Jason Mettler
Forum Replies Created
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I run CS4 on Win 7-64 bit professional. Works fine for me.
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Although opinions will vary, get at least 4 GB of RAM and make sure your operating system (i.e. Win 7) is 64-bit. AE and Premiere need that for CS5.
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After Effects is well suited for that. A comic book style is a perfect example. After Effects can put your drawings in 3d space so as different layers interact with each other you’ll get what’s called a parallax effect (Background stuff moves slow, foreground moves fast). Adding lights and shadows to scenes can easily express mood.
Hope that sells you!
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If I had to guess, I would think you are referring to the composition viewer (the window with the stuff you are visually working on). If that is correct, there are tabs at the top that allow you to switch between ‘layer’ view and ‘comp’ view. “Comp” is the actual full composition you’re working on. “Layer” has a drop down to individually select layers from your comp. This is where you would apply paint effects and track footage.
The easiest was to see a layer in ‘layer’ view is to double click on it.P.S. If you want a second comp window to see a multiple angle simultaneously, at the top of the program window, click ‘View’/’New Viewer’.
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i’m not sure exactly of what you’re experiencing. I tried to replicate it. Is there a reason why you used a shape layer? They technically aren’t masks (at least they don’t act that way). If you have two layers, let’s say, and you need to apply a fractal noise over the lower one, you’d want to make a new solid (not shape) and apply fractal noise to that one. Apply the pen tool or pre-shape mask to the layer with it selected in the timeline (if not selected you get a new shape layer–no good)
If that is what you have already, can I ask what tutorial you’re following and where you’re stuck?
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Try typing your text and setting it to 100% white. Then set up a solid with Advanced Lightning effect applied. Place the lightning layer below the text and make it an Alpha matte for the text. The lightning will then only show up where the text is. Mess with the lightning settings to get the glow/color right.
Hope that gets you in the ballpark!
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By chance is your mask a shape layer? If that’s the case it won’t affect the fractal noise layer. Other effects can interfere as well (that’s why stacking order is important). For instance, a CC radial fast blur turned all the way up will eliminate a mask. Do you have any interfering effects on the same layer?
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Ted’s method is best. If you use more than one emitter, click on options and note which light is your emitter. “Emitter 01”, “Emitter 02”, etc.
Another way I’ve mapped paths is to use a null object. Once the null is tracking right, parent the emitter coordinates to the null Use the pickwhip for 2D. 3D requires a little more expression work but not much 😉Try this tutorial:
https://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/smoke_trails/
Good Luck!
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If for some reason none of Cory’s suggestions work, you can always force it. CC Force Motion Blur. What’s nice about that effect is that it only blurs to the amount you move so it’s intuitive.
Hope that helps!
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If you have large files and layers to render, consider using proxies while you work. Then you only use the big files on the final render.