[Edward Wu]

Hi Phil,

Good to hear it’s working for you now.

To prepare the Illustrator file, here are the general rules:

1) No pixel elements. This means, erase all background images that you’ve used to trace the logo, etc. Do not use pixel effects such as drop shadows.

2) Use solid fill colors. Do not use gradient fills. Do not use strokes on the objects as well. By using only fills, you can use the “Use Illustrator Colors” command, and the colors will import perfectly.

3) Separate objects onto different layers, and do not group objects together. If you would like your objects to be individual 3D objects, do not leave them in the same layer in Illustrator. By separating the objects in different layers, it will be easier to organize, and be easy to import into ProAnimator.

4) Try tracing logos with the pen/shape tools. The Live Trace tool can create quite a mess for complex logos. Cleaning up the logo may take longer than drawing the logo.

5) Save with Compression turned OFF. In the Illustrator save options, be sure to turn the checkbox off for “Use Compression”.

Hope this helps with the general logo creation process.

Best,
Edward

[Edward Wu]

Hi Enrique,

One of the things you can check is your Illustrator file. Be sure to remove any excess points from the file. If you are using “Live Trace” to draw your logo, this can sometimes create a large amounts of unnecessary points. Cleaning up the extra points will help smooth out your logo.

In addition, go to the Object Tab, and under “Object Faceting”, decrease the “Final Object Faceting” setting to “0.1”. This will also help the objects have smoother edges.

Lastly, go to the “Camera Mode” and if you are using the setting “No AntiAliasing”, choose “3×3”. Having No AntiAliasing means the edges of your objects will not be smoothed out. So, be sure to have a setting a 3×3 or better.

Hope this helps.

Best,
Edward

[Edward Wu]

Hi John,

Since I can’t see your project setup, I’m not too sure how things are positioned. However, if you are working with an object and want the reflection to be flat with the book, then you’ll want to check that while the book is rotating, it is a 90 degree Y rotation. Make sure that the book is not rotating in any other directions. If the book stays flat on the floor, the reflection will stay flat as well.

If you’re still unsure about how to set it up, you can send the project file to ed@zaxwerks.com and I’ll take a look at your setup.

Best,
Edward

[Edward Wu]

Hi PJ,

The error message means that your yellow time marker is not pointing at a camera pose. To create a camera animation, be sure to click the Camera Pose to select the pose, then set the camera position. If the Camera Pose is too small, you can click the “mountain” button on the bottom of the timeline to enlarge the view of the poses.

Hope this helps.

Best,
Edward

[Edward Wu]

Hi Scott,

When our 64-bit plug-ins are released, we will send out an e-mail to all our users to inform everyone of the new release. We will also post the information on our web site.

We currently don’t have a set number as to what our next version of 3D Reflector would be. It’s possible that it may be a 1.9.0, or 2.0.0 release.

Hope this helps.

Best,
Edward

[Edward Wu]

Hi Craig,

Sorry, didn’t see your message until now.

In terms of our 64-bit updates, we are currently converting our plug-ins and will be finished with the conversion process by the end of Summer.

For ProAnimator, we are working on numerous new features. The new version of ProAnimator is expected to be released by the end of Fall.

Hope this helps.

Best,
Edward

[Edward Wu]

Hi Craig,

Sorry, didn’t see your message until now.

In terms of our 64-bit updates, we are currently converting our plug-ins and will be finished with the conversion process by the end of Summer.

For ProAnimator, we are working on numerous new features. The new version of ProAnimator is expected to be released by the end of Fall.

Hope this helps.

Best,
Edward

[Edward Wu]

Hi John,

To animate the Maya object, first apply 3D Invigorator to a Comp-sized 2D Solid within After Effects. Then, go into the 3D Invigorator interface, and use the “Import 3D Model” command. After importing the model, model should be in Set 1.

Now, go into the After Effects Effect Controls panel, and under “Set 1”, you can set the keyframes for “Set 1 X/Y/Z Position” to animate your Maya Object.

Best,
Edward

[Edward Wu]

Hi George,

When drawing your logo in Illustrator, be sure you are using a RGB fill, and you are not using a stroke on your object. If you have a stroke and a fill, the object will not be colored properly. Also, keep in mind that ProAnimator only uses solid colors. Gradient colors do not work. So, be sure to adjust all the fills of your objects so that they are only using a RGB Color. Then, import the Illustrator file into ProAnimator, and check the option “Use Illustrator Colors”.

If you’re still having problems, please send the Illustrator file to ed@zaxwerks.com and I’ll take a look at what you’re running into.

Best,
Edward

[Edward Wu]

Hi Nico,

Is it possible to send me the project file so I can see what you are running into? If so, please send the project file to ed@zaxwerks.com

Please point out which frames the lines disappear and what to look for. I’ll take a look and see if I can find out what you’re running into.

Best,
Edward