevel. The presets for Custom Bevel appear.

2 On the Attribute Toolbar, select Custom

Bevel from the Bevel Mode list.

3 Apply a Custom Bevel preset to the

object. Each preset represents a single bevel design that is applied to both the front and back faces of the object.

4 Scroll down to the next set of attributes.

Choose a different bevel design for the Front or Back face. The object changes accordingly.

5 To further customize the custom bevel,

scroll back to the first level of attributes and adjust values for basic bevel attributes.

Things you can do with Custom Bevel shapes

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

Frame

This bevel effect not only offers you interesting visual options for your project, but gives you some animation possibilities as well. In this tutorial, work with a Bevel timeline and an Orientation timeline to create an animated project. (Settings: 30 frames, 15 fps)

To rotate a frame with different text on

each side:

1 Insert an object into the Edit Window.

In the EasyPalette file directory, select Bevel Effects: Frame.

2 On the Attribute Toolbar, select Frame

from the Bevel Mode list. The Frame options appear, and a default rectangular frame appears around the object.

3 On the Attribute Toolbar, click the Text

or Frame button under Target to customize the Text and Frame bevels if desired.

4 On the Standard Toolbar, select the

Rotate Object button. Orientation appears on the Properties menu.

5 On the Timeline Control, add a key

frame at frame 30 of the animation. On the Location Toolbar, enter an X value of 180. This flips the frame directly to its other side.

6 Select Bevel from the Properties Menu,

and move to frame 15 of the animation, and add a key frame.

7 On the Attribute Toolbar, scroll down

to the second level of attributes. Clear the Use Front option, and click the

Text or Import Graphic button under Object to put a different text or image

on the other side of the frame. Then select the Flip Text option.

8 Click the Play button to preview the

animation.

User Guide

Hollow

This plug-in effect lets your text or graphic penetrate right through the board for an interesting title. This tutorial shows you how to create a fun yet simple animation using two of the same text or graphic object. (Settings: 30 frames, 15fps)

To make an object break through a board:

1 Insert an object into the Edit Window. In

the EasyPalette file directory, select Bevel Effects: Hollow.

2 On the Attribute Toolbar, select Hollow

from the Bevel Mode list. The Edit Window displays a rectangular board with a hollow object.

3 Scroll down to the next level of at-

tributes and select None for Board Bevel.

4 Insert a second object (the same as the

first) to the project. In the EasyPalette file directory, select Object Style: Bevel, then select None for Bevel Mode on the Attribute Toolbar. In the Edit Window, you should see a seamless and flat board.

5 On the Object List, select [Group], then

rotate the board and object so that they lean backwards, allowing you to better view the results.

6 Select the second object from the Object

list. Select Position from the Properties Menu. On the Timeline Control, add a key frame to frame 30 of the animation.

7 Enter a negative value for the Z coordi-

nate on the Location Toolbar. Try something like -200.

8 Click the Play button. The object should

tear itself away from the board to reveal the hollow board and the three dimensional letters.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

Imprint

Make a deeper impression by engraving a title or banner on a board with this plug-in effect. You can also make an animated effect using this plug-in. Learn how to make a basic title sink into a board in the following tutorial. (Settings: 30 frames, 15 fps)

To apply Imprint to an object:

1 Insert a text or graphic object into the

Edit Window. In the EasyPalette file directory, select Bevel Effects: Imprint. The Imprint presets appear.

2 On the Attribute Toolbar, select Imprint

from the Bevel Mode list. The Attribute Toolbar displays the Imprint options, and the Edit Window displays the object on the default rectangular board. To use a different board shape, drag an Imprint preset to the Edit Window.

3 On the Timeline Control, add a key

frame at frame 30 of the animation.

4 At frame 1, on the Attribute Toolbar,

enter 500 for Extrusion and 1 for Imprint.

5 Scroll down to the next set of attributes.

Under Board Bevel, select None. Enter values for Extra Width and Extra Height if you want to increase the dimensions of the board.

6 At frame 30, enter 250 as the Imprint

value.

7 Click Play to preview the animation.

The title should slowly sink into the board.

User Guide

Object Effects

The control you have in animating individual objects is one of the things that makes Ulead COOL 3D remarkable. Some plug-in effects let your objects dance and explode in customizable patterns, while others let you choreograph the actions between individual letters with ease. Use the many presets to quickly create stunning effects, or use the Attribute T oolbar to create custom ef fects. This section shows you basic projects for each plug-in. For detailed information on all plug-in attributes, please refer to the Help T opics.

Bend

Use this plug-in effect to bend your title in any direction, then animate the bending movement to attract special attention. In this tutorial, learn how to combine this effect with basic rotation settings. (Settings: 30 frames, 15fps)

To apply the Bend effect to an object:

1 In the EasyPalette file directory, select

Object Effects: Bend. Click the F/X button on the Attribute Toolbar. Bend appears on the Properties Menu.

2 On the Timeline Control, add a key

frame at frame 30.

3 At frame 1 on the Attribute Toolbar, set

the Direction of the bend to Y-Z, and select the Type as Asymmetric. Set the Level to 100 to completely bend the object, and set the Cutting Point to 50 so that the object bends at the center.

4 At frame 30, set the Level to 0. This

allows the object to unbend.

5 On the Standard Toolbar, click the

Rotate Object button. Orientation appears in the Properties Menu. On the Timeline Control, add a key frame at frame 30.

6 At frame 1, on the Location Toolbar, the

rotation coordinates should all be 0. At frame 30, set the Z coordinate to -720. This rotates the object twice in a clockwise direction.

7 Click Play to preview the animation.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

Dance

This effect brings out the buoyancy in your title. Choose from several dance styles Shake, Scatter, Wave, and Bounce. The following tutorial shows you how to make a bouncing project. (Settings: 30 frames, 15 fps)

To make a title bounce:

1 In the EasyPalette file directory, select

Object Effects: Dance. Click the F/X button on the Attribute Toolbar. Dance appears in the Properties Menu.

2 On the Timeline Control, add a frame at

frame 30.

3 At frame 1, select Bounce as the Dance

Mode, and for Sequence, select Ran- dom.

4 Set Ground to 1. This is the minimum

distance that the letter will fall in order to bounce. Specify 100 for Rebound, which makes the letters bounce highest.

5 Specify 10 as the Tempo for fastest

bouncing speed. Set the Variation to 0. This means that the letters will start out in their normal stationary position standing up and facing forward.

