[David Johnson]

Thanks much Barend. Don’t know how I missed your article when I searched for FEC posts, but it goes a long way to clear up the FEC fog. I’ve also pasted below the response I got from BorisFX in case anyone else finds it useful. It should be interesting to see who can/will do more with the FEC code…the guys who wrote it or their formidable opponent BorisFX.

No response yet from Cycore, but this is from BorisFX support:

Boris FX, Inc. purchased FEC from Media 100 several months ago. As you may be aware the M100 version of FEC was sitting stagnant and undeveloped for several years. Our intentions are to modernize the filter set and take it to the next level. Our initial release of FEC was focused on updating host support (new FCP, AE and so on) and to fix some legacy issues that were outstanding. There were several filters that were not being installed in the M100 release (broken), behavior problems (i.e crashes) and output problems. FEC 4.0.2 addressed all of these issues. You can download the release notes that details the changes here:

https://www.borisfx.com/download/#fec

Currently, FEC 4.0.2 is 8-bit only. The next planned release will include 16-bit support, and additional features taken from our existing BCC (Continuum Complete) package. In terms of functionality and speed they are almost identical, but with that said, it’s also host dependant. Rendering speeds differ based on what host the filters are being used in. Cycore FX is only able to run within After Effects, while Boris FEC can run inside AE, Combustion, Final Cut Pro, and all Boris products. I would suggest downloading the free 14-day fully functional demo version of the software and taking it for a test drive.

[David Johnson]

I’m rendering so this is from my unreliable memory…
Click “Show Masks” in the Comp window (next to Safe Area button).
Look for the mask point that has a bigger square than the others (that’s the current “first vertex”.
Click the point at the opposite end of the mask shape and make menu slection: Layer>Mask>Set First Vertex.

Hope I understood the question correctly.

[David Johnson]

My understanding of the FEC lifespan is exactly as you described and two consistent faulty memories are better than one.

I have searched the COW and even read Artel’s press release about “Boris Final Effects Complete”, but they only talk about “repackaging” and additional host support with no definitive statements about whether the plugins themselves are different in any way.

The little research I’ve done only adds to the confusion…
The Cycore site lists some improvements to the Particle plugins in their “HD” version and there’s no mention of improvements on Boris’ site, but Boris isn’t selling 2 separate versions either. Similarly, Cycore’s HD version is 16-bit, but there is no mention of bit-depth from Boris. Cycore also lists 3 new plugins, but I can’t tell if they’re in the Boris version since both companies have renamed some of the individual plugins.

I guess I will just write both companies and hope for a reasonably objective answer…though I’ve already spent more time on it than I think anyone should have to.

[David Johnson]

[Or should I finally give up on Windows once and for all and switch to Mac]
That is not the answer to your problem, but maybe you should do that anyway since it sounds like you are already convinced that one platform is “better” than the other.

If you search various forums and the web, you will find that the various bugs/problems with QT7 are pretty well documented, unresolved thus far, and apply to both platforms. I would take Steve’s advice and go back to QT 6.5.2 until Apple straightens out QT7.

In case you can’t tell by my comments, I work cross-platform all day every day and can tell you first hand that switching platforms (in either direction) is not the answer to any problem other than user familiarity. Just my 2 cents.

[David Johnson]

I don’t know of a way to compress video out of AE small enough to transfer via the internet that’ll still retain broadcast quality. I doubt Digital Anarchy’s Microcosm or any other codec can get full-rez files that small, but maybe. If you can both get access to an FTP site, you can transfer those large files without degrading them to meet a size limitation. Also, I’ve never used them personally, but I know other editors who do what you’re trying to do using services like Whale Mail (https://www.whalemail.com/).

[David Johnson]

I would just add to the facts Steve already pointed out that a benchmark test is only true if ALL other things are equal. If, for example, the two systems have different software installed and, therefore, different background processes and/or services running, that’ll skew your results. Sorry if you think I’m overstating the obvious, but I often hear people make unfair comparisons such as I’ve described.

For what it’s worth, you should at least be able to work in AE much faster even if you can’t render signifcantly faster. You might also consider using that old system for network rendering using GridIron.

[David Johnson]

Thanks, Justin. FYI, it’s on the list I sent although the URL is slightly differnt (9th from the bottom). That site definitely has the most models, but if I recall correctly, they’re all “low-polygon” models (relatively low quality)…as with most things, you get what you pay for.

[David Johnson]

Forgot to mention, regardless of your image file format, your render settings may also be affecting the quality of your images in your rendered movies. Make sure you’re using the “Render Queue” and an an uncompressed (or low compression) codec like Animation or Uncompressed vs. “Export/Make Movie”.

[David Johnson]

I wouldn’t recommend sharpening images in AE unless you have no other choice. AE will accept almost any image file format so its best to use an uncompressed (or low compression) format like EPS, AI, PSD, TIF, etc., although high-resolution JPGs are usually fine too. Personally, I like using PSDs and AIs since they’re Adobe formats so AE supports more functionality with them. For example, you can set up an entire AE project in PS using layers and layer sets, which will become Comps with layers in place, if imported into AE as “Comps” or “Projects” (I just don’t recall the term AE uses). Regardless of most file formats, you’ll lose quality if you scale the image beyond 100% in AE. AI, EPS, PDF (and probably others) are exceptions to that, if you use “continuos rasterization”, but the trae off is that limits how you can apply FX to those layers (you’ll have to precompose or use adjustmnet layers).

[David Johnson]

You at least need the Zaxwerks 3D Invigorator plugin, but you don’t have to have a full 3D app like 3d Studio Max. Not sure since I have the Pro version but, I think the “Classic” version of the Invig plugin is bundled with AE so you might want to check your AE install disc.