Creating Route/Map Animations

[Arfa]

I'm looking for ideas on how best to present a route in a video. You know the deal, you're doing a vid about some ride or tour and what to set the stage with a quick clip or animation to show roughly the route you did. A start and end flag, some squiggly lines in-between with some key place names, but not too much detail or text.

What do you use? Any software recommendations?
Or do you just go old skool and record your grubby fingers or a pen on a real paper map?

I know iMovie comes with cheesy animations of planes jetting around the globe, but that's a bit too high level.
In the past I've done ken-burns scrolling across a static Google Maps screen grab, which is OK ish.
I've also done the pen on a paper map thing. Seen Itchy Boots do this with a highlighter, and yeah it does work well TBH.
I've noticed the fully paid up version of MyRoute-App can render an animation, potentially an option.

 

[R-Rated]

I'm looking for ideas on how best to present a route in a video. You know the deal, you're doing a vid about some ride or tour and what to set the stage with a quick clip or animation to show roughly the route you did. A start and end flag, some squiggly lines in-between with some key place names, but not too much detail or text.

What do you use? Any software recommendations?
Or do you just go old skool and record your grubby fingers or a pen on a real paper map?

I know iMovie comes with cheesy animations of planes jetting around the globe, but that's a bit too high level.
In the past I've done ken-burns scrolling across a static Google Maps screen grab, which is OK ish.
I've also done the pen on a paper map thing. Seen Itchy Boots do this with a highlighter, and yeah it does work well TBH.
I've noticed the fully paid up version of MyRoute-App can render an animation, potentially an option.

If you are using a tablet with a stylus how about a screen record of real time trace along the route?

If on a computer, that could work too if you have a drawing tablet and screen recording.

 

[R-Rated]

If you are using a tablet with a stylus how about a screen record of real time trace along the route?

If on a computer, that could work too if you have a drawing tablet and screen recording.

It just hit me, if you really go with a limited outlay of cash then a screen recording of you tracing the map route in something like MS paint might work too.

Or a retro cheesy style would be have a green screen with the map. Then you stand with a pointer stick ala 1980s weather person/military briefing style.

 

[Guest]

I know how much you like Itchy Boots.
She's been just showing people a map and using her finger and it got her from 0 to almost a million subscribers all on her own.

 

[Dewey316]

Million Dollar Bogan does it by holding his phone up to the camera. Lots of ways to do make the point, you just need to find what fits and how much detail you really need or want to give. You can do it simple or fancy as you want.

 

[Theodor]

I've (relatively) recently done two ways, both involving google maps route.
If the route is short enough or you want to show general enough map, you can get driving instructions on google map. Get a screenshot, now without moving the map, turn off the driving instructions, and take a second screenshot. It is important the images have the map exactly at the same position and size. Then you use the editor to show the map without the line, and with masking create animation of the other image revealing along the route. I've done this kind of thing in the beginning of the first ice cream hunt video, last summer.
Another thing I have done involves a lot more animating, but the overall idea is the same. I just use google earth to create sort of like 3d view. I did that in the beginning of my last poker run video.

 

[Arfa]

I've (relatively) recently done two ways, both involving google maps route.
If the route is short enough or you want to show general enough map, you can get driving instructions on google map. Get a screenshot, now without moving the map, turn off the driving instructions, and take a second screenshot. It is important the images have the map exactly at the same position and size. Then you use the editor to show the map without the line, and with masking create animation of the other image revealing along the route. I've done this kind of thing in the beginning of the first ice cream hunt video, last summer.
Another thing I have done involves a lot more animating, but the overall idea is the same. I just use google earth to create sort of like 3d view. I did that in the beginning of my last poker run video.

Good tip. I guess it works better if the route is fairly straight ish, rather than wiggling about lots and possibly doubling back on itself. I'm still using iMovie on the Mac and I don't think it has such a mask feature, unfortunately (will have to double check).

 

[Theodor]

If it gets complex, it might be easier to add more layers to the animation, to make it smooth enough. So you would not need to mess around with the mask points so precisely.

 

[Guest]

If you're super smooth with your finger game you can just screen record either your phone or PC, and then super impose a basic motorcycle pic with no background over top.

