After Effects Questions

[EddieTheYeti]

Okay, I'm, I guess, a noob to filmmaking. I have I think either Pinacle 8,9,10 for editing. It works really well and has good chroma key. However, I've seen some of the cool stuff AE can do. I just wanted to ask this is after effects just a special effects program or just editing software with some cool special effect stuff?

[nooneimportant77]

after effects is really made for ONLY adding effects. you would take your footage put it in after effects, then put it back into your editing program like imovie or final cut or whatever

EDIT: wooo 100 posts haha

[EddieTheYeti]

cool thanks man next payday I'm picking up effects hopefully lol

[nooneimportant77]

^^ cool, its real cool, teadious at first, but once you have an understanding of whats goinig on its pretty fun

[Cuboos]

I'm pretty good at After Effects. if you have any questions, i should be able to answer them.

[ciwi286]

if your getting after effects http://www.therapix.co.nr/ is a great site

[nooneimportant77]

just set up AE 7 (professional version and all) SO SWEET

PIXEL MOTION RULES

[CreepyClownpro]

Hi
Where can i find a Fisheye lens plug in for Premiere, After Effect's or Vegas

thanks!

[John the Fish]

HEY PAL

you should invest in a fisheye.

[nooneimportant77]

a plug in will only distort the image you already have it wont make your image super wide like a real fish eye

[ciwi286]

I know where your comin from mate... I do my fisheye in post aswell

there is no plugin as such and you wont get the wide angle but you can get that kind of effect...and i will tell you how

make a new black solid. make an elliptical mask on that solid and then reverse it so it just covers the edges like you see in a fisheye shot. feather the edges a teensy bit so the isn't so sudden

next you wanna go into...effects, distort, spherize and change the radius so it fits your mask.
this give you a fairly good fish eye effect but is in NO WAY a substitute for a real fisheye.... but the again you might be like me and not have a camera that can use a fisheye lens...(lol my webcam)

[CreepyClownpro]

Thanks man!

[SethJohnson]

Ok, so I have this problem in AE where after I export the footage, everything is shaky. I don't mean the shot either, the whole thing shakes, even the border.

Is there a way I can fix this?

[ciwi286]

dont export!

use the add to render queue function. set all your properties in the render queue (youll have to make the bottom window bigger to see this!)
select the name and output destination and hit render...then wait while it renders out! It usually comes out with better quality than exporting and hopefully will fix your problem!

[SethJohnson]

^Yeah I do that. Render, export, its all the same to me.

[nooneimportant77]

there could be a number of problems but dont worry nothing too serious.

i have after effects 7, but i'm pretty darn sure the set up is the same for whatever version.

firstly dont export at all, go to composotion then "make movie"

try that see if it helps if not, there could be a few other things

[SethJohnson]

Yeah, I said above I do that.

[ciwi286]

No...hes talking about a different thing!

[rrh]

I'll bet it's an interlacing thing. You are treating interlaced footage as progressive or vice-versa.

[Egg Dude]

Make sure not many other programs are running, that can make the render screw up...

[SethJohnson]

Any other ideas?

[bridboyross]

So I want to download the after effects 7 trial and have a few questions.

First it is not for this computer but my other PC (I dont have the web on my vista PC) and so was wondering if I can download it onto my memory stick and then upload it onto my other PC?

Secondly will it actually work with Vista or are there patches I may need?

Thirdly will it work with Ulead Videostudio 10 plus or is is only compatible with Premier?

And finally will it be possible to use plug ins with the trial (specifically Stu Maschwitz's REBEL CC plug in from The DV Rebels Guide.)

I'd really appreciate some answers as I cannot afford the full After Effects and eBay aint giving me many affordable options.

[Kobl]

The trial does not come with the Cycore effects (cc). However you can download the trial and run it with the AE trial, but it will render with a big green X in the middle of the screen. Don't plan on using their preset in your movies with the trial cc effects.

[bridboyross]

so what you are saying is that if I try and export my movie from after effects whilst using the REBEL CC preset it will have watermark?

[Kobl]

Yes, a big ugly one stretching across the whole screen. FYI, when I say rendering, I mean rendering your final comp/ram preview.

Edit: Try some manual color correction first

Levels and curves with maybe some tint should do the trick. Play with it til it looks good.

Alliteratively, you could send me your footage and I could do the corrections for you, but you'd have to be nice to me.

[hayden]

Ok, I want to get adobe after effects, but theres two things I want to know.

1. Is their one for the mac?

2. Can I get it for less than 699?

[ciwi286]

1. Yes, Its available on Mac.

2. Get an older version, or try and find something on eBay (but watch-out its not a pirate copy)

[FreshMentos]

As ciwi286 already said, yes there is a Mac version. You can get a great discount from this site: http://www.academicsuperstore.com/?sourcecode=lcg&promocode=0D020027&gclid=CK7w2pHigo8CFQSOggod63Tv3g

[forkazoo]

Ok, I want to get adobe after effects, but theres two things I want to know.

1. Is their one for the mac?

2. Can I get it for less than 699?


If you are on the Mac, you may want to check out Shake. It works a bit differently from After Effects, which some people find very good and others find very bad. I happen to be one of the ones who really prefers the node based interface used in Shake, so I suggest it to people a lot. :)

List is $499, educational discount is apparently half that if you are a student. It also has some of the best documentation ever. Or, at least used to. Apparently, Apple has removed all the good bits in the most current version, but the documentation used to reccomend murder under several circumstances. :)

[hayden]

Ok, I just got after effects. But I am totally clueless, do you guys know of any tutorials that teach the basics of after effects?

[rab236]

detonation films tutorials have stuff on all the editing programs. http://www.detonationfilms.com/tutorials.htm

[rab236]

final cut express - eBay

[forkazoo]

final cut express - eBay

Ummm... Microsoft Word - Walmart

Are we just naming random software and places to get it, or are you suggesting that Final Cut is equivalent to After Effects? I mean, it's a darned nifty editor, but it doesn't really do the same sort of stuff as AE. (Which is useless for editing.)

[nooneimportant77]

video co pilot basic training. this will show you ALOT of the features of after effects, and once you play around on your own with the things from it in mind you'll really learn the ins and outs

dont get me wrong it can be a tricky program, but this shows you how to break into it.

http://www.videocopilot.net/basic/

[rab236]

final cut express is the highest vote in the polls, so i said that. i have a mac personally so i said that because i does more than ae

[ericslovechild]

AE is for special effects. It's separate from editing programs, learn what you're talking about.

[rab236]

final cut does effects and editing. like a mix of AE and PR

[rab236]

video co pilot basic training. this will show you ALOT of the features of after effects, and once you play around on your own with the things from it in mind you'll really learn the ins and outs

dont get me wrong it can be a tricky program, but this shows you how to break into it.

http://www.videocopilot.net/basic/

those are pretty good tutorials.

[rab236]

Ok, I just got after effects. But I am totally clueless, do you guys know of any tutorials that teach the basics of after effects?

it's so hard to find for academic prices. can u send me a private mssg w/ serial number?

