[Jeff Hinkle]

There’s a plugin called VoluMax that might fit the bill.

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.

[Jeff Hinkle]

Call off the dogs. I “fixed” it, in that it’s working but damned if I know why. Re-rendering the problem files as DNXHD and replacing them in the project seems to have worked. Why that should be is beyond me, but it worked. Thanks to everyone for their help.

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.

[Jeff Hinkle]

I did a Collect Files just to make sure everything would be at the same level and where AE would expect to find it. The missing files should be found in PROJECT/(FOOTAGE)/VIDEO/ And if I unpack the mogrt, that’s right where they are. The AE file lives in PROJECT as well.

I thought it might be a Mac/PC thing (I’m Mac, editors are PC), but a fellow Mac user had the same issue. I even copied the mogrt to a USB drive and walked it over to her desk to eliminate the PC-based server. No joy. Permissions for the video files are I can read/write, Staff and Everyone are read-only. Didn’t set them that way, just how they are. The stills, which work fine, are set the same. Googled “User 501” but that just left me more baffled than before.

It’s SEEMS like it should be working, but it just won’t. And my company frowns on me hitting the computers with large, blunt objects so I’m stuck.

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.

[Jeff Hinkle]

Thanks everyone for the responses but there’s a new wrinkle: Putting aside the best format to use for the movies, I can’t get them to stay linked in the mogrt. They always show up (on every machine but mine) as “missing footage” color bars. I found online how to unpack the mogrt and looking through it and the report file, it says all the files were collected, and Reveal in Finder shows them linking to the unpacked Footage folder, but they show up as missing footage items on any other machine. The stills are all fine, it’s just the video files that show as broken links. If I repack the unpacked mogrt, I can load it into Premiere (no thumbnail appears) but not add it to the timeline.

Really hope I’m overlooking something basic because this seems like something that should just sorta work when you export a mogrt. All software is on the exact same versions.

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.

[Jeff Hinkle]

[looks at his ineffective 25 lines of code
looks at Mr. Ebberts’ working 3 lines of code
weeps]

Doesn’t do exactly what I need but gets me enough of the way there I can probably puzzle out the rest. Knew I should have paid attention in Algebra class.

Thank you much! Very appreciated.

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.

[Jeff Hinkle]

This tutorial might be of help:

https://photoshoptrainingchannel.com/place-anything-perspective/

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.

[Jeff Hinkle]

When you import your layered PSD into AE, choose Composition instead of Composition-Retain Layer Sizes. That will bring in each layer at the size of the document.

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.

[Jeff Hinkle]

Never used one so I can’t speak to how well it would work. With enough skill, any pressure-sensitive tablet that works well enough can generate good results. The tablet is just a tool.

I would still recommend you start slow. Use the mouse first to see if this is a hobby you want to invest in. If it is, then do some research on tablets, try one in a store, read some reviews. You don’t have to immediately buy a bunch of software and hardware, especially if you just want to see if you like doing it.

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.

[Jeff Hinkle]

A quick glance at the Wacom site says it’s Windows compatible.

The size of the tablet has no bearing on the size of the art. It’s purely what feels better to you. I use a Large but I have a wide drawing stroke and a dual-monitor setup. A Medium, to me, feels too small and cramped.

If you’re just beginning and this is just a hobby, you may not want to start throwing a lot of money into it right away. Start with a mouse, see if you even like digital painting. If you do, then maybe look for a used Bamboo or Draw tablet you can pick up cheap to try out. Upgrade later if you need.

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.

[Jeff Hinkle]

I’d recommend an art tablet for sure. Wacom is the standard (and the one I like) but there are other brands. If you really want to do digital painting, it’s almost required. Using a mouse,–to me, anyway–feels like painting with a brick.

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.