[Ridley Walker]

It appears that example you link to uses Trapcode 3D Stroke, which allows a tapered line.

You may be able to achieve what you want using the Write-On effect.

One of the options in Write-On is to vary the Brush Size using the Brush Time Properties.

[Ridley Walker]

After Effects default is to render Masks before Effects. So the Mask is applied *then* the blur.

To fix this remove the mask from the blurred layer and pre-compose it, then apply the Mask to the pre-comp.

@Dave, ya beat me to it. Hope you’re not freezing today in the Polar Vortex.

[Ridley Walker]

To inspect the render you could import it into After Effects and drop it on the ‘new composition’ icon in the Projects panel.

Then go to the frame indicated in the error message, using the page up/down keys to move forward and backwards around the suspect frame.

If it is corrupted then just render out that portion of the comp by restricting the work area and edit the two renders together. That should save you 5+ hours rendering.

[Ridley Walker]

As the others have suggested, all worthy methods:

6955_layerflip.aep.zip

[Ridley Walker]

[stefano fiori] “OSx 10.6.8; intel core i7 3,10 ghz; ati radeon hd 5770.”

Just noticed the 10 GHz, Wow!

If you are overclocking a Hacintosh there’s the problem. I don’t know of any current CPU capable of that speed. That would require serious cooling 😉

[Ridley Walker]

Hmm, there aren’t any Mac Pro’s with i7s, the Mac Pro uses Xeons.

In any case, it may be that the computer is shutting down from overheating to protect the processors.

Check for dust and make sure the computer has good ventilation.

[Ridley Walker]

Track mattes and blending modes are not supported using the Ray-traced 3D Renderer.

Go to your Composition setting and change the Renderer to Classic 3D.

[Ridley Walker]

Is your RAM preview of the Active Camera? That’s the only one that renders.

[Ridley Walker]

Are the layers 3D? Is Comp viewer displaying the Active Camera?

The Active Camera is the only view that renders. Its possible you have been working in one of the other views.

[Ridley Walker]

I agree with Walter, the laptop limits upgrade possibilities.

In addition to the SSD, your laptop supports 16GB of RAM which would help with RAM previews and if you use the multiprocessing for After Effects renders, may allow you to use a 2 or 3 cores for rendering.