dot roll

Getting a dot to roll can be difficult. If you simply use the magic move transition and on the following slide rotate and move your dot, it will just look like it moved and not rotated. Being able to identify the dot is rotating is key to making it roll. Your viewers need a frame of reference. The above animation has 4 different ways to make a dot roll:

1. Use the reflection option in keynote
2. Add a smaller dot to show where the larger dot is in its rotation
3. Use an advanced gradient to give a 3-D look (the problem here is that it looks like the light source is also rotating which could disorient the viewer)
4. Apply a very subtle gradient (this option is my favorite, but does not show well online)

download rollingdot.key

Comments

[erz]

Quick tip of the day: Give the circle a texture that makes the rotating motion visible. One of the subtle textures provided by Keynote (via the fill shape dialog) should work just fine. There are plenty of textures to be purchased or free online.

Then, add a second circle of the same size instead of a reflection. Apply a gradient from black to alpha, adjust to emulate a shadow and have it mirror the motion, but not the rotation of the rolling circle. Viola, stylish rolling motion.