 

[Hippo-Drones]

Or a retro cheesy style would be have a green screen with the map. Then you stand with a pointer stick ala 1980s weather person/military briefing style.

Hahaha, I love this!

 

[scooterwuf]

I’ve used Adobe After effects’ Stoke effect To creat animated maps. If you want, send me an image of the map you want to use, the start and end destinations, the color of the animated line, and how long you want the clip to last and I can do it for you pretty quick. This iMovie tutorial may help as well

Creating Animated Maps in iMovie | Media Commons

- Wolf

 

[Guest]

I’ve used Adobe After effects’ Stoke effect To creat animated maps. If you want, send me an image of the map you want to use, the start and end destinations, the color of the animated line, and how long you want the clip to last and I can do it for you pretty quick. This iMovie tutorial may help as well

Creating Animated Maps in iMovie | Media Commons

- Wolf

Can you share a clip and timestamp where we can see how it came out in the end plz?

 

[R-Rated]

Can you share a clip and timestamp where we can see how it came out in the end plz?

I know @scooterwuf teaches classes in film and animation so he might not be on here for a few.

In the meantime, this map is from one of his videos back in 2019.

 

[Drakhen99]

I usually grab a screen shot of Google Maps, showing the area I'm riding in. Then, I overlay a green arrow and keyframe it moving around the route I'm riding.

I don't show entire routes this way, though... more just a general "here's the area I'm in" sort of thing.

-John

 

[WaltInPA]

Google launched "Google Earth Studio" a little while back. It allows you to add motion to satellite images through keyframes.

I was able to get into the beta program by just signing up. I've only used it a couple of times but it could be pretty useful for doing a flyovers of the route.

 

[R-Rated]

Google launched "Google Earth Studio" a little while back. It allows you to add motion to satellite images through keyframes.

I was able to get into the beta program by just signing up. I've only used it a couple of times but it could be pretty useful for doing a flyovers of the route.

That looks to be promising. I see that we can still request to be part of it so I submitted a request for it though I am not going to get my hopes up. The FAQ page has this:

How much does Earth Studio cost?​

Earth Studio is free to use for news, research, education, and nonprofit use.

Can I use Earth Studio for commercial applications?​

We currently do not offer a license to use Google Earth imagery for commercial applications. This includes using Earth Studio content without attribution.

 

[Arfa]

I’ve used Adobe After effects’ Stoke effect To creat animated maps. If you want, send me an image of the map you want to use, the start and end destinations, the color of the animated line, and how long you want the clip to last and I can do it for you pretty quick. This iMovie tutorial may help as well

Creating Animated Maps in iMovie | Media Commons

Yep, I've used that iMovie option, nice for a plane zooming to another country, but less useful for a more detailed route between a couple of cities. Ta for the offer regarding After Effects - I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[R-Rated]

That looks to be promising. I see that we can still request to be part of it so I submitted a request for it though I am not going to get my hopes up. The FAQ page has this:

How much does Earth Studio cost?​

Earth Studio is free to use for news, research, education, and nonprofit use.

Can I use Earth Studio for commercial applications?​

We currently do not offer a license to use Google Earth imagery for commercial applications. This includes using Earth Studio content without attribution.

Well, just got the email from Google.

I got accepted to use Google Earth Studio!

 

[Ziborlun]

Hmm, I've just had an idea about this. I used to use the ViewRanger app to help me get hopelessly lost in the mountains (now replaced by OutdoorActive). It had a '3d playback' mode where it would show your route as a movie with a little icon zooming along over google satellite view, with a moving camera etc.

I'm not sure if OutdoorActive still has that feature, but if it does you might be able to screen record it playing back... I will try it out next time I'm out and about and see if it still works.

Caveat - you have to use the app to record your route as you travel along it first of course.

 

[R-Rated]

Google launched "Google Earth Studio" a little while back. It allows you to add motion to satellite images through keyframes.

I was able to get into the beta program by just signing up. I've only used it a couple of times but it could be pretty useful for doing a flyovers of the route.

Thanks for putting this out there. I just had to try it out.

It works for PC and Mac. Not really doable in the field with mobile devices though.

Proof of concept