[ciwi286]

it's so hard to find for academic prices. can u send me a private mssg w/ serial number?

you still only have 30 days unless you activate it and if you let it access the internet, well thats how adobe catch pirates who are sharing serials!

[rab236]

i know it ran out of time 100 days ago

[SPARC]

i know it ran out of time 100 days ago

Time to get a job I guess. :)

[17thletterfilms]

video co pilot basic training. this will show you ALOT of the features of after effects, and once you play around on your own with the things from it in mind you'll really learn the ins and outs

dont get me wrong it can be a tricky program, but this shows you how to break into it.

http://www.videocopilot.net/basic/

Darnit! You beat me to it!

[demoncheeseball101]

Does any body have Adobe Premiere Pro CS3? How is it?
Could someone review it?

And also Adobe After Effects CS3 Professional, how is it and is it better than Apple Motion 3?

[demoncheeseball101]

uh . . . . could someone answer?

[Westcroft]

just google a review site... or go onto Adobe.com and look at the features and see if they meet your needs. I don't think you should spend that kinda dough on something you need other people's opinions on...

[dangleeno]

I think you can get a free trail for it. Could be wrong though.

[Jason Endurance]

WAY too rich for my blood.

[Hroman]

I own both and they work flawlessly together. I got the student edition of Adobe Creative Suite for $1,000. I have no idea how much better they are compared to other programs.

If you want to see After Effects Potential go to:
http://www.videocopilot.net

[AAVP]

Does any body have Adobe Premiere Pro CS3? How is it?
Could someone review it?

And also Adobe After Effects CS3 Professional, how is it and is it better than Apple Motion 3?
I used Adobe After Effects back in high school which was in 2000/2001. I just got the trail version of Adobe After Effects CS3 and a lot has changed; Seems more confusing.

If you take the time to learn it, I suppose the trial version would be good for some credits or whatever. Sad thing is, with the trial version, you don't get the whole program.

Either way, Adobe After Effects is a great program for videos if you can get good at it.

Adobe.com - Find the trial. Good luck.

[spicysmoke]

This may be a dumb question but anyway, im assuming after effects is a program used to put special fx into a movie after you've edited or before editing or something, im not sure, but would it work with other editing programs and not just premier?

[nooneimportant77]

well, after effects works "seamlessly" with adobe programs, but its nothing special, you just export the scene you need an effect for do the effect in after effects, then export it from there and put it back in the movie

[New Spark Films]

Yes. It is expensive and amazing. I would so love to have After Effects. It's a great program.

[spicysmoke]

well, after effects works "seamlessly" with adobe programs, but its nothing special, you just export the scene you need an effect for do the effect in after effects, then export it from there and put it back in the movie

That would be kind of a hassle though, and wouldn't it lower the quality?

[nooneimportant77]

That would be kind of a hassle though, and wouldn't it lower the quality?

its a little bit of a hastle, but thats what you do if you want to use after effects, and if you do it right no it wont lower the quality at all, when you're exporting to after effects (from final cut atleast i dont do it from another program so i wouldn't know much) you export to quicktime movie, not using quicktime conversion, but thats just a fancy way of saying set the compression to "none" then when you export back out of AE you also set the compression to "none" and your video wont lose any quality

[extramontana]

Hello,

Generally I use the old play around and learn technique, but I think with after effects I could stand to have some instruction. My internet connection is temporary (on breaks at work) so I can't really get into the cool online tutorials (video copilot,etc) very easily.

Is there a DVD series, or a downloadable series available that any of you would reccommend? Then when I'm around the internet when I'm not at work, I could download it, and pour over it at home.

It would make sense that good tutorials for a good (also expensive) program would be expensive. But when I stumbled on videocopilot I saw a glimmer of hope. (Also-I did email them and asked about the 'basic training' tutorials on DVD as well as some of the advanced stuff-but I haven't heard anything back.)

So, help, anyone?

Thanks.

[nooneimportant77]

there are plenty of books for after effects you could check those out, they're boring trust me but you learn.

[spicysmoke]

ok cool thanks

[mr Tree]

does anyone know of where i can dowload free after effecrts plugins. i'm not looking for anything in particular.[ha ha, pun] just want to get a bit of a library.

[dimaxx]

I believe After Effects misses only ONE plugin - Trapcode Particular. There is no need in others.

[snicket]

no need but I sure would love to have Key Light for my AE 6.5 stan.

[dimaxx]

Oh, right! Forgot that thing!
Oh, Mighty Keylight!!! Key me out! I'm sick of green!....
lol
really, keylight is more advanced than built-in chromakey

[snicket]

I wish I had it.....
I don't know where to get plug-ins but I have found some presets.

[dimaxx]

Where to get?
If you are rich - foundry.co.uk
Else - google it :)

[djwatermoore]

Generally After Effects Plug-ins aren't free unless they are Illegally obtained. Normally they cost a fortune. Particular for instance is 299.00 Pretty hard to swallow... but it is a very cool particle operator since it can operate in 3d space

[mr Tree]

ok... so plugins arn't free unless aquired ilegaly.

what about free presets. again i just want to build a library

[ciwi286]

Keylight is free
http://www.thefoundry.co.uk/pkg_downloads.aspx?ui=A5FB8E97-D752-4E01-AC7D-17B39B7E1192

but not available for 6.5...sorry!

[ampix0]

1. i just "obtained" after effects last nigh and i made my first and only little projects but I dont know how to render and export it or to what file type or size to export for youtube

2. Why do I need premiere? what dose it do exactly...

[NaziActionFigure]

You have to add the composition to the render que, I don't remember how exactly to do it though.

You don't need premiere. It's adobe's editing program.

[nooneimportant77]

hm i was going to tell you but then that "obtained" thing came to mind.

[ciwi286]

1. to export the file click on 'composition-->add to render queue' and click on the word lossless to change the output settings and click on the name of the comp to change the name and where it will save to. For the file type and encoding check out this episode of Weekend Extra (http://www.indymogul.com/weekend-extra/episode/IMWE_20071120) (or if you have divx downloaded anyway use that!)

2. Premiere is for putting multiple clips together and adding sound to your videos. So you do your effects in after effects and put all your 'effected' clips together in premiere and add sound effects. If you try and put all your clips toghether in after effects...It can work but rendering may be painful if you've done a lot of effects and you can't preview sound unless you do a full render so...premiere makes life easier!

[Egg Dude]

Ok, heres the deal;

ciwi286 said how to export in AE, but I'll add to that:

Technically, you don't need premier. But it helps. Premier is what Adobe reccomends for exporting, as it uses the Adobe Media Encoder, and can compress better. It also says the estimated file size. Now, heres when I start adding to what others said:

You can preview sound in AE by doing a RAM Preview in the time controls. Time to get into codecs. DEFINITION OF CODEC: Abreviation of COmpressor/DECompressor.

