Video Path Animation

The goal is to create path animations, such as with a travel route overlayed on a map.

• so far, it seems this can't be done smoothly using only Illustrator and Final Cut Express
• Forum thread: http://www.photography-forums.com/t82332-map-travel-animation.html

• One approach that I ran across was to simply use an editor's transition wipe function to have a controlled replacement of the highlighted map image with the original map image. Reverse it, and you have your effect.
• Handwriting technique: http://wrigleyvideo.com/videotutorial/tutdes_handwriting.htm

  I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned the standard way of doing this effect.
  
  In Photoshop, or something similar, import the map and lay down the "path"
  on a separate layer.
  
  Save the map with the line in some form that can be imported by the video
  editing software.
  
  In Photoshop (or something similar), delete the map layer, but not the layer
  containing the path.
  
  Apply a gradient to the path so that it is black on one end and white on the
  other.
  
  Save just the path as a separate file, with alpha channel preserved (use TIF
  or PSD).
  
  In you video edit, import both map files, i.e. the one with and the one
  without the path, as well as the file containing the separate path.
  
  Place the two map photos adjacent and apply a gradient wipe transition to
  the photos. Stretch the transition so that it covers both completely. In
  the gradient wipe transition controls, specify the separate path file as the
  mask.
  
  Render.

• Road Trip Effect (product): http://www.solrobots.com/roadtrip/index.html

• http://wrigleyvideo.com/videotutorial
• http://www.videohelp.com/
• http://www.afterdawn.com/
• http://www.digitalfaq.com/
• http://www.doom9.org/