[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi Coz,

Try precomping the Invig layer and Glintwerks, then shining the spotlight on the precomp. You should get the best of both worlds.

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi David,

It’s a long-shot, given the fact that your box is fairly new, but you should check the company that made the videocard to see if a newer driver exists.Sometimes updating the driver fixes problems like this. Failing that, I would suggest contacting Zaxwerks tech support. They’ll help you through solve this.

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi David,

Be certain you are using the latest version of ProAnimator. You can check that on the zaxwerks site under the support>downloads area.

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi CozmicOne,

Yes. simply precomp all of those semi-transparent layers (with attributes moved inside the precomp) and apply the Invigorator effect to the precomp.

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi CozmicOne,

It sounds like the effect is working properly.

Applying the matte color to a portion of the Invigorator object makes it that surface and all object parts behind it invisible – it creates an alpha channel through which layers beneath it can be seen.

You can’t apply a layer map to the part of the object to which a matte color is applied. You can apply a layer map to any other surface. It will behave just as if you applied a solid color material. The surfaces with matte color applied will still behave like an alpha channel. One important note: Be sure the layer map layer is hidden in the timeline. You don’t need to see it. (click the eyeball off)

Checking the composite on original box reveals the original solid to which the Invigorator effect was applied – plus the Invigorator objects. The matte color of the “invisible” parts of the Invigorator object is retained. This allows whatever layers are beneath the object to show through the object, but not through the rest of the background.

I hope this helps. By the way, I checked the tutorial on this on the motionworks.com.au site and it loads fine for me.

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi PRgraphist,

You can create a ProAnimator project, including a moving ProAnimator camera and moving objects. Then save that ProAnimator project. (You can do this with the standalone or plug-in version.)

Now import that PA project file into After Effects. You can choose to import the object data, the camera data, or both.

Does this help?

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi Angela,

First, be sure your render settings – especially field order – are correct. If that’s okay, use a more aggressive antialiasing setting in the render options. It may look too soft on the computer but will look fine on TV.

Second, some Zaxwerks products have the ability to animate the position of reflection maps, which lets you avoid the subtle rocking motion you’re doing now. Which product are you using?

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi David,

I would say ProAnimator and Invigorator Pro are at the tops of their respective food chains. They have common roots, but in some ways, these are very different animals.

If I had to choose justs one, I would choose ProAnimator. Here’s why:

Motion control. ProAnimator’s non-keyframe motion control system is the best in the business for creating very complex motion simply. Invigorator Pro uses AE keyframes and has significant limits on the number of object sets that can move independently of the others.

Stand-alone and plug-in. ProAnimator can be used either as a stand-alone or as a plug-in for After Effects. That choice gives you a lot of workflow flexibility. Invigorator requires AE as a host.

Bonus features. You can leverage ProAnimator’s amazing motion controls to control other objects in your AE timeline. Simply save your ProAnimator project and import the motion data into the AE timeline. You’ll get placeholder solids representing each element. Those solids can be reassigned to other solids or precomps.

Having said that, ProAnimator and Invigorator share modeling and texturing abilities and can do 3D text on the fly. Their evolution from common roots gives both products very strong foundations for the future.

Long story short. ProAnimator is a great choice. Hope this helps.

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

It shouldn’t do that. Send me the file.

jokerstrom1 (at) mac.com

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi PRgraphist.

You can make a resistsor shape by using two Illustrator circles. One representing the diameter of the resistor and a smaller one representing the wire that passes through it. You the adjust the z depth of each object and change the bevel to something small. That should do it.

Does this help?

Jon