[Mike Park]

quick question,

Are you using large images in your comp or are the majority of your elements generated in afx. This can make a difference. If you have large pictures, ie an 8 megapixel photo, try to resize it in another program to a size which will be used in the comp. For example, you dont need a 4000×3000 image in a ntsc dv composition unless you are zooming way in. This might be the problem.

Let me know what types of elements you have in your comp and also how big your original comp was

[Mike Park]

does the page move, or does your friend turn the page at any time?

[Mike Park]

I stand corrected, the slider value will only go between -1,000,000 and 1,000,000. I hope your required range is less than that. If not, you may be able to use a linear expression to remap your slider range to a larger range than 1,000,000. I have not tried this, but it could work.

[Mike Park]

alicia,

At present, I do not know how to get the numbers effect to go higher than 30,000. Even using expressions, the value seems to be limited. Here is one workaround.

Create a new text layer by selecting the text tool and clicking in the comp window. Type anything. Next, create a new adjustment layer and place a slider expression control on it. Now, alt click the stopwatch on the source text of the text layer and picwip the value to the slider control. As you can see, the text will animate with the change in the slider control. Now, simply animate the slider control as you need. I dont think there is any limitation on the slider value.

Let me know if this works for you.

Best of luck

[Mike Park]

That depends on where the camera placement is in the scene and it also assumes that you are going to have the same image on every side. If you have a different image on each side, even assuming that you only need 2 sides, you will rotate and then snap back. Better to build it truly 3d and be able to do anything you want with it. Plus, it is not much harder to duplicate the other 2 sides.

[Mike Park]

I forgot to mention, you need to place your footage under the masked solid layer and change the masked solid layer’s transfer mode to alpha stencil so that any layers below it will be triangular shape and not overlap

Cheers

[Mike Park]

Building on what Dave said, I would figure out the height and width of my sides and make a new comp that size. Call it “side 1” I would then use the mask tool to mask out the triangular side shape. Make sure you turn on the title safe and zoom in to position the top mask point. Next, move your layer anchor point to the bottom middle of the layer. In the project window, duplicate this comp 3 times. Name them Side 2-4.

Create a new comp. Make it a square with the length of your base being the height and width. Drag your side comps into this comp and make them 3d. Switch to the top view and position the first one along the bottom. Dont drag, manually input the numbers. Next, rotate the orientation – not rotation – of the other side comps 90, 180, and -90 degrees, respectively, and position them along the sides and top. Next, create a new null object and apply a slider effect – this will drive the angle of your sides. Alt-Click the x rotation of your side layers and picwip them all to the slider value. Now you can adjust the angle of all the sides together at once.

You should now have 4 sides along the edges of the square comp. Next, adjust your slider control and all 4 sides should rotate in and out together. Zoom in and make sure they meet at a sharp point with no overlap.

Create your main comp whatever size you need. Drag your Pyramid comp in and hit the 3d layer. Also turn on the collapse transformations button. Animate the y rotation of the pyramid comp layer and there you have it. You can go back and apply whatever images for footage to you side comps as you desire. The great thing about this method is that since you used masks, you dont need to be as picky about the source footage as it will always line up and not overlap.

Sorry about the length of this post, but I thought this would help you out.

[Mike Park]

No, you dont need to prerender anything. select all of your layers, then go to the top menu and click “Layer” then click precompose at the bottom. This will place all of your layers in a new composition. Then drop your new footage below the precomp and change the precom mode to add. The brights will shine through and the blacks will be transparent.

[Mike Park]

If you are talking about Andrew Kramer’s tutorial “Creating Light Streaks” then the simplist way to do it is to precompose the existing layers, name the new precomp something like “streaks” and drop your new bg under the streaks precomp. Then change the precomp mode to add, and there you have it.

[Mike Park]

I agree with Joe, but I like the fact that you are willing to try something difficult. While it seems that you are trying to fly before you crawl, I am a firm believer that the best teacher is to try and fail and try again. I would advise you to pick on element in the composition and attempt to duplicate that effect. Once you have that effect down, move on to the next. In this manner, your project will grow with your knowledge. Plus, this is the way any one of us builds a complex composition, one effect at a time, building on the previous ones. Learning how to accomplish an effect is much more rewarding than having someone do it for you, plus you then understand why things work, and can build on that knowledge for the future.

Simply put – keep trying

Best of luck