[John Cuevas]

Few ways to do that, but I think the easiest would be to use the Free Sure Target from Video CoPilot. That’s a link to the tutorials, which contain the free plugin. Check out the tutorials, in particular the Sure Target 2, cause it covers the updated features.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
ThinkCK

“I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
—THOMAS EDISON on inventing the light bulb.

[John Cuevas]

It works perfectly, but I want exactly the opposite… I have thousands of comps to check, and I need that the work area starts at the first frame, and ends at the last for auto rendering.

If I understand, you want to make sure that instead of the “work area” you want the render area to be set to the full length of the comp? If so, you can do that in “Render Settings”, just switch the time span from “work area only” to “Length of Comp” and then make that a template.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
ThinkCK

“I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
—THOMAS EDISON on inventing the light bulb.

[John Cuevas]

If you are well versed in C4D you could create that, otherwise I would start with trapcode form. The Text to Sand tutorial would be a good place to start. The technique could be modified to create the effect you are trying to achieve.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
ThinkCK

“I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
—THOMAS EDISON on inventing the light bulb.

[John Cuevas]

If you are a beginner, that is going to be tough. Here’s a link to some great free tutorials to get you started with the basics.

Getting started with After Effects (CS4, CS5, CS5.5, CS6, & CC)

Scroll down to number 4, for a good list of free tutorials that really go into depth of what AE can do.

One of those is a link to Video CoPilot. Andrew Kramer has some great tutorials, including these, that might help get you started with your effect.

Sub Surface Skin

The Healer

Skin Displacement

Demon Face Warp

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
ThinkCK

“I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
—THOMAS EDISON on inventing the light bulb.

[John Cuevas]

Which version of AE. If it’s CS6 or newer, I would create a shape layer, make it 3D, then change the render engine to 3D(cntl+k then advanced). Then start adding some lights, and a material to use as a reflection/environment map. If you have C4D light, you would get even better results there.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
ThinkCK

“I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
—THOMAS EDISON on inventing the light bulb.

[John Cuevas]

Hold down shift for a perfect circle, add cntl after you start making your circle to have it anchor to where you started making your circle.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
ThinkCK

“I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
—THOMAS EDISON on inventing the light bulb.

[John Cuevas]

I think a combination of fractal noise & find edges should get you most of the way there.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
ThinkCK

“I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
—THOMAS EDISON on inventing the light bulb.

[John Cuevas]

+1 Collect Files. But want to add, if you are going to make a career out of motion graphics/editing, make a plan for media management. Never should you have to be searching for files/logos/video in your own projects. Believe me, this is a lesson I’ve learned the hard way multiple times.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
ThinkCK

“I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
—THOMAS EDISON on inventing the light bulb.

[John Cuevas]

Make your text layer. Add an adjustment layer above it and add the glow effect, tweak the settings to taste. Now just add a mask to the adjustment layer(about 25% the width of the comp), twirl open the settings and add a very large horizontal feather. Now just animate the mask from left to right.

Here’s an example project demonstrating technique.

9890_glowtext.aep.zip

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
ThinkCK

“I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
—THOMAS EDISON on inventing the light bulb.

[John Cuevas]

This thread is getting a bit large and off topic. You should start a new thread for the new question with a bit of a better header, so others may offer advice.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
ThinkCK

“I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
—THOMAS EDISON on inventing the light bulb.