6 At frame 30 of the animation, set the

Variation to 50. This means that by the last frame, the letters will be facing in widely differing directions, as if they were bouncing out of control.

7 Click Play to preview your project. Try

using different values for Seed. This generates a slightly different variation of the Dance effect.

User Guide

Distort

Put a new perspective on your title by using the Distort plug-in. You can either distort the perspective of the entire object, or distort the letters individually . When applied in an animated sequence, this can be useful for emphasizing the noteworthy . Create a basic Distort animation in this tutorial. (Settings: 30 frames, 15fps)

To distort an object:

1 In the EasyPalette file directory, select

Object Effects: Distort. Click the F/X button on the Attribute Toolbar. Distort appears on the Properties Menu.

2 On the Timeline Control, add key

frames to frames 15 and 30.

3 At frame 1 on the Attribute Toolbar,

select Individual for Action Sequence, and select Y-Z as the Plane along which the perspective will be distorted. Leave all other distortion variables at their default values (100).

4 At frame 15, set the Y1 and Z1 values to

50, and set the Y2 and Z2 values to 300. Frame 30 should have the same values as frame 1.

5 Click Play to preview the animation.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

Explosion

The power you have when blasting a title to pieces makes this plug-in a favorite. If you are not so destructively minded, try reversing an explosion effect, having all the small pieces come together to form a whole. In this tutorial, learn how to disintegrate your title. (Settings: 30 frames, 15 fps)

To disintegrate your title:

1 In the Easy Palette file directory, select

Object Effects: Explosion. Click the F/X button on the Attribute Toolbar. Explo- sion appears on the Properties Menu.

2 On the Timeline Control, drag the

leftmost end point of the Control Line to frame 5. This ensures that the explosion effect will not take place right away. Add a key frame to frame 30 of the animation.

3 At the first frame of the plug-in effect

(frame 5), set the Movement Type to Left, the Collapse Type to Ascending, and the Action Sequence to Forward. Set the Level to 0 and the Rotate value to 30.

4 At frame 30, set the Level to 100 for a

complete explosion. Enter 100 for the Rotate value.

5 Select Position from the Properties

Menu, and add key frames to frames 25 and 30 on the Timeline Control.

6 At frames 1 and 25 for Position, all

coordinates on the Location Toolbar should be 0. At frame 30, set the Y value to -300.

7 Click Play to preview the effect.

Experiment with different values for Variation. Each number you enter produces a slightly different variation of the explosion effect.

User Guide

Motion Path

Move your title along specially designed paths with this plug-in. Have it zigzag in space, or let it zip along sweeping curves in roller-coaster fashion. The Attribute T oolbar lets you further customize how the title moves - you can twist it around the path, make it move in wave form, mold itself to the path, and have each character move in sequential order . In this tutorial, learn how to make your object travel along a figure 8. (Settings: 30 frames, 15fps)

To apply Motion Path to an object:

1 In the EasyPalette file directory, select

Object Effects: Motion Path. Click the F/X button in the Attribute Toolbar. Motion Path appears on the Properties Menu.

2 On the Timeline Control, add a key

frame to frame 30 of the animation.

3 At frame 1, on the Attribute Toolbar,

select Figure 8 as the Motion Path. Select the Show Path option. A model of the path appears in the Edit Window.

4 Select Horizontal as the Type of path,

then set On Path to Stand. Set the Wrap Style to Position, and enter 100 as the Level.

5 Scroll down to the second level of

attributes. Increase the size of the path by entering 500 for Scale. Then, under Global Rotation, adjust the orientation of both the path and the object by setting the X value to 45.

6 At frame 30, set the Level to 0 and the

Scale to 500. Under Global Rotation, set the X value to 45.

7 On the Attribute Toolbar, clear the Show

Path option to see the object on its own without the path. On the Animation Toolbar, click the Loop Mode button, then click Play to preview the animation. The object should travel continuously along the figure 8.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

Path Animation

This plug-in lets your text move in ways that simulate the natural laws of gravity in the real world. You can let your object get caught in a tornado, ripple on water, or swing like a pendulum. In this tutorial, learn how to toss your object in an arc, and then have it change into another object upon impact. (Settings: 30 frames, 15 fps)

To throw an object in an arc:

1 In the EasyPalette file directory, select

Object Effects: Path Animation. Click the F/X button on the Attribute Toolbar. Path Animation appears on the Properties Menu.

2 On the Timeline Control, add a key

frame at frame 30.

3 At frame 1 on the Attribute Toolbar,

select Arc as the Path, and enter 25 as the value for Speed.

4 Set the Ground to 0 (default), and enter

75 for the Level to start the object at mid-throw. Enter 40 as the value for the

Angle of the arc. 5 At frame 30, set the Level to 0. 6 Click Play to preview the Arc anima-

tion. The object should be thrown in

from the right of the screen. 7 Insert a new object into the project, and

click the F/X button to deactivate the

effect for that object. At frame 1, click

the Show/Hide button to hide the object,

and at frame 30, click it again to make

the object appear. 8 Click Play to preview the animation.

User Guide

Surface Animation

With this plug-in, you can let your object move and wrap around the form of dif ferent three-dimensional shapes. This tutorial shows you how to wrap your object around a small sphere, have it travel twice around the sphere, and then unwrap at the end. (Settings: 30 frames, 15 fps)

To animate an object around a sphere:

1 In the EasyPalette file directory, select

Object Effects: Surface Animation. Click the F/X button on the Attribute Toolbar. Surface Animation appears on the Properties Menu.

2 On the Timeline Control, add key

frames to frames 25 and 30.

3 At frame 1, select Sphere as the Surface

around which the object is wrapped, set the Path to V Line to make the object travel vertically, then set the Wrap Style to Mesh to mold the object to the surface of the sphere.

4 Scroll down to the second level of

attributes. Enter 10 for all Size coordinates so that the text is wrapped around a small sphere. Set the Level to 0.

5 At frame 25, enter 10 for all Size

coordinates, and enter 200 as the Level so that the object travels twice around the sphere’s surface.

6 At frame 30, set all Size coordinates to

100 so that the size of the ball increases drastically. Set the Level to 200 so that the object does not move from the previous key frame.