DivX codec is a very high quality format. It also produces low file sizes. The only problem is that it only renders in AVIs, so you limit your audience.

Soression is a semi high quality codec, and is very compatible with audiences. Movie trailers use this codec.

H.264 (MPEG 4) is a high quality, and low filesize format. But you need quicktime 6 or higher to view it, which not everyone has.

I hope this helps.

[nooneimportant77]

^^ you have alot of wrong information there.

[bubblefax]

any one know how to speed up time in after effects

[nooneimportant77]

select the layer you want to speed up

go to layer>time>time stretch

[ciwi286]

Or if you want to just do it for a section of your clip (i.e to make a 300 style movie)
its layer>time>enable time remapping. Set a Keyframe at either end of where you want to speed up and drag the end one closer to the first one.

P.S When you enable time remapping it will set a keyframe at the start and the end of the clip. Just delete them.

[nooneimportant77]

^^ if you delete those keyframes you'll have big problems later.

[ciwi286]

such as? (hope I dont seem condescending, I really do wanna learn!)

[nooneimportant77]

well if you apply time remaping and delete the two keyframes, time remaping is disabled.

and if you lay out all your keframes to do the whole time ramp 300 thing, and then get rid of the keyframes at the beginning and end your animation or movie will start and end at the first and last keyframes you put down, and not the begining and end of the clip.

[ciwi286]

Ahhhhhh...cool. thanks for the tips (havent been using after effects for long)

[nooneimportant77]

you'll get the tricks down soon

[bubblefax]

I got my after effects over the summer and i have learned a lot already

[Qukorm]

How do you get it? And how does it work?
I thought it came with Adobe Premiere.

[Dream_Academy]

How do you get it? And how does it work?
I thought it came with Adobe Premiere.

premiere and after effects both are programs that come with "Adobe Production Premium."

You can download a free trial of adobe after effects right off of adobe's site. If you want to pay for it, you can get it just about anywhere, like Amazon.com for instance.

As for "how it works" there's dozens of books and websites, do a google. http://209.85.48.11/9102/99/emo/google_lt.gif

[WesScog]

You can download it online, and pay for a key.

You can buy it at some Circuit Cities, and Office Depots.

You can order it on-line directly from Adobe, or like Dream said, from a reputable site like Amazon.com, or even sometimes find older copies on EBay.

[Dream_Academy]

After Effects CS3 | Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-25510629-After-Effects-CS3/dp/B000OGSGYM/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1199151226&sr=8-16)

[mr Tree]

Does anyone know how to set someone on fire in after effects?

[nooneimportant77]

check this out

http://maltaannon.com/tutorials/AfterEffects/ParticlePlayground/

fire without plugins will never really look amazing in AE

[mr Tree]

thanks, would it be possible to apply that effect to a person running around? it doesn't look that realistic but i'll see whjat i can do with a bit of fiddling.

[nooneimportant77]

yeah if you do it right, or you could do the flames on another solid and just keyframe them so it follows the person

[freakonaleash223]

u can go to detonation films.com. there is a bunch of flames. just key it out, motion track the shot, and there you go

[WesScog]

Yea, use Justin's Motion Tracking tutorial, and you could get the fire to follow the person.

[DeviousTom]

Video Copilot has a bunch of tutorials that would help with this I would check them out if I were you. THey helped me TONS.

[salamin'rye]

i am sure that this is asked alot (i searched)
but specificly, how do you chroma out a green screen with
adobe after effects cs3?:confused:

[BROKEN Productions]

www.google.com (http://forum.indymogul.com/www.google.com) search how to green screen in after effects CS3, i would tell u cuz i have CS3 also but me to sleepy

[dimaxx]

Effects -> Keying -> Color Key

[ciwi286]

http://www.thefoundry.co.uk/pkg_downloads.aspx?ui=A5FB8E97-D752-4E01-AC7D-17B39B7E1192

Download, Install, Use eyedropper to select your screen, play with setting to get perfect (primarily edge thin, edge feather and colour tolerance)

[hayden]

Video Copilot has a bunch of tutorials that would help with this I would check them out if I were you. THey helped me TONS.

Amen! Videocopilot rulez!!!!!!!!!!!

[BROKEN Productions]

Effects -> Keying -> Color Key
wat he sayed, so sleepy

[freakonaleash223]

or you could use effect> keying> keylight. its for blue and screens only though

[nooneimportant77]

or you could use effect> keying> keylight. its for blue and screens only though

no its not

[StupidPictures]

effects, keying, color key
just toy around with the settings, or videocopilot's Andrew Kreamer dida tutorial on keylight at videocopilot.net

[salamin'rye]

cool thanks, but, when i keyed it out it was black and not transparent

[salamin'rye]

im trying to make an invisibility cloak and its kinda' screwed up when black and not transparent

[drweir]

It's probably black because your layer underneath it isn't visible for whatever reason. I'm still sort of an AE noob but that would be my educated guess.

[salamin'rye]

wow.. that videocopilot stuff is awesome.

[salamin'rye]

ok, im also anoob, but i dont have any layers underneath it.

[salamin'rye]

how do i make it more transparent? ("without major complications due to my newbishness")

[drweir]

ok, im also anoob, but i dont have any layers underneath it.
That would be why it's black. Stick the footage you want to show through on the layer beneath that and it should show through.

[Fluid]

Is after effects the program that you can add fireballs and lazers an the such? If not, please tell me what is.(Windows versions)

[mrsiefer23]

yea it is

[Fluid]

Ah, ok good. How do you add them in then?

[Direktor]

You might want to watch some after effects tutorials...

[BROKEN Productions]

http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials.html

[punkandska66]

sorry if there is a thread like this already. I found a bunch of small threads that have little snipets of things about AAE, but not one thread devoted to it. So anyways, I am pretty sure i wanna get AAE, but there are still some things i'd like to know.

Do you have to get creative cow's 'Serius Effects & Compositing' to be able to do good keying?

Is buying one of kramer's products (action movie essentials, etc.) helpful, or can you do w/o it.

Is it worth it over all.

Will is help with stock footage, or is it the same as if I did it w/ Vegas (which I already have). Will det. films look better if I use AAE to apply it, is pretty much what I'm asking?

Also, just general tips and any knowledge about AAE is appreciated.

[ciwi286]

1. No keying can be done superbly with Keylight (http://www.thefoundry.co.uk/pkg_downloads.aspx?ui=A5FB8E97-D752-4E01-AC7D-17B39B7E1192)

2. You can do without them but they are great if you ever are going to buy something.

3. Well lets just say I "acquired it using alternate methods" so I can't really answer this!

4. I've never used Vegas to apply stock footage so I dont know but the handy thing about AE is if you ever need a muzzle flair that you can't find, they're damn easy to make in AE.

5. Get the trial before you buy it... If you are used to vegas for editing and stock footage and things, even though AE can do so much more because it an 'effects compositing software', it may be difficult to get used to.

