[Bob Root]

Thanks Stephan,

Very helpful advice.

I’m on a bit of a learning curve as I move into my new system. As exciting as it is, alot of the hardware is “first time” for me, so I’m trying to fill my head with as much info as it can handle before moving into production.

Regards,

Bob Root

[Bob Root]

Oops… Forgot to mention that this is a multi-cam project, so importing accurate timecode is crucial.

Thanks again,

Bob

[Bob Root]

You might want to check out the Lux plugin on trapcode.com. You can download a trial version to see if it works for you (purchase price is about $200).

Bob

[Bob Root]

Yep, my external is set as my scratch disc.

Project setting is DV/DVC PRO (is this what you meant by setting?).

Looks like I may have identified the problem as being caused by an animation codec in my original quicktime files, which my timeline was conformed to.

[Bob Root]

The only thing I can think of right now, is that your render settings may be set to output only the work area and not the entire length of your comp.

I’ve got my AE open and will hunt around to see if it might be something else.

Good luck,

Bob

p.s. – please reply if it’s not a work area issue…..thx

[Bob Root]

Use the selection tool to select the vertex you would like to start from.

Then… In the Layer drop down menu select Mask and click on Set First Vertex.

[Bob Root]

In your timeline, highlight mask shape and copy it. The mask can then be pasted to your particle generator by highlighting the x,y position and pasting.

If you’re using Particle Playground, the position is found under the Cannon twirl down. If you have the Particular plugin, you can find the position under the Emitter twirl down.

Good Luck. Hope this helps.

Bob

[Bob Root]

Hi Aaron,

I don’t have an answer to your post, but can hopefully direct you to someone who does.

Dan Ebbert seems to be the expressions guru as far as AE goes. His site is https://www.motionscript.com/ . You can find his contact info in the “About Me” section.

I don’t know him personally, but… through his site and tutorials on the Cow he seems like a nice enough guy to give you a smart answer to your quandary.

Best of luck.

Bob

[Bob Root]

Just found a link to Adobe’s info on Particle Playground. It’s very complete (a long, confusing read), but should get you well into any project you want to create with PP. The info about using layer maps is second up from the bottom.

https://livedocs.adobe.com/en_US/AfterEffects/8.0/help.html?content=WS3878526689cb91655866c1103a9d3c597-7ab2.html

For the sake of ease, first try the steps I mentioned in my first reply.

[Bob Root]

Your custom shape should reside as a separate layer in the same composition you have your particle generator in. I’m not sure which plugin you’re using to generate particles so here are a few directions for the plugins I have in version 7 (they may be the same in CS3).

If you’re using Particle Playground, select your shape in the Layer Map pulldown.

If you’re using Trapcode Particular, within the particle dropdown select custom as your Particle type… then select your custom shape as the layer.

It doesn’t appear that CC Particle World and CC Particle Systems have an option to use a layer as a generator.

I’ll be on for a while tonight… so if you’re working with any of the plugins I’ve mentioned and aren’t getting results I’ll try to respond.

Good luck!