Using Newton and Pastiche to create a dynamic text or logo reveal.

Learn how to use Pastiche and Newton for Adobe After Effects to create this dynamic text or logo reveal.
We will use Pastiche to move hundreds of layers to form a number. Then we’ll use Newton’s magnetic feature to animate the layers and make them interact with each other!

This project was one of the first to use both Pastiche and Newton plugins in After Effects. We explain how we combined the features of these two tools to create dynamic visual effects.

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Step 1: Setting Up the Composition

The animation consists of three main parts:

• The initial appearance of the circles.
• The Pastiche-driven morphing effect.
• The Newton physics-based movement.

We won’t cover the first part in detail, as it simply involves duplicating and arranging circles. Instead, we’ll focus on how we used Pastiche and Newton to achieve the final effect.

Step 2: Creating the Pastiche Effect

The goal of this step is to morph scattered circles into a text shape using Pastiche.

Preparing the Layers

• All circles are on separate layers.
• A text layer acts as the source shape for Pastiche.

Applying Pastiche

• Create two key states:
  • First state: The circles remain static.
  • Second state: The circles morph into the text shape.
• Use From Layer Markers to define animation points.
• Set initial keyframes on position and scale.
• Apply Pastiche settings:
  • Rescale factor: 85%
  • Layer order: Random
  • Offset method: Distance from image center
  • Temporal interpolation: Punch Out
  • Offset frames: 50 for staggered animation

After generating keyframes, we achieved an organic transformation effect where circles smoothly move into place, mimicking a natural motion.

Step 3: Applying Newton for Physics-Based Movement

Next, we use Newton to create a repulsion effect where circles spread outward from the center.

Preparing for Newton

• Copy layers from the Pastiche animation.
• Remove keyframes to reset movement.
• Offset layer start times to introduce staggered activation.

Newton Simulation

• Disable gravity to keep objects floating.
• Apply magnetism:
  • Type: Repulsion
  • Lower magnet intensity for smoother motion.
  • Adjust magnet distance for a controlled spread.
• Use linear damping to slow down movement.
• Increase sub-steps for better accuracy.
• Modify time divider to fine-tune animation speed.

Once the Newton simulation is complete, we render the animation back into After Effects.

Step 4: Finalizing the Animation

• The first part (static circles) was pre-arranged.
• The second part (Pastiche morphing) smoothly transitioned the circles into text.
• The third part (Newton repulsion) created the outward explosion effect.
• We tweaked the timing and added final adjustments to enhance fluidity.

The result? A dynamic, physics-driven typography animation achieved by combining Pastiche for object placement and Newton for motion simulation.

Conclusion

This project demonstrated how Pastiche and Newton can work together to create complex motion graphics efficiently. By leveraging these tools, we achieved organic transformations and physics-based movements with minimal manual animation.

Want to try it yourself? Experiment with different settings and see how you can create unique variations!

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more motion design breakdowns.