[Mike Morris]

Right now I am currently running Windows XP SP2 with After Effects 6.5 Standard. It is the only version of After effects I have installed on my machine, and there is no render engine. I have tried trashing the prefs file, but it has had no effect. The problem seems to be far more complex than just the import function, as I cannot open any saved projects, import any files, etc. I can, however import RECENT files (ones that remain from previous projects in AEs memory.). The problem only gets worse, I can create a new solid, etc. but if I try to save it, the same thing happens. I go to file, save, and then it simply closes out of AE. I’ve also tried removing AE from my machine and reinstalling it, but nothing works. I have tried importing files into premiere, audition, and encore, and everything works just fine.

It seems to be a problem (for the most part) with anything that requires the use of a windows explorer dialog box. I am not sure how this happened… I was having a problem with it a few days ago, so I formatted my drive, reinstalled windows, and AE, and it worked for a while. Out of the blue, it stopped working today. The only thing different between today and when it was working after the format was that I installed SP2 and several other updates from microsoft, including an update to Media Player 10. I am going insane trying to figure out how to solve the problem, and it’s getting freakishly close to deadline time for me. Any advice would be great.

Thanks.

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[Mike Morris]

an update:

Turns out I can’t open a project, save anything, or even DRAG FILES FROM a window into the project window in AE. What in the world is going on?! I have a project due in a few days, and have no way of working on it! HELP ASAP!! PLEASE!

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[Mike Morris]

Thanks Timothy! You’ve solved what seemed to be forever a mystery to me!

I am assuming that you hide everything EXCEPT the highlights because the highlights will shop up on the motion background, making it appear as though the buttons are statice, and not part of a video file… Once you set the loop point past the initial animation, it appears as though you are still on the “static” menu.

AMAZING!!!

Thanks for all your help!

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[Mike Morris]

I am actually using AE 6.5 with Encore 1.0. Is there a setting within AE to do this? From everything I have read, it seems as though it is a feature within Encore… Correct me if I am wrong.

Because I am an idiot, let me see if I can repeat the process to you and you can verify it for me…
1) Create the menu in Photoshop
2) Animate the elements that I desire in AE
3) Export the Movie as an AVI or MPEG
4) Import into Encore
5) Create a timeline that starts with the video, then afterwords ends on the STILL of the .psd for the menu
6) Set the loop point AFTER the static .psd has started
7) add in whatever audio I want.

Is this correct?

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[Mike Morris]

My question then is this.. How do I make a motion menu in after effects and export it as a menu rather than a movie file? I read something about Encore having an “Edit with Adobe After Effects” feature, but I can find this feature nowhere within my version of Encore (1.0) Also, is there a way within Encore to edit a motion menu? I assume there is no way to set keyframes within timelines…

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[Mike Morris]

Roadkill,

Thanks for the help. I think part of the problem is that I am only functioning with one side of my brain, and the doctors haven’t noticed it yet. Hmm…

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[Mike Morris]

I had the same problem last night as I was building a dvd… It hit 7.63 megs then stopped. I tried it again, after closing out any other applications, as well as disabling ANYDVD. If you have Anydvd running, you may want to try disabling it. I am not sure if this is what solved it or if it was just a stroke of luck, but it worked for me.

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[Mike Morris]

You can use almost any sound format you’d like. AIF is probably one of the more efficient, but .wav or .mp3 (for example) will work just fine.

What you need to do is hit “0” on the numeric keypad to RAM preview it. After Effects will run through, and temporarily “render” it out to your RAM. Once it has done that, it will play back at real-time, playing the Audio you have inserted

As far as rendering/exporting it out, in the Render Queue window, click on the word “Lossless.” It will pull up a window that has some adition settings. If you look at the bottom, you will see that the Audio box is unchecked. Simply check it, and hit OK.

Then render that puppy out. You’ll have your audio. Good luck.

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[Mike Morris]

Check out Ben Unguren’s Shatter Tutorial. It will give you a basic understanding of how the effect can be applied.

As far as good books, I would definitely recommend the Books by Trish and Chris Meyer, called Creating Motion Graphics in After Effects (or something along those lines).

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[Mike Morris]

Nyob Zoo Roadkill…

Thanks for the link… Very useful information. I am just ticked at Premiere and Encore right now. I’ll get over it someday, I guess

Ua Tsaug

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