Leave a trail

[Filip Vandueren]

Trapcode’s echospace does stuff like that i think, it can create multiple copies of the same layer in 3D space with keyframeable separation etc.

But for the basics: you just need n copies of your layer (best to precompose so it’s only keyed once), and offset them 12 frames each.
You could do this by hand, but when you need a trail of 100 copies, it gets old 😉
I wrote a script that does it for you:

Download here:

https://www.vandueren.be/forumstuff/scripts/FV_duplicate_offset.jsx

If you need a trail of still frames, let me know, I’ll alter the script a bit to create time-remapped stills on seperate layers.

[Filip Vandueren]

I made the script anyways, but I think this was indeed what you meant in the first place:

https://wwwvandueren.be/forumstuff/scripts/FV_timetrail.jsx

[Filip Vandueren]

that should read:

https://www.vandueren.be/forumstuff/scripts/FV_timetrail.jsx

[Stu Metcalf]

Hey Filip

Thanks so much for that. Probably missing the obvious, but what parameter do I apply the expression to?

Regards

Stu

[Filip Vandueren]

Hi Stu,

it’s not an expression, it’s a script.
Expressions calculate values for keyframeable properties,
but scripts can do almost anything you can do with your mouse and keyboard, so they’re ideal for repetitive tasks like this.

Scripts seem to be a Pro version only feature though…

download the file to your computer, make sure the extension is .jsx

then in the menu:
Choose File> Scripts> Run Script File, locate and select a script, and click Open.

You can install it into the scripts folder next to the AE application, that way it shows up directly in the menu.

[Victor Nash]

Where would be a great resource in learning to develop scripts. I’ve been on AEnhancers, but was looking for something more simple. Scripts are like macros, or photoshop actions correct?

[Filip Vandueren]

Hi there,

scripts are indeed like macros (think applescript or VBscript)
but nothing like step by step recorded photoshop actions, It’s much more powerfull than that.

First of all, you should have a grasp of scripting or programming, preferably knowledge of Javascript, (or Ecmascript, Jscript, Flash ActionScript, basically all the same stuff)
There are some PDFs on the installer CD that list the object-model of After Effects, so if you’re familiar with dot syntax and know what you’d want to do by hand, you can just look it up there.
The syntax is usually just a bit different from the object model in motionscript (After Effects’ expressions), so that’s weird…

Anyway, this site is invaluable:

https://redefinery.com/ae/fundamentals/

[Victor Nash]

Thanks a bunch!

[Stu Metcalf]

That worked really well. Thanks very much

Stu

[Filip Vandueren]

I’d love to see the result…

Flying round ghosted trails in 3D sounds like fun 😎