how to add a file to a composition ?

[Reko Tomo]

Below is so far I get from the internet.

var PhotoComp1 = proj.items.addComp("Photo Comp1", 320, 180, 1, 08, 30);
var PhotoComp2 = proj.items.addComp("Photo Comp2", 320, 180, 1, 08, 30);
var PhotoComp3 = proj.items.addComp("Photo Comp3", 320, 180, 1, 08, 30);
var picName1 = "01.jpg"; // name of item you're looking for
var myPic1 = null;
for (var i = 1 ; i <= app.project.numItems; i++){

if (app.project.item(i).name == picName1){

myPic1 = app.project.item(i);

break;

}

}

if (myPic1 != null){
var myLayer1 = PhotoComp1.layers.add(myPic1).threeDLayer=true;

}else{

alert ("Can't find comp '" + picName1 + "'");

}

Until that, it works. But then I don’t know how to coding the position of myPic1 layer in the PhotoComp1 composition before else command.

I’ve tried this

myLayer1.property("ADBE Transform Group").property("ADBE Position").setValue([160,90,1]); Not work.

I’ve tried this :

myLayer1.myPic1.property("ADBE Transform Group").property("ADBE Position").setValue([160,90,1]); No luck.

I’ve also tried this :

myLayer1.layer(myPic1).property("ADBE Transform Group").property("ADBE Position").setValue([160,90,1]); No joy.

Also I try this :

var myPhotoComp1 = app.project.myLayer1;

myPhotoComp1.myPic1.property("ADBE Transform Group").property("ADBE Position").setValue([160,90,1]);

and this

var myPhotoComp1 = app.project.myLayer1;
myPhotoComp1.layer(myPic1).property("ADBE Transform Group").property("ADBE Position").setValue([160,90,1]); Both not work.

I’d be glad if someone can help me.
BTW, I’m using Adobe After Effect CS3.

Thank you.

[Dan Ebberts]

I haven’t tested anything, but I’m guessing your problem may be with this line:

var myLayer1 = PhotoComp1.layers.add(myPic1).threeDLayer=true;

I’d try it this way:

var myLayer1 = PhotoComp1.layers.add(myPic1);
myLayer1.threeDLayer=true;

then see if your .setValue works.

Dan

[Reko Tomo]

Wow…. thank you very much, Dan.
It works !

So far my script is like this

var photosFolder = app.project.importFileWithDialog();
var proj = app.project;

var picName1 = "01.jpg"; // name of item you're looking for
var picName2 = "02.jpg"; // name of item you're looking for
var picName3 = "03.jpg"; // name of item you're looking for
var picName4 = "04.jpg"; // name of item you're looking for
var picName5 = "05.jpg"; // name of item you're looking for
var picName6 = "06.jpg"; // name of item you're looking for

var myPic1 = null;
for (var i = 1 ; i <= app.project.numItems; i++){

if (app.project.item(i).name == picName1){

myPic1 = app.project.item(i);

}

if (app.project.item(i).name == picName2){

myPic2 = app.project.item(i);
}

if (app.project.item(i).name == picName3){

myPic3 = app.project.item(i);

}

if (app.project.item(i).name == picName4){

myPic4 = app.project.item(i);

}

if (app.project.item(i).name == picName5){

myPic5 = app.project.item(i);

}

if (app.project.item(i).name == picName6){

myPic6 = app.project.item(i);

}

}

var Comp1 = proj.items.addComp("Photo Comp1", 320, 180, 1, 08, 30);
var LayersComp1 = Comp1.layers;

var Pic2 = LayersComp1.add(myPic2);
Pic2.threeDLayer=true;
Pic2.property("Position").setValue([160,90,0]);
Pic2.property("Scale").setValue([-100,100,100]);

var Pic1 = LayersComp1.add(myPic1);
Pic1.threeDLayer=true;
Pic1.property("Position").setValue([160,90,-1]);

var Comp2 = proj.items.addComp("Photo Comp2", 320, 180, 1, 08, 30);
var LayersComp2 = Comp2.layers;

var Pic4 = LayersComp2.add(myPic4);
Pic4.threeDLayer=true;
Pic4.property("Position").setValue([160,90,0]);
Pic4.property("Scale").setValue([-100,100,100]);

var Pic3 = LayersComp2.add(myPic3);
Pic3.threeDLayer=true;
Pic3.property("Position").setValue([160,90,-1]);

var Comp3 = proj.items.addComp("Photo Comp3", 320, 180, 1, 08, 30);
var LayersComp3 = Comp3.layers;

var Pic6 = LayersComp3.add(myPic6);
Pic6.threeDLayer=true;
Pic6.property("Position").setValue([160,90,0]);
Pic6.property("Scale").setValue([-100,100,100]);

var Pic5 = LayersComp3.add(myPic5);
Pic5.threeDLayer=true;
Pic5.property("Position").setValue([160,90,-1]);

var MainComp = proj.items.addComp("MainComp", 1280, 720, 1, 08, 30);
var LayersMainComp = MainComp.layers;
var FX = LayersMainComp.add(Comp1);
FX.collapseTransformation = true;
FX.threeDLayer=true;
FX.property("Position").setValue([-850,0,0]);
FX.property("Transform").property("X Rotation").setValueAtTime(3,0);
FX.property("X Rotation").setValueAtTime(3.23,180);

var echo = FX.Effects.addProperty("Echospace");
echo.property("Instances").setValue(3);
echo.property("X Offset").setValueAtTime(0,0);
echo.property("X Offset").setValueAtTime(1,425);
echo.property("Y Rotate").setValueAtTime(7,0);
echo.property("Y Rotate").setValueAtTime(7.25,-90);
echo.property("Transform Delay [sec]").setValue(0.3);

No error massage at all…. BUT I’m hopeless searching the internet to find out how to write the code for clicking the “Repeat” button in Echospace.

edit :
after going deeper searching the net, there is a very complicated method to do that and I don’t think I’m able to handle it :(.
Writing the above scripts alone already made my heartburn come.

Is there another possible way to “pause” the script ?
Maybe give an alert message with an OK button, let me manually click the “Repeat” button – click the OK button in the alert message, then the script continue ?

Anyway, I want to say thank you once again for your help.
Really appreciated.

regards.

[Dan Ebberts]

If your process requires manual interaction with Echospace, I think I’d do it with a script that has a UI. It would have a Build button which would launch the setup part of your script which would end with an alert dialog telling the user to click Repeat and then click the Continue button in your UI. A lot of work though…

Dan

[Reko Tomo]

Hi Dan,

I think I'd do it with a script that has a UI

I think that’s the one that I found out in the internet.
The complicated one :).

A lot of work though...

Yes indeed.
As this is only my first try and is not a really important one, I don’t think I will bother to go that deep to write the script. I’m just interested in the basic process to code the script for After Effect.

Thank you once again for your reply, Dan.

regards.