RealPix Trix #2: Rattle the Windows
by Tim Kennedy
March 3, 1999

In the last RealPix Trix, I used a built in digital wipe to create the illusion of a formation of flying planes. That was fun but now it is time to make something a bit more complex.

This time out, I want to make the planes fly against the skyline of Seattle. While the Blues have not performed over Elliott Bay for a couple of years (they unfortunately prefer Lake Washington), I want to create a RealPix image that captures the excitement of the planes skimming the buildings downtown.

To perform this effect, I am going to make use of the push wipe I used previously and combine it with the viewchange effect that RealPix offers. Along the way, I will introduce working with layers in SMIL. As the planes "roar" by, layers will allow me to pan the skyline scene along with the planes. For added impact, the Blues will disappear behind Seattle's Columbia Tower.

So strap yourself in and let's make those planes fly!