Animating a logo along a path
polycounter lvl 7
Hi guys. I am working on a logo animation for a studio. Basically the logo is a shape like these except there is a break in the mesh (as in the line isnt neverending) and the shape isnt uniform there are bulges here and there. 
It is a 3D collapsed edit poly at the moment but I would like to animate the mesh snaking onto the screen then tying itself into the knotted logo. I was only asked to design the logo but would like to make a little ident for it too but am completely at a loss as to where to start going about achieving this effect.
What I would like to ask briefly is : Is this even possible from a collapsed mesh and if so can you point me in the right direction?
I am open to all solutions so after effects, 3D e.t.c.
Btw I am using 3ds max.
Thanks.
It is a 3D collapsed edit poly at the moment but I would like to animate the mesh snaking onto the screen then tying itself into the knotted logo. I was only asked to design the logo but would like to make a little ident for it too but am completely at a loss as to where to start going about achieving this effect.
What I would like to ask briefly is : Is this even possible from a collapsed mesh and if so can you point me in the right direction?
I am open to all solutions so after effects, 3D e.t.c.
Btw I am using 3ds max.
Thanks.
Replies
Also, you can select an edge loop, and extract that into a spline, using "Create Shape From Selection". That way you can make a path that follows it exactly. You can also choose Smooth and it will curve the path a bit.
The issue now is that while I have the logo sliding on the screen and tying itself up because the shape isn't the same width along its length it looks odd when it slides on. I want the shape to go through the wider parts of the logo and get wider and then thin out later and I need it to exactly follow the shape. Almost like it was water flowing through a swirly straw that changed radius. I can think of a few ways how to do this but naturally in motion graphics it needs to exactly follow the logo shape as that's the whole point. If I need to make a custom script then that's fine at least I know I exhausted avenues but its driving me mad.
This has actually opened my eyes to motion graphics as surely this is an issue faced on almost every project.
The run down
"String" slides onto screen on a path and ties itself into the knot.
Edit - What I may do is model the entire object as it flows along the path and then mask is in AE or even use a moving Boolean in max so the mesh only seems to move, that would likely work.
Just for reference we have figured out 3 ways of doing this now.
1 : Use a displacement map as Eric suggested and animate the thing along a path and animate the UV offset accordingly
2 : Use masks of some kind. Model the whole object and the line of it going off screen and use an animated mask either as a boolean inside max or in after effects or something. This would be the simplest but most limited.
3 : Custom script. A coder I have asked wants to give this problem a shot as it sounds 'fun' (coders are amazing and mystical beings) and his first thought is to baaically take a bunch of edge loop cross sections and use them as a frame to essentially loft the mesh through. Pretty much like a loft but crossed with a path deform options.
I cannot stress enough how much respect I have for motion designers. I mean all their effects are so complex and in most cases they require some serious out of the box thinking. I am really gonna have to study animation more as its so interesting.