[Darby Edelen]

One more tip: don’t link to AVIs =) They tend to have a high data rate causing stuttering in playback on some (i.e. my) computer. I recommend MPEG-4 as a newer web standard.

[Darby Edelen]

[PRgraphist] “lenght(thisComp.layer(“DIGITARTS”).transform.position,transform.position)”

Unfortunately lenght isn’t a function, or even a word =O

I believe you’re looking for length(), if you ever have a hard time with the syntax for whatever reason (it is a little english-centric) you can check it by clicking on the arrow to the right of the expression pick whip for a contextual menu of most AE functions.

[Darby Edelen]

You really didn’t give enough important information for anyone to know what’s going wrong here =/

What kind of footage is it? Where are you trying to import it from (Local/Network)?

Usually unexplained problems will have to do with some sort of strange operating circumstance like running low on HD space or… any number of other thinigs =) Is there anything strange about your system or the way you’re working?

[Darby Edelen]

Oh, by the way you can check out the Text animation preset named ‘Transporter’ for some similar effects that you might be able to borrow from/adapt for your own purposes!

[Darby Edelen]

[simmizi] “therefore my questions are: -do you have any tips on how to create good-looking texts on grungy backgrounds?
-how can i pay more attention on the text…for example how can i flash letters in the background.”

I would make a new text layer and parent it to your original animated one, then use an expression to make the text in each the same (pick whip the new text layer’s Source Text property to the original text layer’s Source Text property). Then put a wiggly selector on your new text layer and animate opacity, blur and scale. You could also add some Glow effects to this layer (and your original layer) and animate them. Then I’d make some geometric solids with an Add blend mode to intensify the flashing effect. All of this is, of course, to personal taste =)

[Darby Edelen]

Frankly, extract isn’t a very good option as it discards image data instead of masking it (see my post about feathering an edge below). I always prefer to use a Layer Mask… always =)

And one good way to get a good starting point for a mask is the process I described in my earlier post. If you need more help/details let me know where you’re lost.

[Darby Edelen]

[Dave LaRonde] “I’d check the FCP Sequence Settings.”

I was going to suggest this, as well as making sure that you’re looking at everything with Pixel Aspect Ratio preview on.

[Darby Edelen]

[tommmm] ”
I looked in the “Standard Effects” folder on my computer and see no “CC” effect files in the folder what so ever. Is that the folder they should be in?”

They could be in any folder in the Plug-Ins folder. Standard Effects are effects that ship with AE Standard, Professional Effects ship with AE Professional. Usually 3rd party vendors name their folder in the Plug-Ins folder something that makes sense like “CC Effects” or “Cycore FX” or something like that for CC.

[Darby Edelen]

Use the Motion Tracker, only included with AE Pro, under Windows > Motion Tracker. If you don’t have experience working with the Motion Tracker this is going to be a difficult undertaking for you.

One problem you’ll face is keeping the tracked points on screen. I recommend you understand all of the features of the Motion Tracker before you get too involved (Search Region, Feature Region, Attach Point). An important thing is to move the Feature Region and Search Region to new ‘features’ as the features you were tracking move off screen (use opt-drag on the feature region to do this). The feature and search regions will move but your attach point will remain in the same spot, continuing to properly (hopefully) track the motion.

Also, you’re probably already aware of this, but shadows and lighting are just as important in selling the final composite =)

[Darby Edelen]

Here’s a sample I made in about 5 minutes using the technique I suggested above:

https://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5791548318456683085

The final comp has one pre-comped fractal noise layer, one pre-comped text layer and a solid with a ramp for the background.

The text layer is blurred slightly in the pre-comp and revealed over time using a stroke in the final comp. It has a Compound Blur and Displacement Map applied that reference the Fractal Noise pre-comp, then the text layer is used as an alpha matte for the Fractal Noise… and that’s about it.

You could add additional effects to give the text a sort of a ‘floating away’ kind of look.