Morphing

In this section you will see what morphing is and how to morph objects in Vectorian Giotto.

Morphing basics

Morphing is a special effect in animation that transforms one shape into another. This transformation is done gradually (in a series of steps) and seamlessly. Certain chosen points of the first shape are moved to the position of corresponding points in the second shape.

Creating morph in Giotto

Morphing in Giotto is possible only between shapes in the same layer. In order to morph successfully you need at least two key frames. One key frame will be starting point and other key frame will serve as an ending point for morph. We will demonstrate morphing between a rectangle and an oval. On the first key frame (by default it is frame number 1): Draw a rectangle in the top left corner of the Stage with blue interior and black solid outline. Also, draw an oval in the bottom right corner of the Stage with yellow interior and red dotted outline. Your Stage should look like this:
morphing
Now insert second key frame (for example make 24th frame a key frame). Choose Window/Morph Shapes from menu bar. This command will open Morph Shapes window inside main Giotto window. Now let’s look at the Morph Shapes window for a moment. Notice 4 combo boxes from which you can choose important parameters for morphing. First choose on which layer morphing should be performed. This choice will affect next choice – which key frames will provide shapes for morphing. After you have chosen keyframes (in our example Keyframes #1 to 24), choose First shape and Target shape. Having all parameters set you can now preview morph (by clicking Preview morph button) and see how First shape will morph into Target shape. On Preview Morph window you can click Play button to see complete morphing process or move slider with left mouse button pressed to see morphing frame-by-frame. When you are satisfied with results, click Create morph button on Morph Shapes window.
morphing

Modifying and removing morph

After creating the morph, you can modify it by clicking Modify morph button and then modifying any shape that is included in the morph by changing its appearance or position. Also, you can remove morph by clicking Remove morph button. If you have done something else after creating the morph, you can still modify it or remove it. Just left-click on the timeline starting frame for the morph and select first shape from combo box or by clicking Pick shapes and selecting first and second shape for morph. Options for modifying and removing morph are available again.
morphing

Consecutive morphs

It is possible to create consecutive morphs in Giotto. In such morphs one shape can be target for first morph and source for second morph which produces interesting effects. Here is the example of creating consecutive morphs, just follow these steps:

1. Create one rectangle on first keyframe (for example, 1st frame of animation), one oval on second keyframe (for example, 20th frame) and one brush on third keyframe (for example, 40th frame).
morphing
2. Left-click 1st frame on the timeline. Open Morph Shapes window if it is not already open.

3. Choose Keyframes #1 to 20 from Keyframes combo box and click Pick shapes button. Select rectangle from first keyframe by left-clicking it. Notice that mouse cursor has number 1, a square and a star next to it. Giotto will now automatically show second key frame (20th frame in this example), the one with oval in it.

4. Select oval (mouse cursor will show number 2) and click Create morph button in Morph Shapes window. You have successfully created first of two consecutive morphs.

5. Now choose Keyframes #20 to 40 from Keyframes combo box. Click Pick shapes button and choose oval as the first shape. Giotto will show second key frame (40th frame in this example). Choose brush shape and click Create morph. You have created morph. If you want to see the final result, left-click 1st frame on the timeline and click Play button on the Main toolbar.