• Adobe After Effects

  Is there any way to automatically blur the changing texts?

  Posted by Jun Tanaka on September 25, 2015 at 3:29 am

  Hello, I am counting the figures from 1990 to 2000 with AE scripts.
  I would like to blur only the changed figure; for example, when 1990 changes to 1991, only the last digit; “0” changes to “1” and the rest(“199X”) stays the same; so, I would like to blur the “0” and “1” only.

  

  When 1999 changes to 2000, every 4 digit is changed; thus, everything should be blurred.

  

  Is there anyway to automatically set that way?
  Sincerely,
  jun

  Jun Tanaka replied 10 years, 8 months ago 3 Members · 12 Replies
• 12 Replies

• 

  Kalleheikki Kannisto

  September 25, 2015 at 8:46 am

  I’m sure there is, but I am equally certain it will be faster to do this with an adjustment layer and a mask since we’re talking about ten numbers.
• 

  Jun Tanaka

  September 25, 2015 at 11:18 am

  Thanks Kalle.
  I agree.
  For the real project I am counting from 1945 to 2015.
  The posted question was made to simplify the problem.
  Any idea would be appreciated.
  Thanks.
• 

  Kalleheikki Kannisto

  September 25, 2015 at 11:30 am

  I would try and construct it with an adjustment layer that is scaled or moved by an expression that is linked to the method you are using to change the value — I assume you using something like “time * X” for the value — with some IF statements that check whether the current number is divisible by powers of ten, with the result of:

  any number = blur last digit
  divisible by ten = blur last two digits
  divisible by hundred = blur three digits
  divisible by thousand = blur four digits

  (or it could be four separate adjustment layers if the scaling turns out problematic)

  then there is the matter of how long you want to have the digit blurred, which will also have to be connected to the countdown (or up) calculation.

  Many other methods exist, that’s the first one that comes to mind.
• 

  Walter Soyka

  September 25, 2015 at 5:50 pm

  Not sure if it’s the look you’re going for, but perhaps my Advanced Odometer project [link] would be helpful to you?

  Walter Soyka
  Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
  Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
  @keenlive   |   RenderBreak [blog]   |   Profile [LinkedIn]
• 

  Jun Tanaka

  September 29, 2015 at 5:24 am

  Thanks Walter.
  I took a look at your project, but it might be different from what I am looking for.
  However, thank you for your advice.
• 

  Jun Tanaka

  September 29, 2015 at 5:35 am

  Hi Kalle,
  I tried to write scripts with your advice; however, I encountered further problems.
  
  The timing of blurring would not be matched with digit 1 and digit 10.
  Apologize I am not familiar with Expressions. Your help would be much appreciated.

  Thanks,
• 

  Kalleheikki Kannisto

  September 29, 2015 at 8:18 am

  Looks like you’re getting there, but as far as I can tell from your screenshot, you are using keyframes to blur the first digit (ones) and an expression to blur the next one (tens). Both should be done by expressions, and the expressions needs to also calculate how many frames from the point of switching the number you are for fade in and fade out. So they should be related to the same calculation you are using to increment the year (1985+time).
• 

  Jun Tanaka

  September 30, 2015 at 6:42 am

  Thank you Kalle.
  It is solved.
• 

  Kalleheikki Kannisto

  September 30, 2015 at 7:35 am

  Out of curiosity: how did the expressions end up?
• 

  Jun Tanaka

  October 8, 2015 at 8:09 am

  Sorry for the late response.

  I divided blur effects to 3 layers and set the time expressions.

  fadeIn = .5;
  holdOn = .2;
  fadeOut = .3;
  holdOff = 9;

  t1 = fadeIn;
  t2 = t1+holdOn;
  t3 = t2+fadeOut;
  t4 = t3+holdOff;

  t = (time-inPoint)%t4;
  if (t < t1)
  easeIn(t,0,t1,0,100)
  else if (t < t2)
  100
  else if (t < t3)
  easeOut(t,t2,t3,100,0)
  else
  0

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