Google Earth Studio: Animation Tool

Archive notice: This article was originally published on January 24, 2019. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.

Animation software based on Google Earth data as a previz & storyboarding tool? At present, Google Earth Studio can only be tested with beta registration. It can also take some time for a request to go through. (For us, it took two weeks) So here is an overview:

The Functions at a Glance

• Interface: Project Settings, multiview view and Animation Editor
• Animations: With camera and environment attributes (position, rotation and more)
• Overlays & KLM Import and use geographic data
• Rendering: After setting the frame range and resolution, as a JPG sequence
• After Effects Support: Export 3D camera data and use it as a script in AE!

User Interface

Once a project has been selected with resolution, frame rate (up to 60 fps) and duration, the actual workspace opens: At first (and second) glance, a simplified form of any animation tool. In the upper area you can set the views with the Google Earth content, while the Animation Editor is located in the lower section. Control works as usual via mouse buttons and scroll wheel for movement, rotation and zoom in the 3D environment.

Animation, Attributes & Rendering

Animations are created with the help of attributes and keyframes in the editor: By default, camera postion, camera target and rotation are available for this purpose. In addition, you can add a camera lens and environment attributes. This also allows focal length and lighting conditions according to the time of day to be set and animated. Ease In, Out and Auto Ease, curve editor ensure that fluid movements and speeds are created. The sequences created can then be exported either as a snapshot or as a JPEG sequence via the Render button. Rendering takes place in the Chrome browser.

Advanced Functions & After Effects

Alongside creating simple animations, it is also possible to import KML files as an overlay. Points, polygons, placemarks and ground overlays are available.

Of particular interest, however, is the option to export 3D camera data, which is currently compatible with Adobe After Effects. Additional tracking points can be set as references and the camera data exported either individually (as a .jsx script) or together with the image sequence during rendering in the “Advanced” tab. The script file then creates a composition in After Effects with all relevant layers: camera, image sequence of the rendered animation, null objects and text layers. In a short test by us, this also worked quite well. It could be a little more user-friendly if the tracker points in Google Earth Studio were visible not only in the 2D view but also in the 3D view.

Use & Licence

Google Earth Studio runs up to now only in (the current version of) Chrome with a linked Google account. According to the usage guidelines, Earth Studio can be “used free of charge for news, research, training and non-profit purposes”. When used for film and television purposes, a free broadcast licence may need to be obtained. More on that in the guidelines.

Further Information: To Google Earth Studio