7 Click Play to preview the animation.

Tip: Try using the Surface Animation plug-in with the Board bevel effect, as in this example. This allows you to actually see the “object” around which your object wraps.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

Token Move (G)

It’s easy to choreograph individual letters to move sequentially. This plug-in lets you do this in any direction and in just a few steps. This tutorial shows you how to have individual letters jut out at you for emphatic expression. (Settings: 30 frames, 15 fps)

To apply the Token Move (G) effect:

1 In the EasyPalette file directory, select

Object Effects: Token Move (G), and

click the F/X button on the Attribute

Toolbar. Token Move (G) appears on the

Properties Menu. 2 On the Timeline Control, add a key

frame to frame 30 of the animation. 3 At frame 1 on the Attribute Toolbar, set

the Level of the animation to 0, Action

Sequence to Forward, Acceleration to

None, and Overlap to 30. Select the To

Origin option to make individual

characters return to their original

positions upon completing the specified

action. 4 Scroll down to the next level of at-

tributes. On this level are the coordi-

nates for position. To make the title

come towards you, enter -500 for Z

Value. 5 At frame 30, set the Level of the

animation to 100. 6 Click Play to preview the animation.

User Guide

Token Rotate (G)

With this ef fect, you have the ability to make letters and objects spin and twirl, either all at once or in an elegant sequence. Here, learn how to make a simple wave effect. (Settings: 30 frames, 15 fps)

To apply the Token Rotate (G) effect:

1 Adjust the Orientation of the object so

that the Y coordinate is approximately

45.

2 In the EasyPalette file directory, select

Object Effects: Token Rotate (G), then click the F/X button on the Attribute Toolbar. Token Rotate (G) appears on the Properties Menu.

3 On the Timeline Control, add a key

frame at frame 30.

4 At frame 1 on the Attribute Toolbar, set

the Level of the animation to 0, the

Action Sequence to Forward, and Acceleration to None.

5 Set the Overlap to 90 so that the

individual letters move almost immediately one after the other. Under Rotation Center, select Front-LT (the front left top of each character).

6 Scroll down to the next set of attributes.

These are the axes around which your title can rotate. Enter -360 for the X Angle.

7 At frame 30, set the Level of the

animation to 100.

8 Click Play to preview the animation.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

To apply the Token Skew (G) effect:

1 In the EasyPalette file directory, select

Object Effects: Token Skew (G). Click

the F/X button in the Attribute Toolbar.

Token Skew (G) appears on the Proper-

ties Menu. 2 On the Timeline Control, add a key

frame to frame 25. 3 At frame 1 on the Attribute Toolbar, set

the Level to 0, and select Backward as

the Action Sequence. Set the Accelera-

tion to Oscillate. 4 Enter 30 as the Overlap value. Choose

Front-LB as the Skew Center to fix a

point from which letters skew. 5 Scroll down to the next level of at-

tributes. These are the planes along

which objects can be skewed. Under Y-

X Plane, enter 1000, and leave all the

others at 0. 6 At frame 25, set the Level to 100. 7 Next, animate the position of the object.

Select Position from the Properties

Menu, and add key frames at frames 20

and 30. 8 At frames 1 and 20, view the coordi-

nates in the Location Toolbar for

Position. They should all be set to 0. At

frame 30, set the X coordinate to 1500. 9 Click Play to preview the animation.

Token Skew (G)

You can stretch text and objects in any direction with this plug-in effect. In this tutorial, combine the Skew effect with a simple Position animation to make an object appear as if it were being sucked away off the screen. (Settings: 30 frames, 15fps)

User Guide

Token Size (G)

The T oken Size (G) ef fect is especially easy to use because you only have to make most of the settings once, and then all you have to change in the key frames is the value for Level. Learn to make your money grow in this tutorial. (Settings: 30 frames, 15 fps)

To apply the Token Size (G) effect:

1 Insert a string of dollar signs, divided up

in 3 rows. Rotate it slightly on the X axis so that it leans back.

2 In the EasyPalette file directory, select

Object Effects: Token Size (G). On the Attribute Toolbar, click the F/X button. Token Size (G) appears on the Properties Menu.

3 On the Timeline Control, add key

frames to frames 15 and 30.

4 At frame 1 of the animation, set the

Level to 0. Select Random for the Action Sequence.

5 Under Acceleration, select Normal. Set

the Overlap to 50, which makes each object begin moving after each previous object has completed half of its motion. Select Center as the Scaling Center.

6 Scroll down to the next level of at-

tributes. Here’s where you specify how large and in which direction your objects grow. For X and Y Values, enter 200. For Z Value, enter 500.

7 At frame 15, set the Level to 100, and at

frame 30, set the Level to 75.

8 Click Play to preview the animation.

The dollars should grow fully to the specified size in random order, and then some of them should shrink again.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

Twist

This effect lets you coil up a title in a number of different directions and styles. Twist the object beyond recognition along the X or Y axis, or make the title coil out towards you along the Z axis. In this project, learn how to combine the T wist ef fect with a basic Size animation for extra impact. (Settings: 30 frames, 15 fps)

To twist an object:

1 Rotate the object slightly on the Y axis. 2 In the EasyPalette file directory, select

Object Effects: Twist. Click the F/X

button on the Attribute Toolbar. Twist

appears on the Properties Menu. 3 On the Timeline Control, add a key

frame at frame 30. 4 At frame 1, on the Attribute Toolbar,

select Left only as the twist Type. This

twists the object starting with its left

side. Select Z as the Axis so that the

depth of the object is twisted, and set the

Skew Angle to 0. 5 At frame 30, set the Skew Angle to

-360.

6 On the Standard Toolbar, click the Size

Object button. Scale should appear on

the Properties Menu. On the Timeline

Control, add a key frame at frame 30. 7 At frame 1, the Size coordinates on the

Location Toolbar should be 100 (de-

fault). At frame 30, set the Z coordinate

to 1000. 8 Click Play to preview the animation.

The title should twist clockwise and coil

towards you.

User Guide

Transition Effects

This new plug-in category lets you make a striking statement by replacing one text or graphic object with another in a variety of entertaining ways. Explode your text to form a completely different text, or have one text squash another . You can also make one text bump the other one off the screen. All this can be done in a few easy steps with the Blast, Bump and Jump effects.

Blast

Have fun exploding an object, and then have the pieces come back together to form something new . The easiest way to apply this ef fect is to apply a Blast preset from the EasyPalette. For more advanced users, the many variables on the Attribute T oolbar allow you to control the effect to amazing detail. In the following tutorial, we’ll explode a graphic and have it turn into text.

