[Dave Johnson]

After re-reading your initial question, Justin, I realized that, although it is accurate regrading how to apply normal motion blur, my answer won’t solve your issue. Adriano, is exactly right in that, since your foreground layer isn’t moving in AE, there is no movement for AE to base motion blur upon. So, your options are to use the Force Motion Blur filter or re-render in your 3D app with motion blur.

[Dave Johnson]

Create a new solid above the image, draw a mask on the solid to designate the area you want affected, then make the solid layer an adjustment layer.

[Dave Johnson]

It should show up in the menu path File > Export > Flash Video or by clicking Format in the render queue Output Module window. If not, it probably is some kind of installation issue … I’m not sure which one might need to be installed first … it probably shouldn’t matter, but if it does, my guess is Flash would need to go first so AE would recognize that it’s there. With a deadline looming, if there is really an installation issue, I’d contact Adobe instead of the forums.

[Dave Johnson]

Have you turned on MB for the comp in addition to for the layer itself? The icon looks the same, but is at the top of the timeline window (versus the individual layer MB that’s with the other switches for each layer).

You can also raise the shutter angle in the comps settings window “Advanced” tab to increase the amount of MB.

[Dave Johnson]

If I understand correctly what you’re asking, just select the mask vertex you want to be the start & end point and go to Layer > Mask and Shape Path > Set First Vertex.

The default first vertex is the first one made when the mask was drawn and is indicated by a larger square than the other vertices. The currently selected vertex is indicated by a filled square instead of the outlined squares the other vertices have.

[Dave Johnson]

Or, you could do it the easy way. ;~)

Sorry … just saw Stefan’s post after I sent mine … I guess I still do some things the old school way since I don’t always take the time to investigate new AE features and the old ways still work.

[Dave Johnson]

You could save the frames you need as stills, import the stills into AE and place them in your comp. I don’t have AE open right now so I may be a little off, but it’s something like “save frame as Photoshop layers” in the Comp menu.

or

You could enable time remapping for the layer, create keyframes where you want the video to start and stop playing, copy the start keyframe to the beginning of the layer, and copy the stop keyframe to the end of the layer.

[Dave Johnson]

Working in 16-bit instead of 8-bit reduces banding. The only other way around it I’ve found is to add a small amount of noise to the image.

[Dave Johnson]

Same here … never to render and only occasionally for previews.

For me, it’s only been far more trouble than it’s worth and none of the other AE users I know have experienced different. Because I’ve heard some say it’s only an issue on one platform or the other, I’ll also mention that I work on both platforms daily and I for one have found it to be the same on both.

[Dave Johnson]

That’s a good example of why, the first chance I get/make, I’m jumping ship on this business after 20 years! It’s more than enough to have to listen to people talk about the “HD” camera they got at Walmart or the “videos” they made with PowerPoint, but when grandmas and grandpas are winning NLEs on Price Is Right, it’s definitely time to move on. Maybe I’ll buy a lab coat and a really nice stethoscope so I can be a doctor.

Sorry for the rant … couldn’t help myself.