[snicket]

To apply stock footage I would use AAE it is much easier. If your stock ;explosion, muzzle flash, etc.; has a black background it is super easy to apply on footage in AAE. You can do it with one click! wait... 3 but it is really easy.
Oh and if you want any help I will try to help you as much as I can.

[punkandska66]

thanks you guys. and ciwi, I virtually know how to use AAE already, cause i have watched so many tuts it's not funny. I thought that maybe watching AAE tuts would help me w/ vegas so i try to watch as many tuts from other programs as i can, cause alot of them are similar. and thanks snicket, i might be asking some help from you soon.

oh, one last thing, i am planning to get it off of academicsuperstore.com because they have student discounts. i can get cs3 for $350 instead of $1000, is this site trustworthy. i know there is a thread on this, and most people said yes, but i wanted to double check.

[snicket]

I have never ordered from there. But I am pretty sure adobe offers student discounts also! yep! https://store1.adobe.com/cfusion/store/index.cfm?store=OLS-EDU&#view=ols_prod&loc=en_us&store=OLS-EDU&categoryOID=1646204&distributionOID=103

[punkandska66]

ok thank you snicket. i think i would rather get it from there (adobe) just in case.

[snicket]

Sure thing man!

[17thletterfilms]

Yes, AE is worth EVERY penny. I love it so much. It's my favorite piece of software. Ever. (and this beats computer games.)

[toppie34]

yep ea (umm sorry i meant ae) is a good program its worth every penny and its perfect for all your movie making needs

[ciwi286]

By the way. Definately check out www.videocopilot.net (http://www.videocopilot.com) if you are getting AE

[snicket]

By the way. Definately check out www.videocopilot.net (http://www.videocopilot.com) if you are getting AE

www.videocopilot.net (http://www.videocopilot.net)

sorry i did not mean to be rude... But www.videocopilot.com is not the after effects website...

[BROKEN Productions]

kramers effects are effects already done in AE just done for you,and keylight is a free plug-in for AE and some times it comes with it like i have CS3 master collection and in my copy of AE it was pre-installed

[ciwi286]

www.videocopilot.net (http://www.videocopilot.net)

sorry i did not mean to be rude... But www.videocopilot.com (http://www.videocopilot.com) is not the after effects website...


Yeah..I realised as soon as I hit "submit" and edited straight away!

[BROKEN Productions]

"acquired it using alternate methods" or go to iran and get CS3 master collection for 7 bucks^_^
thats wat i did

[punkandska66]

yeah, i know about videocopilot, ciwi. in my first post, i referenced andrew kramer.

[DeviousTom]

AE is awesome. academic blah blah is a trusted site by the way

[punkandska66]

Well, I just bought it like 10 minutes ago.

[BROKEN Productions]

ya i find myself using it more than i thought i would

[salamin'rye]

thanks

[_ray_biddle_]

I don't remember how to take the background away from a photo in Photoshop. I then need to take said file and use it in After Effects, this i can do rather easily.

Or

Can I make the background go away in after Effects?

I'm just looking for guidance.

After Effects is first adobe program I actually think is worth while.

So who can show me the love?

[17thletterfilms]

In the Render Options, there are some settings that can allow you to save your After Effects video file with an alpha channel. Just look for an option in a drop down menu or something that says, "RGB+Alpha" or something like that.

I think it's the same in Photoshop, too.

[_ray_biddle_]

In the Render Options, there are some settings that can allow you to save your After Effects video file with an alpha channel. Just look for an option in a drop down menu or something that says, "RGB+Alpha" or something like that.

I think it's the same in Photoshop, too.

Thank you, how do i do this exactly? See I have this spaceship photo that I had to animate in After Effects.

The background around the spaceship is white and doesn't go with the layer that is supposed to be the background. When I make an Alpha channel, nothing happens.

[google550]

In Photoshop, you can either use the eraser tool, lasso tool, or magic wand tool to remove the background from a picture. I would suggest magic-wanding as close as you can to the horizon line, and then erasing the rest.

[ciwi286]

If it is a pure white backround sometimes saving it as a .png makes the white transparent.

If there is no white on the actual spaceship. Just bring it straight into After effects and got to
Effects > keying > colour key
and set the colour to white and then mess with the settings to get the best edge on it.

Edit: If you find out how to erase the white in photoshop you have to save as a .png or the transparency data gets lost.

[_ray_biddle_]

In Photoshop, you can either use the eraser tool, lasso tool, or magic wand tool to remove the background from a picture. I would suggest magic-wanding as close as you can to the horizon line, and then erasing the rest.

Thank you for the reply. I know that but in this case I keep getting weird messages saying the file isn't editable. It is driving me crazy!

[_ray_biddle_]

If it is a pure white backround sometimes saving it as a .png makes the white transparent.

If there is no white on the actual spaceship. Just bring it straight into After effects and got to
Effects > keying > colour key
and set the colour to white and then mess with the settings to get the best edge on it.

Edit: If you find out how to erase the white in photoshop you have to save as a .png or the transparency data gets lost.
I need to save it as a targa. I did it once but when I loaded the file into After Effects, the white background came back.

It's driving me crazy. Have I said that yet,LOL.

[DaiMoGui]

Hello Ray,

Thought that I would drop by with my few cents, and a video tutorial whipped up to hopefully help you out. I learned this technique from a coworker at an art reproduction studio, he had worked for Amway for 40 years. They sent him out to seminars, and quick mask is one of the best things I learned from him. I found some of the other tools helpful later like the magnetic lasso.

Here is the video tutorial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Gb3nnwlt8Q)
Here are the files I used in the project (http://i.serveftp.com/indy/project.zip)

Hope that you find this helpful.

-DaiMoGui

[ciwi286]

Great tutorial!

Your like the WesScog of software. Dam glad to have you around!

[DaiMoGui]

Great tutorial!

Your like the WesScog of software. Dam glad to have you around!

Thanks! Wow, thank you for the kind words.

I was hoping that people wouldn't feel like I came over to hijack the forums with my crazy posts. Man, I dunno what is going to happen when I run out of ideas and have to go back to lurker mode.

-DaiMoGui

[17thletterfilms]

Great tutorial!

[_ray_biddle_]

Hello Ray,

Thought that I would drop by with my few cents, and a video tutorial whipped up to hopefully help you out. I learned this technique from a coworker at an art reproduction studio, he had worked for Amway for 40 years. They sent him out to seminars, and quick mask is one of the best things I learned from him. I found some of the other tools helpful later like the magnetic lasso.

Here is the video tutorial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Gb3nnwlt8Q)
Here are the files I used in the project (http://i.serveftp.com/indy/project.zip)

Hope that you find this helpful.

-DaiMoGui

Thank you very much! I'm going to view it right now.

[_ray_biddle_]

Hello Ray,

Thought that I would drop by with my few cents, and a video tutorial whipped up to hopefully help you out. I learned this technique from a coworker at an art reproduction studio, he had worked for Amway for 40 years. They sent him out to seminars, and quick mask is one of the best things I learned from him. I found some of the other tools helpful later like the magnetic lasso.