To apply a Blast transition:

1 Insert a graphic object into the Edit

Window. Select Transition Effects: Blast from the EasyPalette file directory, then on the Attribute Toolbar select Blast from the Style list.

2 On the Attribute Toolbar at frame 1,

clear the Use Original option. Then, under Target , click the Text Object Target button. In the dialog box that appears, enter the text object that you want to replace the original object.

3 Set the Shape to Sphere, and the

Collapse Type to All.

4 Scroll down to the next level of at-

tributes. Set the Size of the pieces to 5 and the Action Sequence to All. The Level should be 100 by default.

5 Scroll down to the next level of at-

tributes. Select Swirl as the Movement Type.

6 Click Play to preview the animated

sequence.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

To apply a Bump transition:

1 In the EasyPalette file directory, select

Transition Effects: Bump, then on the

Attribute Toolbar, select Bump from the

Style list. 2 On the Attribute Toolbar at frame 1,

clear the Use Original option, then

click the Text or Graphic Object

Target button under Target to insert an

object that you want to replace the

original. 3 Make sure that the Level is 0, and set

the Compression value to 50. 4 If the target object appears on the

screen, set the Initial Position of the

target object to 300, or until it disap-

pears off the screen. 5 Scroll down to the next set of options on

the Attribute Toolbar, and select From

Left as the Direction in which you want

the transition to take place. 6 Move the Timeline Control to the last

frame of the animation. Set the Level to

100.

7 Click Play to preview the transition.

Bump

This transition effect can add expression to those pressing statements that simply must be made, or simply emphasize the main point by having it push another object away . In this example, have the main text bump a graphic out of the way .

User Guide

Jump

Stomp out one text object with another with the Jump effect. You can also give it a realistic bounce and rebound as one text falls on the other . This example shows you how to combine this effect with the Show/Hide function so that a second message shows up at the end of the transition.

To make one object stomp on another:

1 Insert an object, then select Transition

Effects: Jump from the EasyPalette file

directory. On the Attribute Toolbar, choose Jump from the Style list.

2 On the Attribute Toolbar, clear the Use

Original option, then click the Text or Graphic Object Target button under Target. Insert an object to replace the

original. The object above the original changes in the Edit Window.

3 On the Attribute Toolbar at frame 1, set

the Bounce value to 30. If the target object is visible, set the Initial Position to about 300, or so that it disappears off the screen.

4 Move to the last frame of the animation,

add a key frame, and set the Level to

100.

5 Insert a new object. On the Attribute

Toolbar, select None as the transition Style. Adjust the object’s position at frame 1 so that it doesn’t overlap with the first object.

6 Choose Show/Hide from the Properties

Menu, and add a key frame to frame 30 of the animation.

7 At frame 1, click the Show/Hide button

on the Animation Toolbar, so that the object disappears. At frame 30, click it again so that the object reappears.

8 Click Play to preview the animation.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

Global Effects

This category of effects can enhance the quality of your text or graphic object. A wide variety of options lets you give your 3D objects an eerie aura, set them on fire, or cast a shadow , among others. These effects are different from Object ef fects in that when you apply one of them to your project, it is applied to all of the objects in it.

Fire

Make red hot titles that burn and mesmerize, make a cool title that drips with icicles, or even make the title ooze with neon green goo. All this is possible with the Fire plug-in. In this tutorial, learn how to animate a basic fire effect. (Settings: 30 frames, 15 fps)

To burn an object:

1 Select Global Effects: Fire in the

EasyPalette file directory, then click the

F/X button on the Attribute Toolbar.

Fire appears on the Properties Menu. 2 On the Timeline Control, add a key

frame to frame 30. 3 At frame 1, set the Strength to 10 and

the Amplitude to 10. 4 Set the Direction to 90 to make the

flames go straight up, and enter 2 for

the Soft Edge value. 5 Enter 10 for Length and 1 for Opacity.

Then customize the colors of the flame

by clicking on the color boxes. 6 At frame 30, set the flame to full blast

by entering 200 for Strength and 100

to Amplitude. 7 Set the Length of the flames to 50, and

increase the Opacity to 75. 8 Click Play to preview the animation.

User Guide

To make a blinking title:

1 Make a bright-colored title against a

dark background.

2 Select Global Effects: Glow from the

EasyPalette file directory, then click the F/X button on the Attribute Toolbar. Glow appears on the Properties Menu.

3 On the Timeline Control, add key

frames to frames 1 and 30. At these key frames, set the Width of the glow to 2, the Transparency to 0, and the Soft Edge to 6. Select a bright Color for the glow.

4 Add key frames at frames 5, 15, and 20.

These should all have the same attributes as those in frame 1.

5 Add key frames controls to frames 7, 13,

22, and 28. At these key frames, set the Width of the glow to 0. This makes the glow disappear.

6 Click Play to preview the animation.

Glow

This plug-in lets you give any type of aura to fit the mood of the project. Make your object radiate with a luminous glow of the nuclear age, or you can give it a halo of goodness. One of the things you might want to try with your object is to have it shine like a light. The following tutorial demonstrates how to make an object blink on and off. (Settings: 30 frames, 15 fps)

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

Motion Blur

With this effect, you can make an object look as if it were zipping around at super speeds bouncing with energy . These and many more whisks of motion are possible with this plugin. If you want to try this with an animated project, it is recommend that you use the least complicated settings for the animation. The following tutorial takes a look at combining object position with the Motion Blur effect. (Settings: 30 frames, 15 fps)

To apply Motion Blur to an object:

1 Select Position from the Properties

Menu. On the Timeline Control, add key

frames to frames 12, 18, and 30. 2 At frame 1, set the X coordinate to -600.

The Y and Z values should be 0. At

frames 12 and 18, change the X coordi-

nate to 0. At frame 30, change the X

coordinate to 1000. 3 In the EasyPalette file directory, select

Global Effects: Motion Blur. Click the

F/X button on the Attribute Toolbar.

Motion Blur appears on the Properties

Menu. 4 At frame 1, on the Attribute Toolbar,

select Continuous as the Type, and set

the Path to Straight. 5 Set Density to 5, and Length to 20. Set

the Direction to 180, which makes the

lines horizontal. 6 Scroll down to the next level of options

on the Attribute Toolbar. Set Tail to 30

and the Converge value to 0. 7 Add key frames at frames 10, 12, 18, 20,

and 30. They should all have the same

attributes as in frame 1. 8 For frames 12 and 18, change the Tail

length to 0. 9 Click Play to preview the animation.

