[Michael Duff]

and if you want to triple check it …. why not import the rendered file back into AE and stick something underneath it …..

[Michael Duff]

search the cow forums 🙂
get more RAM
preview at lower res
render out at the render queue

RAM preview isn’t made for previewing the whole thing…

[Michael Duff]

i think at this early stage it is hard to judge specifically for CS3 … but if you are comparing machines of similar specs, then I think most people here would suggest getting whichever system is going to work best as part of your overall workflow…. do you edit on mac? finalcut? have other software that is platform specific … do you work with other people that use mac or PC?

[Michael Duff]

have a look at these effects:

Time->Echo and also
CC Wide Time

Pre-Compose your animation first, then apply either of these effects. Have a tweak, see how it goes, if that’s not what your after let us know.

Also, with motion blur you can change the amount of blur by going to Composition Settings and adjusting the shutter speed

good luck

[Michael Duff]

how long is the AE composition?

is there any video in the composition? or all graphics?

what are you using the author the DVD? (ie DVD studio Pro/Encore or others)

do you have any other encoding software(ie squeeze, compressor, cleaner)

— answer these then we can give you a more specific answer

[Michael Duff]

when you import the targa sequence … go File->Import, then select the first one, and then select the check box there labelled “auto detect sequence” or something like that. Then AE should import them all as one clip.

is this what you mean?

[Michael Duff]

oh, maybe try deleting the preference files. can’t remember exactly where they are… search the cow archives for “preference file” and you find some posts

[Michael Duff]

what sort of footage is it?
does it only do it with this footage or everything?
is the the footage .wmv – AE (and most other software) don’t like .wmv?

[Michael Duff]

i think some of the CC effects have “twist” options in them. like “CC Ball Action” – you may be able to tweak with these to get the effect you want…. or does card dance have a twist option? I’m not sure…

oh wait, there is a CC effect called “CC Twister”

if you don’t have the CC effects they should be on your AE7.0 CD

good luck

[Michael Duff]

maybe some form of mpeg4 … quicktime h.264 would be good if you have QT7…. maybe sorenson3 if you want it to be more compatible with other machines……. try a few different options till you find what you want… you may even try DV or photoJPEG