I may be sitting in front of the computer during a deep winter freeze but I’m secretly dreaming of some of the places I would love to ride and bring my family someday. Many of the Colorado trails top my list including the Monarch Crest Trail in Salida, Colorado.
Getting Started:
- I was able to find the trail data and download the GPX file from Singletracks.
- Google Earth Studio allows users to import KML files, so I used a web application to convert the GPX file to KML.
Exploring Google Earth Studio:
- With a little help from YouTube tutorials and some trial and error, it was able to create map that zoomed in to Colorado and showed the trail in all its 3D splendor.
- By importing my KML file into Google Earth Studio I was able to set targets for the start and end points of the Monarch Crest Trail and export them as .jsx scripts that I could run in After Effects..
Bringing It to Life in After Effects:
- I ran the .jsx script from Google Earth Studio and added dynamic trail marker animations and a label in After Effects.
Result: A visually engaging map animation that not only better represents the elevation, location and “feel” for the trail but also makes me want to get out to Colorado even sooner.
Looking Ahead: I’m excited to dive deeper into creating more motion graphics for map animations, typography, and storytelling using these powerful tools.
Shoutout to some youtube accounts and the people behind them who helped me: Boone Loves Video and Javier Mercedes, thank you!