Breaking glass
Fracture bold text into moving glass-like shards, then reveal the next phrase. Edit the sequence, change the fracture pattern and control the impact and timing.
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Use a fracture as a single change of scene
The "Breaking-glass transition" provides a dramatic effect when introducing a title or short phrase, making it seem as if the user is passing into a new area. "Breaking Glass" breaks editable text apart through a glass-like crack, and moves the pieces outward to allow the user to view the following line. This is an excellent way to begin a dramatic chapter, game trailer, music video title or short campaign beat that requires a greater transition than a fade.
The editor generates a stylized visual representation of a broken glass window. This is not a simulation of a safety tested glass breakage, it does not produce actual shards of glass, nor does it generate a sound recording. Presenting the results of this effect as actual damage should be avoided. If a scene portrays an event that is hazardous to health and/or safety, you must include enough production context so viewers understand the nature of the event being portrayed. The effect will visually indicate a transformation within the video while other aspects of the video continue to provide narrative, safety and/or product information.
Keep the phrase short enough to survive the impact
The Phrases box will accept a maximum of 80 characters. Two short lines, or a brief phrase, can be used prior to and following the break in your message. A long phrase may be split during the layout process, and may also conflict with fragment use. For example, for a campaign, the first line may identify the former state and the second may introduce the latter state. A movie trailer may display the chapter title, or ask a single question. It is important to remember that the wording must make sense regardless of how the glass treatment explains it.
Be sure to check for spelling errors and correct line breaks prior to selecting a fracture pattern. Because the text is editable within the scene, it is preferable to correct a typo at this stage rather than to apply a second correction at a later time. Prior to exporting the project, verify any dates, product specifications or quotes that appear in the title. An effective use of a visual effect will not make up for text that cannot be read by viewers, or that provides inaccurate information.
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| Control | Available direction | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Glass style | Crystal, Frosted or Obsidian | Sets the fragment appearance |
| Impact strength | Fragment travel | Changes how far pieces scatter |
Choose a glass look and control how many pieces move
The Glass Style offers three different visual effects, including: - Crystal: This provides a visual effect that reads as being a clean, crisp, reflective surface. - Frosted: This softens the visual treatment of the object. - Obsidian: This shifts the visual fragments towards being a dark material. The Glass Fragment setting ranges from 24 to 96, which will affect the density of the breakup of the object. A lower number will produce larger pieces that will be easier to view, whereas a higher number will create a much finer division within the object and may create a sense of being too busy.
The new Fracture Pattern option creates a different layout. Create multiple layouts of the same phrase and style; evaluate each layout for how well it leads the viewer to read the subsequent message. More fragments do not necessarily translate to a better result. Small fragments can obscure letterforms or create visual clutter on mobile devices. Titles that are large and easy to read usually work best when they have some separation, but not so much as to be completely spread throughout the entirety of the frame.
Place the impact where the edit can absorb it
Global movement and timing control the pace of your scene. Cut, beat, or find a time where the audience expects the subject to change and place the fracture. If you use a short clip, the viewer will have less time to process the initial phrase. If you use a long build up, then if the overall edit is slow, the build up can lessen the effect of the fracture. You should view the entire sequence with the shots both prior to and after it, rather than viewing the sequence within the editor's preview window.
Keep your most important words and parts of sentences out of the areas where the interfaces of the app will overlap your content (at the top and bottom) for a 9:16 social video. Titles that are horizontal can take up more space on the screen, but if you have a square cropped title, then you might be able to use fewer words. When the fragment cloud gets in front of the second part of your sentence, you should either make the first part shorter, change the density of the cloud, or give yourself a longer amount of time to hold the end of your sentence. A transition only works when it connects two different ideas, not just to show movement for no reason.
Examples that make the break meaningful
A game trailer can show a fictional chapter name prior to the fracture and then display either a new location or character. A design studio can utilize this effect after developing an early concept and before presenting a final product, as long as the video demonstrates how things changed. A music video can use this effect at least once when the chorus begins. This effect is a conscious decision to make a transition, as opposed to representing every single transition made during the entire development process of the project.
The use of a fracture as a metaphor for revising an assumption followed by a representation of the evidence which changes the conclusion is an example of what an educational explainer can do. The animation is not evidence of the conclusion itself; rather, it is a marker of the transition between the two conclusions. If a statement is presented as factual, then the surrounding content should provide either a supporting source or explanation. A softer arrival created using letter pieces would be provided through the Cutout Letter Assemble.
Keep the fragments from overpowering the title
The first thing you want to do is to get started on your text. Once you have chosen the type of material you want to use, select the level of fragmentation (density) for that material. At this time, you will be able to generate several different types of patterns, and then view them all from start to finish. When viewing your patterns, pay attention to the title right before the break, the point where the fragments separate and the final message. If the pattern is too busy, consider reducing the amount of fragmentation (density) or selecting a softer material such as a frosted pattern. If the pattern does not have enough contrast, try selecting another background or introducing a line break prior to creating additional fragments.
The visual effect does not have an independent sound volume adjustment, therefore, if you need a corresponding sound in your video editing software, then use an associated audio track when you combine the animated sequence with the rest of your video. Use a licensed audio track that will be used for the final product and do not assume that the built-in animation contains any impact-related sounds. This applies similarly to physical realism: the glass-like fragments are merely a symbolic representation of shattered glass rather than an actual shot of something being broken. Having a clear and concise design brief will help to prevent viewers from misinterpreting a visual metaphor as an actual event.
Download the title for a video or still layout
The Export Dialog provides three different export formats for this effect: PNG, GIF and a browser-supported Video format. When exporting as a Video, you have the option of having a Solid Background or a Green Screen Canvas. If you choose to export as a Video, any Transparent Pixels will become part of the Flat Image in the exported Video file. Therefore, you should use Chroma Keying to overlay the exported Video on top of a Second Shot. Similarly, when exporting as a GIF, you have the ability to select either a Solid Background or a Green Screen Canvas. Additionally, the Export Dialog will display all supported formats for your specific browser. It would be beneficial to review these formats prior to beginning the Editing Process.
Use a PNG still when the entire phrase has been completed as part of a poster or slide. When you want to show the fracture and reveal of the phrase use a video. Check the finished product on your timeline to ensure that the second phrase will remain on-screen long enough to allow for reading. To make adjustments to your title, density or pattern later, save your work. If you prefer to illuminate the phrase instead of fracturing it, consider using Paper Spotlight. Cutout Letter Assemble provides the illusion that each letter is constructed from paper. The export guide provides information regarding different options available for video production.
Use licensed copy and avoid implying an actual accident
Impact transitions can create the illusion of an event taking place in real-time. Do not pair impact transitions with real damage reports, photographs of people, or news articles in such a manner as to indicate that something physically damaged took place, but actually didn't. Be sure to use text and images that you either created yourself or received permission to use. In addition, if the transition is used within a product advertisement, do not suggest that the product itself is fragile or dangerous unless this is the direct, supported message of the ad.
To make sure that you have edited properly, simply verify that your chosen phrase is still correct, that none of the small pieces that were edited out are obscuring what you are trying to say, and that where you chose to edit seems like an intentional choice. If people only remember the "crash-like" movements from your edit, try to find a less dense way of editing or use a softer transition. For accessibility, make sure to include the main ideas of your message in either captions or a transcript, as this will allow for those who cannot watch the video with sound, or for those who may need to view the video with limited motion, to receive the same message.