Here is the video tutorial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Gb3nnwlt8Q)
Here are the files I used in the project (http://i.serveftp.com/indy/project.zip)

Hope that you find this helpful.

-DaiMoGui

Wow! I'm going to try agan and I'll keep you informed.

I'll be naming a kid after you!

[_ray_biddle_]

Hello Ray,

Thought that I would drop by with my few cents, and a video tutorial whipped up to hopefully help you out. I learned this technique from a coworker at an art reproduction studio, he had worked for Amway for 40 years. They sent him out to seminars, and quick mask is one of the best things I learned from him. I found some of the other tools helpful later like the magnetic lasso.

Here is the video tutorial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Gb3nnwlt8Q)
Here are the files I used in the project (http://i.serveftp.com/indy/project.zip)

Hope that you find this helpful.

-DaiMoGui

BTW- you could do these tutorials for a living! I go to AAU and the tutorials there suck.

One more question:
How do I switch out files? Once I fix my masking issue and replace the spaceship with the white around the edges with the one that is correct, how do I swap these in After Effects?

I tried but the original bad one stayed there.

[baron von fogel]

I could be mistaken, but I think if in your After Effects bin you right click on your spaceship image and say "re-connect media" and direct it to your new image, it should replace it and apply all of your keyframe data to it.

[_ray_biddle_]

I did it! How can I share this here with you all! My animated spaceship is very basic. But It took me three days to do it with the help of all of you here!

How can I post it?

I'm very excited.

[17thletterfilms]

Upload it to YouTube and share it with us. Or any other site.

If you're asking how to save, go to:
Composition->Add to Render Queue->Click on Lossless to change what the file type you're going to save it as is, then click ok. After that, click Render.

[_ray_biddle_]

Upload it to YouTube and share it with us. Or any other site.

If you're asking how to save, go to:
Composition->Add to Render Queue->Click on Lossless to change what the file type you're going to save it as is, then click ok. After that, click Render.

I will try!

[_ray_biddle_]

That was easy! I'll embed the video here as soon as it is available.

[_ray_biddle_]

For an eight second video it is taking a long time to upload.

[17thletterfilms]

Cool, looking forward to seeing it.

[_ray_biddle_]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfgbnuelF7Q

Here it is.

It is 8 seconds long but goes for thirty seconds.

[17thletterfilms]

Not too bad.

[sonnyfromda02]

Not bad at all.

[HunnyBunchFilms]

I'm learning after effects this semester. So far its really tough to understand. Great job though.

[_ray_biddle_]

Thanks everybody! Hopefully my professor likes it too.

[DaiMoGui]

Wow! I'm going to try agan and I'll keep you informed.

I'll be naming a kid after you!

That would be funny, to see a kid with my avatar name. Though, Mo Biddle might be cool.

BTW- you could do these tutorials for a living! I go to AAU and the tutorials there suck.

Thank you!

I was really hoping that I didn't make it too boring. I need to work on my tutorial skills more, I know sometimes I tend to speak fast. I should probably record all of my action first and then voice the entire thing, and not try to do it during. Still learning...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfgbnuelF7Q

Here it is.

It is 8 seconds long but goes for thirty seconds.

Good work. It was great to see your test footage, I will check out more of your work on YouTube and see what else you come up with. :)

Also, I have another tip about how to correct that length issue that you experienced. This is something I just picked up myself, I'll post it below.

I'm learning after effects this semester. So far its really tough to understand. Great job though.

That is awesome. I would really love to be in a class and learn more. I just started following one of Andrew Kramer's tutorials over at VideoCopilot (http://www.videocopilot.net). If you haven't had the chance to check them out, he is great, and he is quite funny in his delivery as well. I figure between learning visual effects from him and traditional effects from here at Indy Mogul, anyone has the potential to create greatness.

Thanks everybody! Hopefully my professor likes it too.

Is this a graded project? When do you need to turn it in?

-DaiMoGui

[_ray_biddle_]

That would be funny, to see a kid with my avatar name. Though, Mo Biddle might be cool.



Thank you!

I was really hoping that I didn't make it too boring. I need to work on my tutorial skills more, I know sometimes I tend to speak fast. I should probably record all of my action first and then voice the entire thing, and not try to do it during. Still learning...



Good work. It was great to see your test footage, I will check out more of your work on YouTube and see what else you come up with. :)

Also, I have another tip about how to correct that length issue that you experienced. This is something I just picked up myself, I'll post it below.



That is awesome. I would really love to be in a class and learn more. I just started following one of Andrew Kramer's tutorials over at VideoCopilot (http://www.videocopilot.net). If you haven't had the chance to check them out, he is great, and he is quite funny in his delivery as well. I figure between learning visual effects from him and traditional effects from here at Indy Mogul, anyone has the potential to create greatness.



Is this a graded project? When do you need to turn it in?

-DaiMoGui

Thanks! This was the first time I had ever used After Effects. It took about 5 hours total, LOL. Some of my classmates are making full blown cartoons (which wasn't required). I'm going to practice doing this over and over again while adding elements so i keep reinforcing the skills. As for how you do the tutorial, You did really well. The tutorials for school, the guy just keeps rambling on and on with a handy way to do something every 3 minutes or so.It hasn't been graded yet but I did turn it in. I had to do it today as I'll be on film sets all weekend.

[DaiMoGui]

Here is that tip for cutting your footage to the length you want for output.

1. Notice that the footage is only 10 sec, but work area is 30 sec. You want to grab this blue slider.
http://i.serveftp.com/indy/trim/trim1.jpg

2. If you hold the Shift key while moving the slider, it will lock to the end of the footage in your comp.
http://i.serveftp.com/indy/trim/trim2.jpg

3. Go to Composition then select Trim Comp to Work Area
http://i.serveftp.com/indy/trim/trim3.jpg

4. Now you can see that the slider ends at 10 sec. Now on your final render your video will be that length.
http://i.serveftp.com/indy/trim/trim4.jpg


-DaiMoGui

[DaiMoGui]

It hasn't been graded yet but I did turn it in. I had to do it today as I'll be on film sets all weekend.

Wow. That's cool. I am really glad that it was useful for you. Keep me posted.

-DaiMoGui

[_ray_biddle_]

My son is giving me a dirty look as I just informed him his name is Mo Biddle. I asked him if he'd prefer DaiMoGui, he said he likes that one better.

So in the future if you're walking around and someone yells out DaiMoGui, it may be him.

That would be funny, to see a kid with my avatar name. Though, Mo Biddle might be cool.



Thank you!

I was really hoping that I didn't make it too boring. I need to work on my tutorial skills more, I know sometimes I tend to speak fast. I should probably record all of my action first and then voice the entire thing, and not try to do it during. Still learning...



Good work. It was great to see your test footage, I will check out more of your work on YouTube and see what else you come up with. :)

Also, I have another tip about how to correct that length issue that you experienced. This is something I just picked up myself, I'll post it below.



