[Graham Quince]

Hmm, I think it has a look of CC Lens. Although you’d need to play with the position and convergence to match it exactly.

[Graham Quince]

I think I would use a shape layer with a path on it. I’d then keyframe the path to change shape.

Then I’d use either CC Ball Action or Scatterize to make the paths look like sand.

[Graham Quince]

I see no one has replied, the Expressions forum might be a better place to ask this. I’m afraid I don’t know the answer, but I did stumble across this document the other day, which might also help:

https://buildmedia.readthedocs.org/media/pdf/after-effects-scripting-guide/latest/after-effects-scripting-guide.pdf

[Graham Quince]

I got around this using a precomp. That allowed me to have the 3D text, but then add a texture over the top using a track matte. The colours and lighting need to be strong on the sides for the definition to show up, but it works.

I made a video showing how to do this:

https://youtu.be/XjspaQuQ76I

Some contents or functionalities here are not available due to your cookie preferences!

This happens because the functionality/content marked as “Google Youtube” uses cookies that you choosed to keep disabled. In order to view this content or use this functionality, please enable cookies: click here to open your cookie preferences.

[Graham Quince]

Thanks for coming back and sharing the solution, you never know when someone else will get stuck on the same problem.

In my experience when everything appears right and it’s still hanging, I’d check Task Manager and see if part of AE has crashed. That part is generally something to do with the GPU.

[Graham Quince]

I think you could do something using Fractal Noise with the transform scales set to non-uniform (height super large and width really low) and then apply a Polar Coordinates effects, you could create a “disco ball” of light rays.

Alternatively, if you used a fractal noise with just a change to the brightness and constrast and then added CC Radial Blur, you’ll have more control over the placement.

Finally you could download the free plugin Godrays from ProductionCrate.

If you need to “mask off” specific areas, you’ll need to either precompose the noise, adding the mask in the precomp or use a circle effect before the radial blur / godrays and set to Stencil Alpha

[Graham Quince]

I think you could probably use a slider which powers an expression on the scale, in a way that the slider is the mutiplier, something like:

value*time*slider

When slider is 1, the objects are going at a rate connected to time, but when you increase the slider to 5, the objects scale up 5 times as quickly.

[Graham Quince]

Because the puppet tool using the comp’s coordinates, I think the safest option would be to precompose the legs. That way you can reposition them. Alternatively, you’d need a toWorld expression to move the puppet values, but that could be quite time consuming to get right.

[Graham Quince]

I imagine you’d need a script for that. As far as I know it’s not built-in.

[Graham Quince]

Not that I’m aware of, but if you copy and paste your guide layer from one comp to another, it’ll stay as a guide layer.

Have you considered using the built-in text safe area and adjusting the margins in Preferences > Grid & Guides?