Darby Edelen
Forum Replies Created
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Is your source footage interlaced? Are you going to want progressive output?
Darby Edelen
DVD Menu Artist
Left Coast Digital
Aptos, CA -
[ajcvideo] “1. I make a mistake when I create a node with my pen tool and then I undo and then cannot continue making nodes. When I click my mouse it starts a new mask?”
Click on the last vertex that you placed with the pen tool and then continue clicking with the pen tool where you want new vertices and it should work fine.
[ajcvideo] “2. When I want to move a node I click on move tool and move the node and then I click on pen tool and continue to click away, again it starts a new mask?”
Note that when using the pen tool you can hold down cmd/ctrl (mac/pc) to switch to the selection/move tool. Then use the same tip I gave above to continue creating new vertices for the same mask.
[ajcvideo] “3. When I complete a mask and then I want to adjust a node or two I am in the dark on as how to do it???”
You can select the layer and hit ‘m’ to show all of the masks and ‘Mask Shape’ properties associated with the layer, select one of these and it selects all of the mask’s vertices by default. You can then use the selection tool to select/deselect vertices and move them(you can also press cmd-t/ctrl-t to free transform the points).
These are from memory, as I’m rendering right now, but if you have any trouble please let me know and I’ll try to be helpful =)
Darby Edelen
DVD Menu Artist
Left Coast Digital
Aptos, CA -
The only reason I like to use 72 DPI for my PSDs to go to video is because that is the default setting, I like to stay consistent, and I just don’t like that the View > Print Size option should affect my document =)
Of course images shouldn’t be scanned at 72 DPI, that would be ridiculous, but we’re talking about DPI in terms of output (where it doesn’t affect anything in the case of video) not input (where it is of supreme importance). However, seeing as PS chooses 72 DPI as the default for NTSC DV (and other video) presets, I see no reason to change it since it doesn’t matter at all.
And there in lies my unconvincing reasoning for why 72 DPI is ‘better’ than other DPI =)
Darby Edelen
DVD Menu Artist
Left Coast Digital
Aptos, CA -
You could even use the original CG footage as a track matte once you bring your DV-ified footage back into AE.
Darby Edelen
DVD Menu Artist
Left Coast Digital
Aptos, CA -
Try selecting your layer and using Auto-Trace under the Layers menu. You will have to specify the alpha channel as the source for the trace.
Then turn ‘Preview’ on and tweak the settings until you’re satisfied, I usually like to ‘Apply to new layer’ (just a habit), but it doesn’t really do any harm to apply the mask to the source layer, you can switch the mode to add/subtract/none/etc after the trace is applied.
If the alpha channel is animated then you want to select the ‘Work Area’ radio button at the top.
Darby Edelen
DVD Menu Artist
Left Coast Digital
Aptos, CA -
[Dave LaRonde] “For example: a 6-inch-wide image at 150 DPI = 900 pixels, and a 3-inch-wide image at 300 DPI = 900 pixels. AE discerns absolutely no difference in the horizontal resolution of the two images.”
I’m pretty sure you’re right Dave, but I find it’s usually best to stick with the standard video dpi given by photoshop (72) so as to avoid any headaches related to the rough and tumble world of pre-press and print graphics =O
Darby Edelen
DVD Menu Artist
Left Coast Digital
Aptos, CA -
So, if I understand you correctly you don’t want to perform Median on the luma channel itself, but you want to use the luma to control the Median effect.
The only way I can think to (sort of) accomplish this in AE is to use a luma track matte above an adjustment layer with Median applied to it.
Darby Edelen
DVD Menu Artist
Left Coast Digital
Aptos, CA -
[Beuwulf] “I then click on the 3d box and highlight the correspond 3d box above the time line.”
The ‘3D Box’ above the timeline is called ‘Draft 3D’ mode and disables lights and Depth of Field.
Disable ‘Draft 3D’ and you should be fine.
Darby Edelen
DVD Menu Artist
Left Coast Digital
Aptos, CA -
I haven’t read the tutorial in quite some time, but usually you’ll use Wave World with a blending mode (try soft light) or to drive a distortion effect such as Displacement Map.
Darby Edelen
DVD Menu Artist
Left Coast Digital
Aptos, CA -
[dupsta] “Why is it easier with the light emitter? I do use particular and use the light emitter. I have also just used 3d position data from a null or small solid.”
The light gives you a convenient place to control your position, color, and spread (in the case of spotlights) data outside of the somewhat cludgy Particular controls.
If you’re comfortable working with the X and Y positions separate from the Z position then I suppose it doesn’t offer you much of a benefit, but I find the light is a more natural to envision an emitter. Lights themselves can be thought of photon emitters, it just makes sense to me =)
Also you can have multiple emitting lights related to one instance of particular.
Darby Edelen
DVD Menu Artist
Left Coast Digital
Aptos, CA