[Colin Braley]

you’re welcome

[Colin Braley]

Add this expression to position:

minZ = -2000;//Minimum z depth value
maxZ = 2000;//Maximum z depth value
//–
seedRandom(index, true);
z = random(minZ, maxZ);
[position[0], position[1], Math.round( z )]

You can then adjust the x and y components of the position like normal, but the z value is randomly chosen by the expression.

~Colin

[Colin Braley]

Add this expression to position:

minZ = -2000;//Minimum z depth value
maxZ = 2000;//Maximum z depth value
//–
seedRandom(index, true);
z = random(minZ, maxZ);
[position[0], position[1], Math.round( z )]

You can then adjust the x and y components of the position like normal, but the z value is randomly chosen by the expression.

~Colin

[Colin Braley]

I am not familiar with the tutorial you mention, but this kind of thing isn’t too difficult to do with expressions. Here are a few examples to get you started:

This expression for opacity should make a layer fade in and out around the endpoints. Just modify the variable frames to your liking.

//Begin expression
frames = 10;//Duration of in/out animation
//————
if(time < this.inPoint + framesToTime(frames) ) ease(time, this.inPoint, this.inPoint + framesToTime(frames), 0, 100); else ease(time, this.outPoint - framesToTime(frames), this.outPoint, 100,0); //End expression This next expression for position should make a layer "Slide into place" as you mentioned. In this one, just modify the variables frames , initialPosition , and mainPosition.

//Begin expression
frames = 10; //Duration of in/out animation
initialPosition = [260, -100]; //Position and beginning and end
mainPosition = [360, 270]; //Main position
//————
if(time < this.inPoint + framesToTime(frames) ) ease(time, this.inPoint, this.inPoint + framesToTime(frames), initialPosition, mainPosition); else ease(time, this.outPoint - framesToTime(frames), this.outPoint, mainPosition,initialPosition); //End expression These kind of expressions can be used to do some more advanced stuff too. I used this ineffeciently coded position expression recently on a project to have a layer spiral in and out at its endpoints. frames = 30; //Duration of in/out animation initialPosition = [260, -100]; //Position and beginning and end mainPosition = [360, 270]; //Main position freq = 25;//Frequency of circular rotation maxAmp = 300;//Max amplitude minAmp = 0;//Minimum amplitude //------------ if(time < this.inPoint + framesToTime(frames) ){ amp = ease(time, this.inPoint, this.inPoint + framesToTime(frames), maxAmp, minAmp ); circle = [amp*Math.sin(time * freq), amp*Math.cos(time * freq)]; ease(time, this.inPoint, this.inPoint + framesToTime(frames), initialPosition + circle, mainPosition + circle ); }else{ amp = ease(time, this.outPoint - framesToTime(frames), this.outPoint, minAmp, maxAmp); circle = [amp*Math.sin(time * freq), amp*Math.cos(time * freq)]; ease(time, this.outPoint - framesToTime(frames), this.outPoint, mainPosition + circle, initialPosition + circle); } ~Colin

[Colin Braley]

I am not familiar with the tutorial you mention, but this kind of thing isn’t too difficult to do with expressions. Here are a few examples to get you started:

This expression for opacity should make a layer fade in and out around the endpoints. Just modify the variable frames to your liking.

//Begin expression
frames = 10;//Duration of in/out animation
//————
if(time < this.inPoint + framesToTime(frames) ) ease(time, this.inPoint, this.inPoint + framesToTime(frames), 0, 100); else ease(time, this.outPoint - framesToTime(frames), this.outPoint, 100,0); //End expression This next expression for position should make a layer "Slide into place" as you mentioned. In this one, just modify the variables frames , initialPosition , and mainPosition.

//Begin expression
frames = 10; //Duration of in/out animation
initialPosition = [260, -100]; //Position and beginning and end
mainPosition = [360, 270]; //Main position
//————
if(time < this.inPoint + framesToTime(frames) ) ease(time, this.inPoint, this.inPoint + framesToTime(frames), initialPosition, mainPosition); else ease(time, this.outPoint - framesToTime(frames), this.outPoint, mainPosition,initialPosition); //End expression These kind of expressions can be used to do some more advanced stuff too. I used this ineffeciently coded position expression recently on a project to have a layer spiral in and out at its endpoints. frames = 30; //Duration of in/out animation initialPosition = [260, -100]; //Position and beginning and end mainPosition = [360, 270]; //Main position freq = 25;//Frequency of circular rotation maxAmp = 300;//Max amplitude minAmp = 0;//Minimum amplitude //------------ if(time < this.inPoint + framesToTime(frames) ){ amp = ease(time, this.inPoint, this.inPoint + framesToTime(frames), maxAmp, minAmp ); circle = [amp*Math.sin(time * freq), amp*Math.cos(time * freq)]; ease(time, this.inPoint, this.inPoint + framesToTime(frames), initialPosition + circle, mainPosition + circle ); }else{ amp = ease(time, this.outPoint - framesToTime(frames), this.outPoint, minAmp, maxAmp); circle = [amp*Math.sin(time * freq), amp*Math.cos(time * freq)]; ease(time, this.outPoint - framesToTime(frames), this.outPoint, mainPosition + circle, initialPosition + circle); } ~Colin

[Colin Braley]

Well when I set both instances of to “On original image” it seems to work fine. Maybe you forgot to make sure that all of the Scribble effects have this setting? And if you decide to use precomping there is a way to make this easier if you are using AE 7. With your main comp open, lock the comp window, then alt + double click on your precomp. That way you can edit your precomp while you look at your primary comp. I think Mylenium may have mentioned this in his tutorial on navigating the AE 7 interface, but I’m not sure. You can do something like this in AE 6.5 too, but it’s a little tougher to setup.
~Colin

[Colin Braley]

as Johnathan said, precomping would work fine too 🙂

[Colin Braley]

At the bottom of the Scribble effect controls there should be a parameter called “Composite.” I’m guessing you have it set to “On Transparent.” Change it to “On Original Image.” Once you do this, you can use multiple instances of the Scribble effect just fine.
~Colin

[Colin Braley]

Lev,
I’m a computer science student and I am currently writing a render management program that I can give to you. (It is still a little buggy and not quite done) This standalone program can be used to make a queue of what I call “tasks.” Some of these tasks include, rendering an After Effects comp, rendering a scene from Maya or Lightwave, opening an .exe, copying a folder etc. The program allows you to create tasks and put them in a list in the order you want them to be executed. Then you press the “execute” button and the computer does the work for you. For instance, you could easily set the program up so it renders a few comps from various After Effects projects, renderes a maya scene, copies all of the renders to a folder, and then opens photoshop. If you (or anyone else)want some more info drop me an email at
cbraley11 (at) gmail.com

~Colin

[Colin Braley]

no news from what I understand
~Colin