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overrated CS4
After reading post after post praising the new release of After Effects as the most significant in the latest time, and after watching dozens of tutorial videos, I have to state my opinion.
For me it feels like Adobe has focused entirely on the new version of Flash, and workflow enhancements that have nothing to do with motion design. The new search feature is the best addition to the update, but does not solve the problem with finding your way around in a complex AE project. Neither do the new mini-flowchart views. Adobe will have to provide a work flow en par with Shake, Fusion and Nuke to make the overview more manageable.
The new 3D import is a joke. You can only rotate the models in coarse 3D, but no lighting or other integration is possible. This is much more integrated in Fusion and Nuke, and if AE is trying to convince us to use such a feature, they are targeting the possibilities of those high end programs.
Then there is the cartoon effect that combines already existing features like Find Edges, Posterization and Median. It feels like an inadequate excuse for a scripting language that can combine existing math into new usable filters and effects.
But the most embarrassing new feature is the 4:3 safe overlay in 16:9 mode – If this is to be highlighted as a new feature it really shows Adobes arrogance!
No mention of the much needed speed improvements, so I will have to throw out the redicylous upgrade fee, and see for myself if there is really anything new under the hood…
– No Parking Production –
Finalcut Studio2, Dual G5, Kona 2, ioHD, X-Raid
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4 Replies
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So far, I have to agree with you. Thank God Apple doesn’t do that with their Final Cut Pro/DVD Studio Pro software….oh wait…
I personally can’t wait to be surprised by the improvements, but if there aren’t any that really don’t add to a project, I am leaning toward waiting until the next version. At least then I won’t have the trouble of upgrading plugins…
Photoshop doesn’t look much better, though there are some small improvements I’ve seen. SMALL. All Flash/web. SucksTim
Tim
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[Morten Ranmar] “Neither do the new mini-flowchart views.”
Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it! The mini-flowchart view is lovely.
[Morten Ranmar] “Then there is the cartoon effect that combines already existing features like Find Edges, Posterization and Median. It feels like an inadequate excuse for a scripting language that can combine existing math into new usable filters and effects.”
For me the Cartoon effect is significant as a sign of things to come. It features the best OpenGL acceleration to date from a standard Adobe effect and from what I’ve heard this is due in part to it being built using some of the new Pixel Bender toolkit (or at least being developed in parallel with Pixel Bender, I need more info on this). While it’s not something to get terribly excited about by itself, it represents the potential beginning of a paradigm shift in the way effects are developed and should provide substantial performance gains. That’s my hope anyway 🙂
I feel confident that a fair amount of progress has been made and groundwork has been laid to improve even further in later releases.
Darby Edelen
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[Tim Vaughan] “Photoshop doesn’t look much better, though there are some small improvements I’ve seen.”
The OpenGL accelerated canvas operations are kind of a big deal once you start using them. It’s not something people will initially jump at, but I feel confident that once people start using them they won’t be able to stand going back.
The updated interface is pretty nice too. And there have been improvements to smart objects and color management.
Of course, these are just my big ones 🙂
I’m convinced that a lot of the ‘small improvements’ will help many users work more efficiently and more precisely.
Darby Edelen
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The mini flowchart cannot solve AE’s most serious problem – the constant scrolling and opening timeline values due to the layered approach. In programs like Shake, Fusion and Nuke you get the parameters you need to access just by clicking on a node.
One thing Adobe could do would be to allow us to drag timeline based controls (opacity, scale…) into the Effects Control dialog box, where the controls for filters can also be found. This would give us quick access to parameters we want to animate, just by clicking on the layer. And when you clicked the control they could make sure it popped open in the timeline layers…
– No Parking Production –
Finalcut Studio2, Dual G5, Kona 2, ioHD, X-Raid
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