User Guide

Shadow

You can give your object a shadow , then animate it easily after making just a few settings. In addition to making the gray shadows of real life, you can make colorful shadows, or have an object cast a negative shadow on a dark background. In the following tutorial, make an object float away , leaving its shadow behind on the ground. (Settings: 30 frames, 15 fps)

To animate an object and its shadow:

1 Rotate your object so that it appears to

lie somewhat flat on a surface.

2 On the Standard Toolbar, click the

Move Object button. On the Timeline Control, add a key frame to the last frame of the animation.

3 At frame 1, the X, Y, and Z coordinates

should remain 0. At frame 30, enter 270 for the Y coordinate, or enter any other value that makes the object move off the screen.

4 Select Global Effects: Shadow from the

EasyPalette file directory. Click the F/X button on the Attribute Toolbar. Shadow appears on the Properties Menu.

5 On the Timeline Control, add a key

frame to the last frame of the animation.

6 At frame 1, on the Attribute Toolbar,

enter 5 for X Offset and Y Offset. Enter 3 for Soft Edge.

7 At frame 30, enter 600 for Y Offset.

Enter 40 for Soft Edge.

8 Click Play to preview the animation.

The object should float up and off the screen, while the shadow remains behind. If it looks like the shadow is moving up and down, adjust the Y Offset value for the last key frame.

Path Editor

With Path Editor, Ulead COOL 3D now makes it possible to create and edit vector graphics without having to worry about importing images from other programs. Not only can you create your own shapes, but you can also take letters that you’ve typed in, and edit them as vector graphics. And of course you have the ability to import a background, such as a logo, so that you can trace over the section that you want, then enhance the original logo with 3D flair .

To access Path Editor, click the Insert Graphics button on the Object Toolbar . This opens the Path Editor window .

Attribute Toolbar

Tool Panel

Workspace

The basics of vector graphics

In Path Editor, you create shapes that are vector graphics. Vector graphics differ from raster graphics, or bitmaps, in that they are composed of lines, or paths, that are con- nected to one another by nodes. Therefore, when you create or edit them, you work only with the paths and nodes, rather than with the color and texture attributes that you may want them to have. Simple shapes are composed of a path with few nodes, while more complex shapes are composed of a path with many nodes.

Path Editor gives you many tools that you can use to draw and edit paths and nodes, and even to convert raster to vector graphics. The Tool Panel gives you a variety of functions

User Guide

that you can use to edit and create a shape. Every time you select one of these tools, the Attribute Toolbar changes to give you the options for that tool. Familiarize yourself with some of the tools in the following pages.

To create a shape object:

1 Click the Shape tool from the Tool

Panel. The Attribute Toolbar changes to display the various shapes you can choose from, as well as how the shape is created.

2 Select the shape you want to use from

the Attribute Toolbar, then select the drawing options for creating that shape by clicking any of these three buttons:

¡ Draw From Center Creates the shape

from the center moving out. If not selected, the shape is created from the top left corner down as you draw.

¡ Equal Sides Ensures that the sides of the

shape are all of equal length.

¡ Fixed Size Allows you to specify the exact

width and height of an object in the neighboring Width and Height boxes.

3 Click on the area of the workspace

where you want the shape to appear, and drag. As you drag, a shape is created based on the attributes that you specified.

Using the Shape tool

With the Path Editor, you can create both regular symmetrical shapes, such as squares and circles, as well as more complex polygons and stars.

A simple shape with few nodes (left) and a complex shape with many nodes (right)

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

• Resize Allows you to drag on the nodes of a

bounding box to enlarge or reduce the size of

an object. Click the Keep Aspect Ratio

button to maintain the proportion of the object

when resizing.

• Rotate Lets you rotate the object by directly

dragging a corner of the object’s bounding

box. As you rotate, the degree of the rotation

is displayed in the Rotation Angle spin box at

the end of the Attribute Toolbar. For finer

adjustments, use this spin box or enter the

degree of rotation directly. To set a different

center of rotation, drag the crosshair to the

desired position. To reposition it at the center

of the object, click the Reset Rotation Center

button.

• Slant, Perspective, Distort Allow you to

adjust and skew your object by dragging on

the control nodes of an object’s bounding box.

Using the Object tool

Once you have created an object, you can move and manipulate it in a variety of ways with the Object tool. This allows you to select objects and then move, resize, and distort them anywhere within the workspace.

• To select a single object, click the Object

tool button on the Tool Panel, and then click

anywhere along the path of the object that you

want (a hand icon appears whenever your

cursor moves over a path).

• To select multiple objects, hold down the

Shift key as you click each object. The

bounding box changes each time to encase all

the selected objects. You can also drag in the

workspace to form a selection area that

includes all of the desired object. Once

selected, you can move them as one, or resize

them equally.

The Object tool provides five options on the Attribute T oolbar for resizing, rotating, and reshaping objects:

User Guide

Using the Path tool

The Path tool allows you to create shapes based on a series of straight or curved lines. You can manipulate these lines as you draw or edit them at a later time.

To create a path object:

1 Click the Path tool button on the Tool

Panel. The Attribute Toolbar changes to display the options for drawing a path.

2 Select the type of path you want to draw

from the Attribute Toolbar. Draw either in straight or curved line segments by clicking the appropriate button on the Attribute Toolbar. (You can switch between linear or curved segments as you draw, depending on the type of path you want to create.)

3 In the Edit Window, begin drawing the

shape you want to create. Each time you click your mouse, a node is placed in the Edit Window, and a line segment is automatically drawn connecting the two nodes. If you select the Draw Line option, then only straight line segments are created every time you click on the workspace. If you select the Draw Curve option, curved segments are created each time you click and drag on the workspace. When you do this, two handles appear on either side of the node, allowing you to stretch, pull or turn the curve.

