Applying a glow to a series of layers

[Christopher Rotter]

Mark, your example in the screen shot is close to what my composition resembles. How come I can’t apply a expression to one layer and then clone that expressions amoungst the other layers and just change a number and all my layers would randomize with the glow intensity ?

I’m not that great with expressions so you slider example has confused me a little I have not tried it.

[Mark Crenshaw]

Can you post a screenshot of one of your Glow layers with the Radius and Intensity properties showing?

[Christopher Rotter]

https://img398.imageshack.us/my.php?image=aeglowthresholdssog0.jpg

Alright here is a screenshot of my glow threshold which you will see with one of the layers has a keyframe on it. There are mutiple layers so each layer has to randomly have the threshold go from a on to off as you can see by the keyframes.

[Mark Crenshaw]

Chris,
If it were me, and I’m not sure I fully understand your goal, I would get rid of all keyframes and use the expressions. They will give you the varying Glow values you are looking for. The slider method will help you control all instances of Glow on a global level.

Set it all up in a proxy comp and then copy and paste it all into place.

Peace,
Mark

[Christopher Rotter]

My goal is to have all my layers randomly glow on and off via the glow intensity value in the glow properties. What method and hopefully you have time to show example can you suggest via expressions so I don’t have to use keyframes?

[Mark Crenshaw]

Use this as I described in this post. It will give you what you want and allow you to control the global settings for all layers. This is the quickest way I am aware of to accomplish what you want.

https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/2/950288

Follow it step by step and you’ll get it. Set it up on a practice comp and then when you have it working, copy and paste the Glow Null layer to your main project and the Glow effect to the layers you want it on.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Peace,
Mark

[Christopher Rotter]

Alright, I will follow that suggestion on that message, and get back to you in case I have any problems and or how it worked out.

[Christopher Rotter]

How do you apply a expression slider to a null under which property?
Also I have to apply this {expression} to each layer and duplicate the slider
so I can control the randomness of the glow intensity of each layer with the slider ? There is a way to have one control, control all the layers glow intensity but it’s still random (the glow intensity) per layer?

[Mark Crenshaw]

Chis,
Here are a hings to help you out, but I would suggest you spend some time with the AE manual. It will clear up alot of the issues you are having with applying effects, using nulls and even some basics on expressions.

You only need one null. It will control all instances of Glow that have the expression applied. The breakdown is any number of Glow effects, with the expression applied, will be controled by a single slider on the Glow Null.

With the Null selected in the timeline, right click on it and go Effect>Expression Controls>Slider Control. The effect will show up in the Effects Controls window. With it selected, hit Enter and rename it “Glow Slider” Naming is important because the expression refers to this name.

If you follow the directions I gave you, and don’t assume anything else, you should be fine. If there is something in the directions you don’t understand, I would encourage you to find the answer in the manual. It will be well worth the time so you understand the process and can then apply it to later projects.

Good luck!

Mark

[Christopher Rotter]

Alright, I have got the glow working by using the slider. The only question is, I duplicated the layer and ran the slider and now both layers glowed based on the slider but how can I have one layer glow when one layer is off using the slider (random) ? Remember I’m using a test composition currently so in the real composition there will be up to 30 layers.