That is awesome. I would really love to be in a class and learn more. I just started following one of Andrew Kramer's tutorials over at VideoCopilot (http://www.videocopilot.net). If you haven't had the chance to check them out, he is great, and he is quite funny in his delivery as well. I figure between learning visual effects from him and traditional effects from here at Indy Mogul, anyone has the potential to create greatness.



Is this a graded project? When do you need to turn it in?

-DaiMoGui

[drumsofdoom]

What is the cheapest way to get after effects and what price is it?:confused::confused:

[stefanocasadei]

well you COULD check the Adobe website for pricings...check online store stocks/catalogues of your local retailers...check internet stores such as amazon.com...or you know...whatever...

[samthemusicman12]

www.academicsuperstore.com (http://www.academicsuperstore.com) the answer to most of your problems

[lcarterman]

or you could pirate it (don't do that)

[Nonsensical studios]

Several ways
A) Full price
B)Student price is $234 I think
And there is no other ways

(Okay, its safe in these brackets.
Option C) Pirate it
But I think that is a bad idea, personally)
Act Natural!

[toppie34]

just go to the adobe site and buy it but if your really desprate cough**keygens**cough

[mopman]

i still don't get why those editors cost so much, I wonder if they know if they would just lower the price by like 100 or 200 bucks more people would buy it and therefore they would actually... wait for it... MAKE MORE MONEY! GASP!

[JayW]

Find an older version of it on eBay. Beware, though - for all you know, you could end up buying a corrupt version that'll destroy your operating system.

[basher22234]

Hi i know ive made threads and stuff alot in the past couple of minuets but um i have adobe after effects and i was wondering if any one could write down the instructions down below if you can thanks!!!! i dont know if this will help but its after effects 6.5 thanks if you can help :steve:

[Citrus]

I'm pprreeeetyyy sure this isn't for the chit chat thread...also it's probably already been answered in FX requests or someother forum...Or you could do some googling/youtubing.

[NaziActionFigure]

A tutorial for it here (http://justfuckinggoogleit.com/).

[Ladri.]

A tutorial for it here (http://justfuckinggoogleit.com/).

That gave me a good laugh.

[basher22234]

wow that was really funny. man i had a good laugh. well wen i was posting this i relized how dumb i was because i was like o crap i need to google this.

[Cuboos]

i could probably give you a few good pointers, what kind of energy ball are you looking for.

[testpig]

i wish people on these boards would be a little less elitiest. If your just gonna post a smartass comment about using the search tool or goggle.. then just don't post, and let the thread die on it's own.

[basher22234]

im lookin for a blue dragon ball z energy ball look

[yourmindsinnerworkings]

omg! just type it into youtube theres tons of em

[datdude1988]

omg! just type it into youtube theres tons of em

Billions. Haha. And that link was hilarious.

[kamuran]

:supermad::grumble::confused:hey so where can you buy after effects for a cheap price thats not a file download and not a trial i want to find the full version thats 200 or 100 so anyone know where to buy it reply

[filosophia]

Hi,

I want to create 'interface' in my footage, like this:
http://www.mariocube.nl/upload/Metroid_Prime2016551481.jpg
Where I shot footage in first person. So I get a 'shooter' feeling, many people adviced me to use sony vegas and layer a image made in photoshop, but the results I have been getting are not that good.
Do any of you have a better idea?
The 'interface' is not supposed to move, but it would be cool if it was dynamic (with healt meters and things like that)

Thanks in advance

[17thletterfilms]

This isn't a question about After Effects, but yes AE can do it. You can put your interface that you've created in Photoshop an animate it and other things in After Effects.

[rrh]

In what way are the results you've been getting not good?

[Bla101]

I was wondering, how would I do a glass break in Adobe After Effects CS3. Kind of like when someone kicks the camera and then the screen cracks.

[nooneimportant77]

for that I would find a picture of some broken glass, like this
http://www.cgtextures.com/texview.php?id=22097&s=S&PHPSESSID=4615931ac19d008a532a04359d643c2f

and then put that over the video, and set the transfer mode to screen.

then animate a circular mask, with a bit of feathering to open up from the middle outward really fast when you want the lens to break. blur out the footage under it, maybe use the picture as a displacement map on the footage and get some interesting effects. add a good crack sound effect and ta da.

[Bla101]

Thanks, but I'm kinda new to After Effects, how do I animate the mask?

[ctvfilms]

no need to animate the mask, just put it over your footage, hit F4 on your keyboard, then select screen.

[nooneimportant77]

well if you want it to look like its breaking onto the screen, and not just poping up.

Find the mask tool button on the top bar, and double click it.

Select the laye with the mask on it, and hit "M" twice.

Then keyframe the "mask expansion", from a very low negative number, to maybe a little past 100, this depends on the size of your composition, so you'll have to just set it to where it looks good.

Remember to set a keyframe at the start, and then at the end.

and now you have an animated mask.

in the same mask options change the mask feathering to your liking.

[ciwi286]

If you are new to after effects I suggest checking this out: http://www.videocopilot.net/basic/index.html

[Ladri.]

Anyone know where to get after effects plug ins? I just got it and it has almost no effects on it. Thanks!

[nooneimportant77]

um, what do you mean it has almost no effects?

[ctvfilms]

I can give you a bunch if thats what your asking.

[Ladri.]

Something is messed up and it only has distortion and paint under the effects tab.

[Ladri.]

I can give you a bunch if thats what your asking.
That's exactly what I'm asking for. :)

[ctvfilms]

okay, I will upload them to File Front, is that alright?

btw, my internet is crazy slow, so it will be a little while.

[Bla101]

Thanks guys. I animated the mask like you said, nooneimportant77 , but it doesn't look very good. Anyway I could make it more realistic?

[drweir]

All I would do is superimpose a crack onto the footage. Chances are it would crack so quickly that you wouldn't see it spreading out anyways.

[nooneimportant77]

Post a picture of your result, so we could see what it might need.

The mask part that I was suggesting, was supposed to be VERY fast, like 5 frames, probably less.

[Skycarl]

If you are new to after effects I suggest checking this out: http://www.videocopilot.net/basic/index.html

This, is the best helpful hint you will get if you are new to AAE.
Then, a lot of what you are hearing will make more sense to you.

[AlecHarsh]

Would it be possible to edit an entire movie (feature length) in after effects, or would one need a software like premeire?

[MiniMogul27]

You could probably edit with AE and Windows Movie Maker but I don't recommend it.

[AlecHarsh]

k, thanks, well, i hope i can convince my parents to let me get stu.dis. on the suite.

[rrh]

You could, but an actual editing program would be better.

If I had nothing and had to choose between After Effects and Premier, I would go with Premier. Though I have done movies using After Effects and iMovie, Premier is a better editor than iMovie, and is powerful enough to do 90% of the things I used After Effects for. I hear Final Cut is good, too but I haven't used it.

[ibend1]

i need to know how to make a realistic bullet" fly by camera" with using only after efects and premiere... is there any good way to do that that you guys know of?