4 Click the Close Path button on the

Attribute Toolbar to end your shape. Path Editor automatically draws a line connecting the end of the last segment to the beginning of the shape.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

To create a freehand object:

1 Click the Freehand tool button from the

Tool Panel. The Attribute Toolbar

changes to display the options for

drawing a path. 2 Move to the Edit Window and begin

drawing the shape you want to create or

trace. As you draw, a line appears in the

Edit Window. To draw continuously,

keep your mouse button down as you

drag. If you release the mouse button

you end a segment. You can then create

a new segment by clicking in another

area of the Edit Window. When you

create a new segment, it automatically

connects to the end of the previous

segment. 3 Click the Close Path button on the

Attribute Toolbar to end your shape. A

red line appears following the path you

have drawn. Path Editor uses this line to

determine how many nodes to place on

the resulting path. To have the line more

closely follow what you have drawn,

increase the value in the Accuracy spin

box on the Attribute Toolbar. 4 When you are satisfied with the accu-

racy of your path, switch to the Object

tool, or click outside the area.

Using the Freehand tool

The Freehand tool allows you to create any kind of shape you want by allowing you to draw it with your mouse or pressure sensitive pen tablet. This can be useful for tracing over elements in a background image, such as a logo. Once you have finished drawing your path, Path Editor then places nodes in positions on the path based on the accuracy that you specify on the Attribute T oolbar.

User Guide

Adjusting paths

Whenever you create an object, its shape is defined by the path you draw . Once created, you always edit it using the Adjust tool.

Adjusting a node (left) and a control handle (right)

To adjust a path:

1 Select the Adjust tool from the Tool

Panel. The Attribute Toolbar displays the options for adjusting a path. Nodes also appear on the path of the selected object.

2 Select the Adjust Path button, and click

any node on the path of the object. The node changes to black to indicate it is active, and control handles appear on either side of the node.

3 Change the shape of the path by drag-

ging the node or one of the control handles. Dragging the node repositions it, while dragging a control handle changes the curvature of the path around the active node and between its adjacent nodes. Control the behavior of these nodes and curvatures with one of five buttons on the Attribute Toolbar:

¡ Curve Segment Changes the curvature of

a path between the active node and its adjacent nodes.

¡ Line Segment Changes the shape of the

path to a straight line segment between the preceding node and active node.

¡ Symmetric Curve Changes the curvature

of the path between the active node and its adjacent nodes, keeping the control handles fixed in a linear path and equal in length. This option is best for making general changes to a path’s curvature.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

¡ Smooth Curve Changes the curvature of

the path between the active node and its adjacent nodes, allowing you to change the length of the control handles independently from each other (they still remain on a linear path). Use this option for greater control over the curvature with respect to the adjacent nodes.

¡ Cusp Curve Changes the curvature of the

path between the active node and its adjacent nodes, allowing you to move one control handle at a time. This is useful when you want to change the curve on one side of the path without affecting the other.

• Drag the Zoom Ratio slider on the

Attribute Toolbar until you have the

view you want. Once you have zoomed

in, use the scroll bars on the edges of the

workspace to navigate your image.

• Drag the cursor directly in the

workspace to create a rectangular zoom

selection. This zooms automatically into

the desired area.

• Click the 1x1 button to go back to an

actual view of the path you are editing.

Viewing paths and images

Click the Zoom tool to move in and out of your images as you trace them or to get a better view of path nodes as you edit them.

User Guide

To trace over a background image:

1 Click the Insert Background Image

button. In the dialog box that appears, select an image file that you want to trace (*.BMP or *.JPG). Click Open, and the image appears in the Edit Window.

2 Trace the desired part of the image with

the Shape, Path, or Freehand tools. You can use a combination of these methods.

3 After you have roughly traced the shape,

clear the Show background option to get a clearer view of the path. Then, use the Adjust tool to refine the path. You can always select the Show background option to check your adjustments against the background image.

4 When you have finished making

adjustments and closed all paths, click OK. The graphic you just traced appears in the workspace of the main program.

Tracing and converting raster images

Path Editor makes it easy to create a 3D object that is tailored to your specific design needs. By giving you the ability to trace over a background image or to convert a raster image to a vector graphic, you have many creative possibilities for incorporating 3D elements seamlessly into your original graphic or logo.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

To convert raster graphics to vector

graphics:

1 Click the Convert to Vector button. In

the dialog box that appears, select an

image file that you want to convert, then

click Open. 2 In the Convert To Vector dialog box, a

preview of the traced path is displayed

on the window to the right. Adjust the

following variables to get as close as

possible to the tracing that you want:

¡ Tolerance Sets the accuracy of the

tracing. A lower value results in greater accuracy .

¡ Jump point Determines the smoothness

of the curves used for tracing. A lower value creates smoother curves.

¡ Threshold Sets a luminance value for

deciding which pixels to include in the trace. All pixels whose luminance value falls below this are included.

3 After you have made your settings, click

OK. The raster image appears in the

background with the vector tracing on

top of it. 4 Deselect the Show background option

at the bottom of the Path Editor window.

The raster image disappears, leaving the

vector path clearly visible. 5 Edit the path if required, then click OK.

Tip: For best conversion results, use simple, flat images with little or no complex shading. When making Convert to Vector settings, try specifying slightly higher values for Tolerance and Jump point. This will expedite the tracing process.

Outputting your project

Ulead COOL 3D offers you great flexibility in how you output your project. Whether you want to use your project in a video, on a web page, or simply as a graphic element for a document, you have a large variety of options to choose from.

Creating image files

You can output your saved project to a variety of image formats: BMP, GIF, JPEG, and TGA. The following section will give you an idea of what quality you can expect with each file type, along with some of the options you have for the respective formats.

• BMP saves your image with high quality

and no data loss. However, the trade-of f is that you end up with a large file size. Generally , this is the most appropriate format if you want to make high quality and high resolution graphics.

• GIF saves the image at small file sizes,

depending on the compression you apply to it. This is the format most commonly used for Web pages and is most appropriate for graphics and illustrations that are relatively small and do not contain a lot of tonal nuances. When saving an image in this format, you can choose how many colors you want the engine to recognize. A smaller number of colors generally results in smaller file sizes, but in some cases might compromise the quality of the image. You can also set the background to be transparent, so that when you place the image on a Web page, the background of the W eb page will appear as the backdrop for the image.

Saving your project

When you have finished editing your work, you can save it in the Ulead COOL 3D format (*.c3d). This allows you to reopen the project in Ulead COOL 3D for further editing and revision. If you want to output your project as an image, W eb animation, or video file, take a look at the following pages for more information.

