[Holt Adams]

I appears its the Zaxwerks 3D Layer Tool folder in the AE CC / Plug-in folder that is causing the issue….ProAnimator V7 works fine in demo mode if I remove it and leave all my other Zaxwerks plug-ins. I’ll forward you the details.

Thanks for working on this

[Holt Adams]

I have several other Zaxworks plugins….moved them outside of the AE CC/Plug-in folder and was able to utilize ProAnimator V7.

So….If I want to upgrade to V7…and still use my other Zaxwerks products…what do you suggest I do long term?

Thanks, Holt

[Holt Adams]

A popup After Effects Error message does occur when AE crashes stating “After Effects Error: crash occurred while invoking effect plug-in ‘ProAnimator”

The following is my system setup
– MacBookpro with 16 GB or Ram, 2.7 GHz, Intel Core i7
– MAC using OSX 10.8.5
– External monitor (Apple 27″ Cinema display)
– Installation of PA went fine….no issues

When I check the System Report it lists the following under the Graphics/Display
– Intel HD Graphics 4000, Type=GPU, Bus=Built-in
– NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M, Type=GPU, Bus=PCie

I have the AE crash issue with and without the cinema display plugged in.

When the Cinema Display is plugged and I start AE CC, I get a Warning popup window stating “Ray-tracing on the GPU requires CUDA version 4.0 or later Ray-tracing will use the CPU until you install the latest supported CUDA Driver”. I’ve gone to the adoble web site…and have installed CUDA V5.5, but this Warning message continues to popup when I restart AE CC. hmmmm

I still have the ProAnimator V6 standalone installed and that opens okay…but since I installed ProAnimator V7 plug-in….it appears that my previous v6 is not longer installed.

[Holt Adams]

I’m on a MAC….with OSX v10.8.5…..and having this issue.

[Holt Adams]

Matt, thanks…..this is exactly what I was looking for. PERFECT!!

[Holt Adams]

Matt

Hey there…Yes I totally get how to create reflections on Reflector Floors using 3D Reflector (setting Use Comp Camera and unhide 2D Layers). My experience and as you stated is that I’m not able to control the falloff of the reflections of a 2d layer. This being the case….I’ve created reflections of my 3d objects while in ProAnimator….as I stated in my initial post.

In using ProAnimator, I have not checked Use Comp Lights. The problem I’m having is that my reflection is on a white floor in ProAnimator (single light source)….and I would like to have just the reflections be rendered back in AE vs the partially lit floor with a dark reflection as shown below.

Is it possible to have ProAnimator return just the reflection and not the object with the reflection (i.e. floor) similar to how you can use ProAnimator to render shadows only using the Shaddow Catcher Plane. My AE composition has an all white background that I’m wanting my reflection to lay on top of to create the illusion of the reflection falling on a white floor. Below is an 3D Reflector version where I’ve created a Mask to create the falloff.

I’m hoping there are some simple parameter settings in ProAnimator that I could set to enable me to get the same results for future use in projects.

Thanks, Holt

[Holt Adams]

Ed

Hey there…I think have two Problems
1) Specular highlights are not being rendered when I use Invigorator Renderer or the Ray Tracer Renderer with lighting defined within ProAnimator. This is true for when I use the Test Render control in ProAnimator and when I use AE Ram Preview or actual render out to a file from AE. Its interesting that if I define a light within AE and set ProAnimator to Use Comp Lighting then the Specular highlights do appear when rendering? Hmmmmm

2) When using OpenGL Renderer AE / ProAnimator renders partial frame misplaced content, scattered pixels or Crashes.

I’ll send you an email with screen shots and a simplified version of my project.

Thanks, Holt

[Holt Adams]

Found a workaround for my problem……..I did some more research and for me….its a monitor calibration issue……or to be more precise…its an Apple FinalCut Monitor profile issue. Not saying its a perfect work around…but at least its more information. Below is a link that has a lengthy discussion about it. Bottom line for me is….if I use an Apple profile that is the default for my Apple Mackbook Pro LCD laptop and my Apple 27″ Cinema display….the dark preview issue goes away. hmmmm

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3135195?start=30&tstart=0
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3135195?start=45&tstart=0

When my problem started a few days ago I had both installed Red Giant’s Magic Bullet Suite 11 and calibrated my monitors using X-rite’s i1Profiler. Previous profiles from X-rite’s i1Display2 software worked…but since moving to MAC Mountain Lion…I had to installed i1Profiler. The new calibration profiles from i1Profiler…..appear to set my monitor such that the Dark Preview occurs.

Holt

[Holt Adams]

I too have experienced this dark preview issue when using my 27″” Cinema Display…….but think my problem didn’t occur until I installed Red Giant’s Magic Bullet Suite 11. When using FCP, I didn’t have the problem until I added the Video Effect Colorista II. Immediately the preview screen goes dark (about 1 to 2 exposures). I reset the Playback control as suggested and it worked ..but not consistently…as if added the Colorista filter to another clip….I experienced the dark preview issue.

Disconnecting the 27″ display…before starting FCP…..appears to work inconsistently too for me. hmmm

For me…..my issue is definitely related to using the Colorista II Filter/Effect. I just got this software plugin and my problem started. I did not have the problem with the Colorista II Trial version…but once I activated my license today…my problems started.

I’m still investigating my problem…..I’ll post more as I figure things out.

Thanks, Holt