[Lars Bunch]

I tested this out and noticed it only worked on the X value so here is an expression that would work on both x and y scale values…

Xscale=thisComp.layer(index-1).scale[0]+4;
Yscale=thisComp.layer(index-1).scale[1]+4;
[Xscale,Yscale]

Hope this helps,

Lars

[Lars Bunch]

Hi,

This would do it…

thisComp.layer(index-1).scale+4

index = the current layer. So index-1 is the layer above it. And index+1 would be the layer below.

Lars

[Lars Bunch]

Hi,

This would do it…

thisComp.layer(index-1).scale+4

index = the current layer. So index-1 is the layer above it. And index+1 would be the layer below.

Lars

[Lars Bunch]

Hi,

Is the eps file in CMYK color?

I’ve run into this sort of problem before and I too have not been able to find an adequate solution. What I have ended up doing for projects where I need to keep specific colors (corporate logos and such) I have created a spreadsheet of the hex and RGB values, taking the data from the color picker of either Photoshop or Illustrator and then confirming the proper color in AE after bringing in the file.

Lars

[Lars Bunch]

Hi,

Lacie never said what was actually wrong, although I’m pretty sure the failure was isolated to only one of the drives in the unit.

Lars

[Lars Bunch]

Hi,

I had a 500 Gig Lacie drive die on me. It behaved much like you describe… it would power up, but would not show up on the desktop. This happened over time. At first it would sometimes be difficult to get it to show up on the desktop then it grew worse and worse until it wouldn’t show up at all.

We ended up using Data Rescue which successfully pulled all but one or two DVCam file off the drive.

Apparently what had happened was one of the drives in the system had failed. We managed to get the material off of it just before it completely died. The drive was still under warrenty and Lacie repaired it quickly and it works well to this day.

If the drive is completely dead, you may not be able to get the data off, but I was quite happy with what Data Rescue did for us.

If you’ve got Data Rescue or some other data retrieval software, this might help.

Good luck,

Lars

Lars Jagatai Bunch
lars@larsbunch.com
http://www.larsbunch.com
http://www.arroyomedia.com

[Lars Bunch]

Hi,

You can duplicate and create your own “easy setup” under “Audio/Video Settings” Click “Create Easy Setup” and then under capture presets, select the generic capture preset. Select a frame size of 720×486 (CCIR 601 NTSC) and check the check box next to it labeled 16×9. You will probably have to set a number of other critical capture settings so only do this if you have a good understanding of what all these things are.

Another approach is to just digitize as if it were 4×3 media and then in the browser, for each clip, set it to “anamorphic” (You may need to scroll quite a ways to the right to reveal this field)

Since the only difference between 4×3 and 16×9 in 720×486 video is how the computer sets the aspect ratio of the pixels, then it is only a matter of telling it whether to interpret them as 0.9:1 or 1.2:1

If you’re working in PAL, it’s pretty much the same, just the numbers change slightly, but you still just check the “make it 16×9” check box.

Don’t you love how straightforward and simple video is?

Hope this helps,

Lars

[Lars Bunch]

Hi again,

Here’s an update: I looked at the Maya file and I had a couple of references to bring in other props. Two references were unloaded. When I deleted all references and resaved the file, AE imported it properly.

Maybe that’s the issue… I don’t know…

Lars

[Lars Bunch]

Hi,

I just got the same error message. I am running AE 6.5 and Maya 6.5 on a Mac OS-X 10.4.1. Up until now, I never had a problem importing maya files into AE, but I recently set up a new graphics system and upgraded the OS. The mayaimport plugins are in the proper place, so I’m not missing them. And since this is a mac rather than the above mentioned windows 2000 system, I assume it’s not an upgrade issue.

I just tried importing a maya file that I know worked in the past and it still works. Seems to be something in the way the more recent file was saved.

Anyone have any clues?

Lars

[Lars Bunch]

Hi,

The timecode effect is probably the best way to do a “window burn” but a simple expression to place a frame counter on the window would be this:

Using the TEXT tool, put a “1” where you want your counter to be in the frame. Actually it can be any character, but 1 is sort of intuitive.

Twirl down the text’s options in the time line and then twirl down “text” Option click on the clock to create an expression for Sourcetext. add the following expression…

text.sourceText = timeToFrames(t = time + thisComp.displayStartTime, fps = 1.0 / thisComp.frameDuration, isDuration = false);

You don’t actually have to type all this in. Just add an = sign just after “text.sourceText” and then click on the arrow next to the pickwhip for that expression.

Select Global>timeToframes( etc…) You may need to add a ; after the expression.

Click outside the expression box to make the expression active and you should have a simple counter.

What is nice here is you can make it any size you care to by changing the text atributes and you can move it to any location etc.

Hope this helps,

Lars