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

Creating video files

One of the great things you can do with Ulead COOL 3D projects is output them as videos (AVI and MOV formats) to be used in your digital videos. Using a video editor, such as Ulead’s award-winning MediaStudio Pro, you can add your animated project to your video clip. T o save your project as a video file, click File: Cr eate Animation Files: Video File. New extended video output options allow you to tailor exactly how you want to output your project in the video format of your choice. These are accessed in the Save As Video dialog box by clicking the Options button. The following gives you a brief description of the four categories.

• JPEG saves your image in a compressed

format resulting in a small file size, but the data loss inevitably results in decreased quality . This is also commonly used with W eb pages because of the file size. Photographic images and images that contain many tonal gradations are most suitable for this format. When saving in this format, you have the options of setting the resulting quality of the image and the image resolution, among others.

• TGA saves your image or project with

an alpha channel. What this means is that you can use it in a video clip, in the title for example. When you select the Transparent Background option, an alpha channel blocks out the entire image except for the 3D object. You can then use this as an overlay for your base video with your video editing program.

• Frame Allows you to select the type of

frames you want for your video (digital or analog). With the new DirectX Media

6.0 installed, you also have the option to automatically view the video after it has been generated.

User Guide

• General Lets you specify key aspects of

your video, such as frame rate and frame size.

• Advanced Contains options to optimize

playback of the video file, based on the intended output device.

• Compression Lets you specify options

particular to the selected video codec.

Creating animations for the Web

Ulead COOL 3D lets you output your animated projects in formats appropriate for viewing on Web pages: GIF and RealT ext 3D. If used wisely, these can be a good way to attract the attention of Internet surfers or simply to enliven your W eb pages.

GIF animation

Many animations that you see on the W eb are animated GIFs. This version of Ulead COOL 3D provides you with extra controls to create a GIF animation that suits your needs. Here’ s an introduction to some of the new features that you can find, all of which are accessed by clicking File: Create Video Files - GIF Animation File.

• Colors Specifies the number of colors to

create in the global palette of each frame, based on the colors in that image. A smaller number of colors helps to reduce file size, but sometimes at the cost of image quality .

• Frame delay The time that each frame is

displayed before moving to the next one.

• Looping Sets the number of times that

the animation plays. If this is not selected, the animation plays infinitely .

• T ransparent background Removes the

background of the GIF , so that only the 3D objects can be seen. When placed on a W eb page, the background of that page shows through instead.

ULEAD COOL 3D 3.0

Note: Exporting your project to this file format can result in the loss of the following attributes: texture, bevel, light, color, background image, and camera.

• Preview after saving Gives you a

preview of the animation in your default browser after saving.

• Create global palette Builds a global

palette, based on the colors of all of the images in the animation combined. Doing this can reduce size, but again, you should see if this produces the quality that you want.

• Remove redundant pixels Takes away

pixels that are common to all frames in the animation. This reduces file size.

• Show status report Displays file size

and other vital stats of the animation before and after optimization.

• Launch Ulead SmartSaver Lets the

program automatically detect and run Ulead Smart Saver, a program that helps you create and optimize animations saved in JPEG, GIF, and PNG formats.

RealText 3D

You can now output your animations in the RealT ext 3D file format (*.r3t). This new format stores your animation while maintaining small file sizes, thus making it optimal for display on a Web page. T o output an animation in this format, use the File: Export To RealText 3D menu command. Once you’ve saved it, you can preview it in your default browser .

Appendices

Shortcuts

Main Program

Function Shortcut keys Description

File: New

Ctrl

Opens a new document

File: Op e n

Ctrl + O

Opens an existing project file (*.C3D)

File: Save

Ctrl + S

Saves the current file (in *.C3D format)

File: Import Graphics

Imports vector graphics (*.WMF or *.EMF)

File: Print

Ctrl

Prints the current document

Edit: Undo

Ctrl + Z

Alt

Backspace

Undoes the previous action

Edit: Red o

Ctrl + Y

Redoes the previous action that was undone

Edit: Cut

Ctrl

Shift + Delete

Cuts the sele cte d

bject from the current document and

places it in Wi ndows Clipboard

Edit: Paste

Ctrl + V

Shift + Ins

Pastes an object from Windows Clipboard into the current document

Edit: Delete

Ctrl + Del

Deletes the selected object

Edit: Insert Text

Ope ns the

Ulead

COOL 3D Text dialog box and inserts

text from Wi ndows Clipboard

Edit: Edit Text

Ope ns the

Ulead

COOL 3D Text dialog box containing

the text of the selected ob ject

Image: Output Preview

Renders the current frame at the selected Output Quality

Move Ob je ct

Selects the Move Object tool from the Standard Toolbar

Rotate Object

Selects the Rotate Object tool from the Standard Toolbar

Size Object

Selects the Size Object tool from the Standard Toolbar

Select Front Face

Selects/Deselects the fro nt face of the ob ject

Select Front Face exclusively

Ctrl

Shift

Selects the front face of the object and deselects all other faces

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

Path Editor

Function Shortcut keys Description

Delete path

Ctrl

+ Del De letes the selected path

Undo

Ctrl + Z

Undoes the previous action

Redo

Ctrl + Y

Redoes the previous action that was undone

Zoom in

Ctrl + "+"

Zooms in on the path or image i n the workspace

Zoom out

Ctrl

"-"

Zooms out of the path or image in the workspace

Select Front Bevel Face

Selects/Deselects the front bevel face of the object

Select Front Bevel Face exclusively

Ctrl + W OR Shift + W

Selects the front bevel face of the object and deselects all other faces

Select Side Face

Selects/Deselects the side face of the object

Select Side Face exclusively

Ctrl + E OR

Shift

Selects the side face of the object and deselects all other faces

Select Back Bevel Face

Selects/Deselects the back bevel face of the object

Select Back Bevel Face exclusively

Ctrl + R OR

Shift

Selects the back bevel face of the object and deselects all other faces

Select Back Face

Selects/Deselects the back face of the object

Select Back Face exclusively

Ctrl

+ T OR Shift + T

Selects the back faces of the object and deselects a ll other faces

Stop ani mation

Esc

Stops playin

the current animation sequence

Help

Displays Ulead COOL 3D help topics for menu items

Context Sensitive Help

Shift

Disp lays brief help top i c upon clickin

any one of the

features in the pro

ram

Limit object movement to sin

le axis

Shift + Move/Rotate/Size Object by dragging in edit window

Fixes the object's position on all axes except the axis of the initial motion

User Guide

Index

3D geometric shapes

adding and editing 27 Geometric T oolbar 5, 9

Adjust tool 67 animation, creating 29, 31

adding/deleting key frames 28 animating light and color 33 basic tutorial 31, 32 basics 28 Current Frame 28 Frames per second 29 key frames 29 Loop Mode 29 multiple objects 35 multiple objects tutorial 35, 36 multiple timelines 34 multiple timelines tutorial 34 Number of Frames 29 Ping Mode 29 Properties Menu 28, 29 reverse frame sequence 28 Show/Hide 29 Smooth Motion Path 28 Timeline Control 28 timelines 29

