User`s guide

Chapter 7 Working with Shapes
338
Using Sphere Shapes
The Sphere shape models the source image onto a sphere. In addition, Sphere lets you
animate Perspective, which is useful in creating transitions and includes a Shadow tab.
Unlike the 3D Sphere shape, the Sphere is not used as a 3D Primitive.
The 3D Sphere shape type allows sphere shapes to work in 3D Containers in Z Space
Composite or 3D Model mode, and provides some additional controls.
In addition, the 3D Sphere correctly displays non-square pixels. The 3D Sphere does not
include a Shadow tab, but you can add shadows by nesting the 3D Sphere in a 3D Container.
For more information on the 3D Sphere shape, see “Describing the 3D Sphere Shape” on
page 320.
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Some of the Sphere tabs are identical to the corresponding tabs in other shapes. These tabs
are described in “Using Common Shape Parameters” on page 308.
Applying the Sphere Parameters
The Sphere tab contains parameters that control the perspective of the viewer in relation to
the sphere, the percentage of the sphere covered by the image, the opacity of the front of the
sphere, and how the source image is wrapped around the sphere.
For detailed information on the Sphere tab parameters, see “Sphere Tab” on page 388.
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If you spin, tumble, or rotate a sphere and then unwrap it, the object moves back to its
original position in 3D space as it unwraps. To animate the sphere so that it spins through
one full revolution and unwraps as it spins, animate Spin Y from –360 to 0 (or 360 to 0 to go
the other direction). Otherwise, the image’s motion counteracts the Spin Y as it moves to the
original, unrotated position.
The following illustrations show the Wrap menu choices.