[Mike Clasby]

On the lightsaber layer, draw a mask (Pen Tool, Oval Mask tool, etc) where the head is to block out the light saber. Set a Mask Shape Keyframe (MM reveals). You can also feather the mask. If you need to move the mask because the head moves, double click it, move it, hit Enter, this sets a new keyframe.

[Mike Clasby]

I guess I don’t really understand what your asking. When I change the first vertex with a mask shape keyframe it stays there unless changed with another keyframe (after selecting a different vertex>right clicking>Make First Vertex).

[Mike Clasby]

When I keyframe the mask shape, and change the first vertex, it stays in the same spot as long as you don’t move it (quick test). Maybe try a hold keyframe if there is a gap between keyframes, i.e. if there isn’t a keyframe on each frame.

[Mike Clasby]

A mask.

[Mike Clasby]

Here is a great walk thru for roto:

https://effectscorner.blogspot.com/2006/01/rotoscoping-part-1.html

https://effectscorner.blogspot.com/2006/01/rotoscoping-part-2.html

click on rotoscoping part 1 and part 2

This series is for Commotion but the principals are the same for AE.

[Mike Clasby]

My bad for having the 5 n the first place. Glad it finally works for you.

[Mike Clasby]

No expert here, but it seems like if you could make your buddy’s movements match Rocky’s exactly, movement for movement, and shot from the same angle, and it has a transparent background (keyed green-screen?) then you could simply place that layer on top, your friend literally on top of Rocky.

You might have to scale up your friend, so that he always a little bigger than Rocky, unless he is an exceptionally muscular nerdy computer friend.

Then you’d just have to mask off the shots with the POV from over his opponents shoulder (Hulk Hogan?), so that parts of the new Rocky are behind his opponent.

The hard part will be matching the camera’s angle and new-Rockies movements to the original, but it should work, and then you won’t have to roto out the original Rocky and fill in any missing background.

Sounds like fun.

[Mike Clasby]

What are the minimum Audio Amplitude levels (twirl down the Both Channels Slider in the Audio Amplitude layer)? Change that firstline to:

minAmp = 0;

It was 5 when I tired it and it worked fine for me but if your audio levels are low, below 5, it would never trigger the expression.

Not to horn into Lord Scales above, but if you change the last line to these two lines below you’ll get that expression to stretch both x and y:

s = linear (audioLev, minAmp, maxAmp, minScale, maxScale);
value + [s,s]

[Mike Clasby]

I think Trapecode’s 3D Stroke is the only one where you can control the taper of a Stroke.

[Mike Clasby]

Here’s some:

https://www.detonationfilms.com/UnitK.htm

They used to have 3 samples for an exploding pumpkins, named Blood Pumpkin, but I can’t seem to find them.