growing vine animation

[jevans]

hello,

i am trying to create an animation of a grape vine growing. the vine will make a loop or two as it grows. i understand the process of masking it's the particular shape and the fact that it loops over itself that is creating my problem. i've attached an example of my shape if anyone has a moment to have a look.

thanks for your time, jevans.

[pixelwit]

I would probably break the vine up into a bunch of smaller animations. I would create a mask and motion guide for the main vine, then place a "V" shaped graphic at the base of the vine that will follow where the vine is supposed to grow on a motion path. Then I'd "color-in" behind the triangle on a motion path with a shape tween behind a mask. Then repeat this process for some of the smaller offshoot vines.

Hope it helps,

-PiXELWiT
http://www.pixelwit.com