[nooneimportant77]

If it is flying straight across the screen-

Get a good picture of a bullet, cut it out, animate it flying past, make sure to put motion blur on, maybe animate some very subtle smoke particles behind it.

[Producer 9]

If it is flying straight across the screen-

Get a good picture of a bullet, cut it out, animate it flying past, make sure to put motion blur on, maybe animate some very subtle smoke particles behind it.

:steve:goood idea man

[trapoplus]

Or you can use some presets from vidocopilot.net

[Wraith 5]

Or you can use some presets from vidocopilot.net
Agreed, VCP have a dvd package you can buy called 'the bullet', which gives comprehensive information on constructing that type of shot, plus some useful tools.
Alternately, you could do as nooneimportant77 said.
Or alternately alternately... for a more complex shot, but still free, you could exclude the videocopilot step, and just go ahead and dowload Blender (free 3D program), and learn how to model a bullet/import into AE yourself.

[ibend1]

w8... can AE really import a 3d model from blender?

[nooneimportant77]

No, it can't import a 3d model. I think there might be some special plugins that would let you import an obj file.

I have "The Bullet" It's really good for learning 3d compositing, but you don't actually import the 3d object.

[Patuman]

w8... can AE really import a 3d model from blender?

No, as far as I know, but you can export from Blender as a video file and go to AE from there.

[ibend1]

No, as far as I know, but you can export from Blender as a video file and go to AE from there.

ooooooh... so it could look 3d but you would not be able to manipulate the bullet 3 dimentionaly in AE?

[nooneimportant77]

ooooooh... so it could look 3d but you would not be able to manipulate the bullet 3 dimentionaly in AE?

Not in the same way that you would in Blender, you could move the rendered movie of the bullet around, but not the bullet its self

[Kevtheman]

Blender ftw. Wouldnt be hard to do in there.

[FRIDAYNIGHTFRENZ]

Hey there I'm having diffculties with AE. I have a 4:3 Dv footage that I want to transfer to anamorphic without using a lens and with out looseing rez. I tried in AE, making the comp Anamorphic and streching the 4:3 footage to the anamorphic length. Does this loose rez? thats my wonder? wonder?

[Mixed-Studios]

I wouldn't think that the video quality would go down or your rez. I'm not sure if this is what you want but this is a handy little plugin for changing your ratio and not having to worry if you doing something wrong.
http://www.videocopilot.net/presets.html?id=67

[nooneimportant77]

Anytime you scale or stretch the footage you'll loose quality, the best thing to do for DV footage is just crop to anamorphic, and not stretch or scale.

[Videopia]

You are going to have to crop no matter what, but then you can also anamorphically stretch it for a widescreen DVD. So the process would be something like:

1. Crop top and bottom 56ish pixels each (pan-n-scan to get the framing right), so your 720x480 0.919 PAR video is now 720x368 or something.

2. Stretch that back to fill 720x480 with a 1.21 PAR. It should fill the entire frame.

3. Burn your DVD.

Yea, all this cropping and stretching is not going to do your video any good (it'll be a little softer) and 112 lines of video are gone (they'd be gone with a letterbox crop anyhow), but the upside is that the DVD will playback on 16:9 native televisions without letterboxing.

Not telling you this is the right or best way to do it, just sayin' it's an option.

__________________
“Find your own specific voice in filmmaking and go for it. Either people will get it or they won't and that's what it's all about.”
-- Yahoo Serious
videopia.org (http://videopia.org)

[FRIDAYNIGHTFRENZ]

thank you all for the feedback. I was trying to aviod Croping it cause I think that just ruins the orignal frameing of it...even though you can adjust. I wonder if you strech how much rez you loose?

thanks.

[Videopia]

Well, technically, you don't lose any rez stretching, but in order to change the frame aspect, you must crop - and then you lose those 112 lines of video.

[ibend1]

ok... i am pretty new to after effects and just today i discovered how you can animate with the paint tool. i was wondering if it would be possible to turn an image into an animate- able layer that has the flexibility of the pain animation rather than just being able to do simple animations such as opacity, rotation, ext...

oh, and also, can you use the dump bucket tool (like in paint) to fill in areas of pain withe the paint is animating?

tell me if you couldn't understand what i just said... if you cant i will try to explain what you don't get

[rrh]

Google the puppet tool for AE, that might be what you're looking for for animation.

As for flood fill, I think there's an effect that does that; I've used it to smooth out green screens. I find painting in AE kind of frustrating, so I don't do it a lot.

[ibend1]

is google the puppet tool free?

[rrh]

"Google" isn't the name of the puppet tool. "Google" is the name of a search engine you can use to get more info on the puppet tool, like so:
http://www.google.com/search?q=after+effects+puppet+tool

The puppet tool comes with AE CS3; I don't know which version you have access to.

[mr Tree]

lol, yeah the puppet tool would be the way to go if animating things like people, otherwise the basic 'key frame and move' should do.

[DaiMoGui]

If you are planning to animate images, it would be best to edit them in another application, like photoshop. Then import layers as footage. AE is really powerful for video, but good graphics editing is better left to other applications.

If you need to fill an area you could Right Click <Context Click> in the timeline and add a new solid. Then use the masking tool to mask the area that you want to fill, select that solid and make sure the mask is set to add. Hitting M 2 times on a layer will bring up the mask properties. Depending on how hard or soft you want your edges you might want to feather the mask, hit F to bring up the feather properties on a layer with a mask.

If I am doing some complex multi image compositing, I edit all of my images in photoshop and then import the .PSD file. Then I can just drag my individual layers with transparency into my timeline and keyframe them.

-DaiMoGui

[ibend1]

i dont have the puppet animator tool... i am using ae 6.5... are there any plugins so that i can get a puppet tool animator in ae6.5?

[EnipProductions]

is google the puppet tool free?

:teehee::teehee::teehee::teehee::teehee::teehee:

Thank you man you just made my day!. I know it was an honest mistake I don't mean to insult your intelligence or anything.

[DaiMoGui]

i dont have the puppet animator tool... i am using ae 6.5... are there any plugins so that i can get a puppet tool animator in ae6.5?

I doubt it, that was built into a later release CS2 & CS3.
My version 7 doesn't have it either.

If you really want to do animation you should look into using Flash or another similar program.

I am sure it is possible for you to do animations in AE, but it might be more trouble than it is worth.

Some others even posted about free animation software, there were some good links in that post (http://forum.indymogul.com/showthread.php?t=9816). I downloaded a few of the suggested programs and checked them out.

Please don't think that I am trying to stop you from using AE, I'll attempt to help answer your AE questions as they come up. I just think you might also want to see what else could be an available option.

-DaiMoGui

[EnipProductions]

Yea doin animation in after effects is like doin video effects in photoshop

It can be done but not so well

[ChristopherJ]

I want to use some characters in my movie, but they will all be played more than likely by me... so i'm trying to work a way around that by thinking of how to make myself look different. I've thought of different outfits etc etc but my latest thought is... i don't know how to explain it properly... but basically putting an effect over myself so i have my human shape but with a different texture on it.

