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Activity Forums Adobe After Effects solid vs. shape layers

  • solid vs. shape layers

    Posted by Jonathan Shohet on March 19, 2008 at 11:46 pm

    Doing some motion graphics.
    If I create a square shape layer and rotate it, I get sometimes get harsh aliasing on the edges.it seems to me that a solid layer produces finer edges, though I may be wrong.
    Is this normal? Is this a limitation of how AE handles vectors?
    I’ve noticed this harsh aliasing also with vector art imported from Illustrator.

    thanks,
    Jon

    Darby Edelen replied 18 years, 2 months ago 2 Members · 3 Replies
  • 3 Replies
  • Darby Edelen

    March 19, 2008 at 11:57 pm

    [jonathan shohet] “If I create a square shape layer and rotate it, I get unacceptable harsh aliasing on the edges, as opposed to a solid layer square which look much finer. “

    I cannot reproduce this aliasing. Do you have pixel aspect ratio preview on? Is the layer set to draft quality?

    Darby Edelen
    Designer
    Left Coast Digital
    Santa Cruz, CA

  • Jonathan Shohet

    March 20, 2008 at 1:34 am

    hi Darby,
    thanks for answering so quickly as usual
    I’m using best quality, and continuously reastrize.
    Maybe I’m expecting to much, there’s bound to be some jaggies on acute angles I guess, but I have in the past projected motion graphics onto a large screen and have definetly noticed this aliasing on some renders and was hoping this time to get better results.
    Not quite so sure on second examination if there is a difference between shape layers and solid layers though.

  • Darby Edelen

    March 20, 2008 at 7:05 am

    [jonathan shohet] “Not quite so sure on second examination if there is a difference between shape layers and solid layers though.”

    When I turn ‘Continuously Rasterize’ on the solid layer with a mask applied it looks identical to the shape layer, I did notice a very very very (very) slight feather at the edges of the shape layer when it is not being continuously rasterized. Given that that slight feather will turn into an obnoxious softening if you scale the solid up, I think the trade off is worth it.

    If you want to feather the edges of the shape layer a bit try using a blur with a very small radius.

    Darby Edelen
    Designer
    Left Coast Digital
    Santa Cruz, CA

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