animation, previewing 29 Animation T oolbar 9 Attribute T oolbar 10 axes, three-dimensional space 17

background

adding 25

Bend plug-in 43 Bevel Effects 38 bevel style, basic 23

border 24 depth 24 extrusion 24 precision 24 weight 24

Blast plug-in 55 Board plug-in 38 Bump plug-in 56

cache view 6, 14 color 20

animating 33 applying to individual object faces 23

cone 26 Control Line 37 cube 26 Custom Bevel plug-in 38 cylinder 26

Dance plug-in 44 dimensions

menu command 13 setting 13 user-defined 13 using background size 13 Web and video standards 13

display quality 13

menu command 13 object precision 14 output quality 13

Distort plug-in 45

EasyPalette 10, 11

features 11 file directory 1 1 thumbnail pane 1 1

Edit Window 10 Explosion plug-in 46

file formats

A VI 72 BMP 71 C3D 71 GIF 71 JPEG 72 DirectX file format 26 MOV 72 R3T 74 TGA 72

Fire plug-in 58 Frame plug-in 40 frames per second 29

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

Geometric T oolbar 9 GIF animation 73, 5 global attributes 37 Global Effects 58 Glow plug-in 59 graphics, adding

3D geometric shapes 26 Microsoft X file format 26 overview 25 Path Editor 25 symbol-type fonts 26 vector graphics 25

HAL rendering 13 help 6

technical support 6

Hollow plug-in 41

image files, creating 71 image optimization

GIF animation 73 Ulead SmartSaver 74

Imprint plug-in 42 installation 7

Jump plug-in 57

key attributes 37 key frames 6, 29

adding and deleting 28 definition 29 for plug-ins 37 global attributes 37 key attributes 37

key frames and timelines

working with 29

light 20

ambient 20 animating 33 mode 21 positioning 21

specular 20

Location T oolbar 9

Motion Blur plug-in 60 Motion Path plug-in 46

new features 5 nodes 62

Object Effects 43 Object List 12, 15 Object Manager 5, 10, 15, 16 object style

color 20 editing 20 light 20

Object T oolbar 9 objects

basic movement 17 deleting 16 grouping 16 Object Manager 10, 16 renaming 16 rotating 17 selecting 15, 16 ungrouping 16

Path Animation plug-in 48 Path Editor 5

Adjust tool 67 adjusting paths 67 Attribute T oolbar 62 changing perspective 64 converting bitmap images to vector graphics 70 distorting objects 64 Freehand tool 66 importing a background image 69 Object tool 64 overview 62 Path tool 65 regular shapes 63 resizing objects 64 rotating objects 64 Shape tool 63 slanting objects 64 T ool Panel 62

User Guide

tracing a background image 69 vector graphics, overview 62 Zoom tool 68

Path tool 65 paths

overview 62

paths, creating

closed paths 65 curved lines 65 Freehand tool 66 Path T ool 65 straight lines 65

paths, editing

curved path segment 67 cusp curves 68 line segment 67 nodes 67 smooth curves 68 symmetric curves 67

plug-in effects

overview 37

plug-ins, categories

Bevel effects 38 Global Effects 58 Object Effects 43 Transition effects 55

plug-ins, individual

Bend 43 Blast 55 Board 38 Bump 56 Custom Bevel 38 Dance 44 Distort 45 Explosion 46 Fire 58 Frame 40 Glow 59 Hollow 41 Imprint 42 Jump 57 Motion Blur 60 Motion Path 46 Path Animation 48 Shadow 61 Surface Animation 49 T oken Move (G) 50 T oken Rotate (G) 51 T oken Size (G) 53 T oken Skew (G) 52 Twist 54

presets

applying 1 1, 12 backgrounds 12 basic motion 12 camera 12 compositions 12 shapes 12 Studio presets 1 1 symbols 12

previewing animations

cache view 14

Properties Menu 28, 34 pyramid 26

RealT ext 3D 74 running Ulead COOL 3D 7

saving a project 31 saving projects 71 selecting objects

multiple objects, Path Editor 64 Object Manager 16 Object tool, Path Editor 64 single object, Path Editor 64

Shadow plug-in 61 Show/Hide 29 size

object 19 project 13

sizing objects 17 sphere 26 Standard T oolbar 9 Surface Animation plug-in 49 symbol-type fonts 26

text object

adding 14 editing 15 T ext Toolbar 10

T ext T oolbar 10 texture 22

applying 22 applying to individual object faces 23 wrap 22

texture map 22

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0

Web

creating animations for 73 creating images for 71, 72 discussion group 6 RealT ext 3D 74 Ulead Homepage 6, 7

workspace

program map 8

zoom

in Path Editor 68

timeline 29

multiple timelines 30 Properties menu 29, 34 Timeline Control 29

Timeline Control 28

for plug-ins 37 functions 29

timelines

Control Line for plug-ins 37

T oken Move (G) plug-in 50 T oken Rotate (G) 51 T oken Size (G) plug-in 53 T oken Skew (G) plug-in 52 toolbars

Animation T oolbar 9 Attribute T oolbar 10, 37 Geometric T oolbar 9 Location T oolbar 9, 17 Object Toolbar 9 Standard T oolbar 9 T ext Toolbar 10

transforming objects

Object tool, Path Editor 64

Transition Effects 55 transparency , animated GIF 73 transparency, GIF 71 transparency, TGA 72 T wist plug-in 54

Ulead homepage 6 Ulead SmartSaver 74 updates 7

free downloads 7 Ulead Homepage 7

vector graphics 25

converting bitmap images to 70 nodes 62 overview 62 paths 62

video

creating 72 creating overlays for 72 options 72

Ulead COOL 3D 3.0 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual