[Dan Fredley]

Let’s try this one more time:

L = thisLayer;
targetPosition = L.toWorld(L.anchorPoint);
sampleLayer = thisComp.layer(thisComp.numLayers);
for (i=0; i < thisComp.height;i++) {
alphaCheck = sampleLayer.sampleImage(sampleLayer.fromWorld([targetPosition[0],i]), radius = [.5,.5]);
if (alphaCheck[3] < 1) {
continue;
} else {
alphaPosition = [0,i];
break;
}
}
newWorldPos = L.fromWorld(L.toWorld(alphaPosition));
[value[0],newWorldPos[1]]

Dan Fredley

[Dan Fredley]

actually try this–expression got screwed up somehow during copy/paste

L = thisLayer;
targetPosition = L.toWorld(L.anchorPoint);
sampleLayer = thisComp.layer(thisComp.numLayers);
for (i=0; iL = thisLayer;
targetPosition = L.toWorld(L.anchorPoint);
sampleLayer = thisComp.layer(thisComp.numLayers);
for (i=0; i

Dan Fredley

[Dan Fredley]

change the sampleLayer to your water layer and then try applying the following to the boat position.

L = thisLayer;
targetPosition = L.toWorld(L.anchorPoint);
sampleLayer = thisComp.layer(thisComp.numLayers);
for (i=0; i<thisComp.height;i++) {
alphaCheck = sampleLayer.sampleImage(sampleLayer.fromWorld([targetPosition[0],i]), radius = [.5,.5]);
if (alphaCheck[3]&lt;1) {
continue;
} else {
alphaPosition = [0,i];
break;
}
}
newWorldPos = L.fromWorld(L.toWorld(alphaPosition));
[value[0],newWorldPos[1]]


Dan Fredley

[Dan Fredley]

If the waves are consistent then you can just set 2 keyframesat the top and bottom then set the following expression:

(might have to play with ease settings on keyframes)

loopOut(type = "pingpong")

Dan Fredley

[Dan Fredley]

Click the dropdown in the top right of the info palette and change to “Auto”

Dan Fredley

[Dan Fredley]

Occasionally I run into this issue, but unfortunately I have no explanation why it happens–by all means your layer logic is correct, it just seems AE gets confused when two layers occupy the same space. Another solution would be to just add a 2D adjustment layer between the base layer and the link layers to give a definite barrier so they never cross. But it depends on how much interaction you need between layers.

I’m not sure if the close proximity of the camera affects it either. Maybe try putting a camera way back and zoom in just to see if you have the same issues. Working in microspace in AE is never fun, but it seems every client wants us to zoom way out then zoom way in.

Dan Fredley

[Dan Fredley]

You could try doing screengrabs and try the autotrace feature in illustrator or AE, might get good enough results to not “recreate.” They use actual screen grabs on the wideshots, but cheat by cutting straight to the fake closeups. You could cheat too, by just having generic text boxes, etc. after having an establishing shot.

Dan Fredley

[Dan Fredley]

You could get away with a complete sky replacement. Key out the blue using Keylight and replace it with another blue gradient or sky.

Dan Fredley

[Dan Fredley]

You can use the fractal noise effect to create a few still patterns then loop them similar to the Squigglevision effect invented by Tom Snyder. Use the precomped layer as a track matte. You only need a few patterns looping at a few frames per second. Create the textures in Photoshop first if you’d like.

Dan Fredley

[Dan Fredley]

How about just animate one in a precomp flipping it’s tail back and forth in a loop and then use it as a video sprite in Particular to create the swarm?–if you have Particular, of course.

Another way would be to just have it “Orient along path” instead of “bending”. Still might give the effect you are going for.

Layer>Transform>Auto-orient>Orient along path

Dan Fredley