Cut-out logo

[Bluewave07]

Hey guys,
This is probably an easy question, but it's sort of hard to explain.

I'm trying to create a logo. In this logo I want the name of my production company to show, then instead of a colored font I want a picture to make up the font. I know usually you could simply find the picture, copy it, then use the "paste from" option to place it as the picture within the font.

However, I need this picture to move.

My thought was to somehow create a layer in photoshop with a black background and with a cut-out frame of my text. That way in After Effects I can import this layer, place a picture behind it, and keyframe it to move.

I can't figure out how to create this cut-out layer. If you can explain it that'd be great! I'm not very experienced either, so a detailed explanation would be appreciated!

If this can be done solely in AE thatd be good, but I figured Photoshop was probably needed too. Thanks!!

Matt

 

[milksac]

Use the text (AE or Photoshop) as a track matte for your video. Search "track matte" in the help files it's all there.

 

[encity5]

yeah the track matte would deffinetly work, was also thinking that you probably could make the text a distint color (say green or blue depending what other colors are in your logo,) and just key out the color in AE and put the moving image behind it.
Personally i would go with the track matte.

 

[Neil Rowe]

track matte is the way to go. it basically takes the alpha values of your text layer using whatever font you want, and uses it as a mask for your other layer. so you could use it to only see your picture layer where the typed text would be, or only NOT see your picture layer where your typed text would be or however else youd like to apply the mask.