Peter Diefenthaler
Forum Replies Created
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Precompose all of the bubble layers first (select them all and press Ctrl+Shift+C). If that background layer has transparency, duplicate it and use it as an alpha track matte for the bubbles layer. You’ll need to reveal the “Modes” column to use track matte. In the timeline above the layers in the area that says layer name, parent, etc, right-click > Columns > Modes. If the background doesn’t have transparency, then just trace the mask onto the precomposed bubble layer.
Peter Diefenthaler
https://www.ideafirecreative.com/ -
As I said before, there is a mismatch between your composition frame rate and the output frame rate. Make sure the composition frame rate is specifically 23.976 fps. You have it currently set to 23.97 in both screen shots you’re showing. You will get repeated frames, a shorter runtime and/or audio that doesn’t sink with picture. I tested this in AE CS5.5. It’s possible that newer versions of After Effects handle the mismatch differently and try to render an “in-between” frame, where in 5.5 it just gives repeated frames.
Peter Diefenthaler
https://www.ideafirecreative.com/ -
You only need to put the first part of your expression in the Source Text property of the three text layers you want linked to the main text layer.
comp("parent comp").layer("specific text-layer").text.sourceTextIt might be better to precompose the text and then apply your effects to the precomposed layers. That way you can format the text in one place more easily, since linking the source text doesn’t copy text attributes like tracking, font or font size,etc.
Peter Diefenthaler
https://www.ideafirecreative.com/ -
I do this on almost all my templates. I don’t think the “highlighted layer” idea can be done in the way you’re thinking, but you can absolutely create a control layer in the main comp that sets parameters in other comps. That’s what expression controls are for.
Create a null or adjustment layer in the main comp and name it “Controls”. Go to Effect > Expression Controls > Color Control. You’ll need one control for each element you want to be customizable and name the controls accordingly. In the Effect Controls window, lock the view of those effects, then navigate to the precomp. Any color effects with a color picker like Fill or Tint will easily work with a color control. Expand the effects on the customizable layers, alt+click the stopwatch next to the effect’s color property and then pick whip the corresponding color control’s color property. This will link the properties together and the color will be editable from the main comp, without the need for a user to randomly search through precomps and layers, or have any sort of advance knowledge of AE. I hope this was helpful. Good luck.
Peter Diefenthaler
https://www.ideafirecreative.com/ -
Try making this element at double the resolution, pre-compose and then scale down to your final required dimensions. This is like “super sampling” and can help with aliasing by smooshing more pixels together.
Peter Diefenthaler
https://www.ideafirecreative.com/ -
Don’t be intimidated by lots of keyframes. You could keyframe animate this much faster than trying to write an expression or something to do the same thing.
Make sure all the layers are in their final rest positions and arrange layer orders to group together “rows”. Put the time indicator at 12 frames or however long you want the fall to take. Select all of the layers and hit “p” on the keyboard to reveal position. Click the position stopwatch on one of the layers to create the end position keyframe for all layers. Move the time indicator to the beginning and move the shapes up in the Y direction all at once, until they are off screen. Then use this script to sequence all the layers so they fall consecutively. https://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/shatterize/
Peter Diefenthaler
https://www.ideafirecreative.com/ -
Did you accurately specify the frame rate of your composition? You mention “23.97” but After Effects specifically needs 23.976.
Peter Diefenthaler
https://www.ideafirecreative.com/ -
CC Wide Time would work for this. Play with the number of steps for desired smoothness. However, the numbers have to last more than just a few frames or the transition won’t look very good. Hope this helps.
Peter Diefenthaler
https://www.ideafirecreative.com/ -
I’m not sure how this would work with Particular, but the following method has worked for me in the past using Element:
In each instance of Element you must create a World Transform Null (twirl down “World Transform” and click the “Create” button under “Create World Transform Null”). Navigate to File > Scripts >Scale Composition.jsx and enter 1920 as New Comp Width. Next, create a new 1920×1080 solid, copy Element from the original layer and paste onto the new one.
I hope this was helpful. Good luck.
Peter Diefenthaler
https://www.ideafirecreative.com/ -
Use the track select tool (“a” on keyboard). Shift+click and drag on the clip after the gap and all video/audio clips that follow will move with it. You can also just click and drag in the timeline to box select multiple clips. Having snapping on is also helpful for aligning clips this way(“s” will toggle snapping on/off).
Peter Diefenthaler
https://www.ideafirecreative.com/