Like the T1000 (the bad terminator) in terminator 2, when he is walking in his liquid metal state. Or like turn myself into a moving statue.

Would it be a case of recording myself on a green screen and adding a texture over my figure?

Sorry if i haven't explained well, i'm not the best at that

[Shawn_of_Shark_Studios]

Hmm I'm thinking you could either paint your body, which would get annoying having to wash off and re-apply paint. Unless of course your only adding tattoo's, cuts and bruises, etc.

Option 2, make some kind of suit to cover exposed areas of skin (perhaps using a form fitting material) though that would probably look cheesy

Option 3, green screen of course as you said. I would think you'd have to be covered in green screening material yourself though, not the background.

[ChristopherJ]

Damn...

I considered the whole painting myself idea but quickly went off it.

When green screening (with the green screen behind myself, not me covered in green screen stuff), would it be possible to put it into After Effects, get rid of the green screen background and then apply a texture to myself? Or would the texture also be applied to the green screen background even though it's not there, so the whole screen would be textured? (not the greatest After Effects user, i don't know its potential)

[Sacman]

Go watch this tutorial on videocopilot. It is a little extreme but the concept would work with careful planning of your shots.

http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials.html?id=11

[CindyLynn]

I know this is not what you wanted ...
But get some actors. Seriously. Using yourself as the only actor will be cheezie.
And to get a good film you'll need someone behind the camera... while being a one man show could be cool.... its not going to be very good.

If you painted yourself, it'd look horrable in the film [the whole "Green screen sute is for making actors transparent, not for changing there looks.] It could also be dangerous, while "MythBusters" said that its not life threatening. They painted kari byron silver and she was fine, but, dont use spray paint, as that'd be very dangerous.

[google550]

You can't reconstruct yourself to look like different people. Even if you re-texture yourself, you'll still be recognizable, and that would take hours of rotoscoping work.

[acbarakas]

I'm assuming there are some talented users of adobe after effects here.. Let me know If this question is not appropriate for indymogul forum, but I think it is ok to ask here...

my question.
Can I repeat a layer w/in a layer.

My example to better illustrate my question:

I am creating a scene where a gun is fired several times.
I am using the same sound clip 4x to give the scene audio.

Do I really have to duplicate the layer 4x to achieve this ??

GunShot is repeated 4x Is this necessary ?
"shotgun 1,2,3,4" those are also the (detfilms) animation to the gun firing repeated 4x...
There must be a better way.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb256/aozzens/AfterEffectsRepeating_Loopquestion.jpg


I Know that you can FILE -> Interpret Footage and Loop the clip... but the timing is not in a predictable pattern of course. So the looping just becomes Fubar. I want to have a single "gunshot 1" layer and I can just copy the sound.

[nooneimportant77]

Select all the layers, and go to the Layer tab, then choose "Pre Compose". That will move those sounds into their own comp, that will preserve the timing between the shots. If you just want to loop the sound, then you can click on the file in that list of stuff in the Comp, choose interpret then main, and at the bottom of the window that pops up there will be a loop option. In that you can select how many times it loops.

Hope that helps.

EDIT: I should point out, that if you pre compose you'll have to go into that comp to make any changes to the timing of the shots. With just a few sounds like that you're better off just leaving them in that comp.

[acbarakas]

Ahhhh, interesting nooneimportant.....

I had never messed with that before, I tried it out.. < layers-> precompose>

interesting effect. so it kind of packages them away, and cleans up the area.

At first use, it seems that this technique would be a sort of "final step" ?
Because the drawback on "pre composing" my layers is that then, it is a bitch to tweak if you make changes right ? Or is there a special key stroke that will "break" the pre composition back into "individual pieces".

[nooneimportant77]

I'm not quite that much of a guru, haha, there might be a key to bring it all back, but I don't know it off hand. You could copy and paste the layers back in. Or what I would suggest is lock the composition window, and move to the Pre-comps timeline that way you get the playback from the over all comp, but the timeline from the pre-comp of your sounds.

[acbarakas]

also interesting. I don't find audio playback that simple to work with tho'.
Guess i'll have to just expose the 'waveform' for timing.

I'm really new to this tool, but I'll tell you I have been nose deep in this stuff.. So it is interesting to hear techniques of someone with more than 1 week experience. I am having a blast with it all though. I find myself at indymogul a lot.

thanks for some of the ideas.. if I REALLY had to edit the pre compose, I could just copy the layers back in... but I think some other methods, and what you have suggested make more sense.

thanks nooneimportant.

acbarakas

[DaiMoGui]

also interesting. I don't find audio playback that simple to work with tho'.
Guess i'll have to just expose the 'waveform' for timing.

Audio is a bit of a pain to work with. I don't know if it was improved for CS3, but I would hope it is different than 7.

I learned a lot of good techniques over at Video Copilot (http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/). Including the great Pre Compose tip that Nooneimportant77 posted.

-DaiMoGui

[Mixed-Studios]

What I would do is duplicate the layers as needed and put them in the correct place then select them and go to layer > pre compose. That's probably the best way to do it.
As for the audio I dont work with audio in after effects because it can be annoying because you have to render it out if you want to hear it. I would do the scenes special effects and add the audio in later in an editing program like final cut after you export it. If you are going to do it in after effects to hear the audio press 0 on the number pad to render what is in your workspace and hear the audio.

[Skycarl]

I'm the same way. I find, at least in 7, that working with audio is more work than it's
worth . I just wait, and do all my audio in my editing program.
I make up for it though, having way too much fun in AE with everything else it does.

[acbarakas]

Cool, all good input.

it is definitely easier to have everthing(audio + visual) in 1 place, but like you all say it is not an ideal setup.

It is helpful at least to know i'm not missing some massively obvious thing.

And I also agree... There are so many fun tricks/gadgets to pull with AE it makes it worth it.

thanks all.

ACBarakas

[nooneimportant77]

So I've had the Magic Bullet demo for a while, and I'm really considering buying it, but there's a few problems. 1) It's kinda expensive, 2) How do I know I can't do the stuff already?

The demo came with this sort of library of pictures of the presets, and I figured what the hell, so I took some of the pictures, and the clean shot, lined em up in AE, and went to work. This is the result.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3187/2788693260_9f704d6bfe_b.jpg

From these little tests, I've learned a bit about how to get these looks, some took more experimentation then others, and helped me to learn some more complex styles. This isn't even close to all of the presets that Magic Bullet comes with, and it's defiantly NOWHERE near everything Magic Bullet can do, but in the eyes of someone who can't quite afford to buy a program for color looks this proves a lot. Learn your software, it can do a lot more then you probably think.

EDIT: I didn't use any 3rd party stuff, just what After Effects 7 comes with. Not even CS3.

[ciwi286]

Wow! There all pretty damn close. If not bang on!