-
Smart import sequence with gaps
I’ve been trying almost everything including reading the manual (which in my case is something I do after everything else fails) and didn’t find the answer:
I have an image sequence with several gaps.
I’d like to import it to AE as several sequences, and I’d like to achieve it some easy way without having to find the gaps manually.
Standard sequence import fills the gaps with placeholders and gives me one loooooong sequence.
“Force alphabetical order” removes the gaps and merges everything into one footage item.
I am looking for a third option – “import ranges basing on gaps”I have yet another question:
Is there an easy way to see which file from the sequence is currently displayed?
I mean the particular file, not the project item.
The sequence is in the comp. I am in a particular point in time, and would like to know which file from the sequence I am looking at.Bartek Skorupa
Warszawa, Poland -
7 Replies
-
I’m not sure if Lloyd Alvarez’s Immigration script will help you in this specific case or not, but it’s a great tool for working with image sequences in After Effects.
If it doesn’t do what you need, you might be able to request the feature.
Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events -
that sounds like something that could be incredibly usefull. I’d definately post in the expression forum about finding the gap issue, then take that over to https://aenhancers.com/. If you are willing to upload a scratch copy, I’d be willing to help out. Sounds like fun.
https://technicolorsoftware.hostzi.com/
-
“is there an easy way to see which file from the sequence is currently displayed?”
by Dan Ebberts
This expression (for a text layer’s source text) gives the name of the source of the current active layer (if it has no source it gives the layer name). Apply to a text layer at the top of the layer stack.
This source text layer has to be right above the footage for it to work. At the splice point of a new layer, it will update the name automatically. Set file project settings to frames.
—–as for…
“image sequence with several gaps”you’re looking at a combo of AE’s smartimport.jsx script mixed with empty layer scripting. Not super easy, but definately doable.
txt = “”;
for (j = 1; j <= thisComp.numLayers; j++){
if (j == index) continue;
L = thisComp.layer(j);
if (! (L.hasVideo && L.active)) continue;
if (time >= L.inPoint && time < L.outPoint){
try{
txt = L.source.name;
}catch(err1){
txt = L.name
}
break;
}
}
txt + ” ” + timeToCurrentFormat(time)https://technicolorsoftware.hostzi.com/
-
I’m pretty busy today but it’s basically going to be
AE’s smartimport.jsx mixed with an idea like this. You’re basically going to check the hard drive for sequential numbers. If they are missing, force a exit point in the smartimport.jsx code.https://aenhancers.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1192&p=4608&hilit=empty
https://technicolorsoftware.hostzi.com/
-
Thank you all for the replies. I will check out those possibilities.
I was hoping that After Effect has some built in function that can do it, but it is very well hidden.
Unfortunately it seems that there isn’t one.
Thanks once more.Bartek Skorupa
Warszawa, Poland -
“I have yet another question:
Is there an easy way to see which file from the sequence is currently displayed?”I asked this question and in the meantime I found the answer:
Select the layer and hit Cmd+Alt+E. This reveals the name of the file in the info panel.
Bartek Skorupa
Warszawa, Poland -
As I didn’t find any “perfect” solution to import sequence with gaps as separate sequences – I have created the small application that may be helpful. Unfortunately – only for Mac.
Run the app, select all of the files you want to process and follow the instructions.
The current version of the app can manage files whose names contain ONLY numbers.
If you have files with prefixes, like: “seq_02314.dpx” you first have to batch rename them all, so that you have “02314.dpx”.
The app will create subfolders and move subsequences to those subfolders.
This is destructive and cannot be undone, so it’s better to have the files backed up.Then you can simply select all those subfolders in Finder and drag them into AE holding Cmd.
The link to the app:
https://www.creativecrash.com/downloads/applications/misc/c/sequences-to-folders-mac-appBartek Skorupa
Warszawa, Poland
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up