[Roland R. kahlenberg]

Looks like you do not understand AE’s Render Pipeline. Mask’s render prior to effects. What you should do is to apply the offset in one comp. Then precompose/nest it into another comp. Then apply a mask shape.
Breaking up the processes this way ensure that mask is applied/calculated after offset.

HTH
Roland Kahlenberg

broadcastGEMs.com – the leader in customizable royalty-free animated backdrops

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

There’s a ScaleComp script that you may want to look into. I haven’t had any experience with it but it looks like something that should work for you.

HTH
Roland Kahlenberg

broadcastGEMs.com – the leader in customizable royalty-free animated backdrops

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

The problem is that your water is not seamless across the right/left edges. I suggest that you use Fractal Noise to create the watery look.

Start by creating a Solid that is twice as wide as your final comp’s size.
Apply Fractal Noise to the Solid and set parameters to achieve the desired look. Now use the Quick Mask Rectangular Tool to slice up the layer right in the middle. Duplicate the same layer and set this layer’s mask mode to Subtract. Select both layers and precompose.

Apply CCSphere the the precomposed layer. Set parameters to taste.

HTH
Roland Kahlenberg

broadcastGEMs.com – the leader in customizable royalty-free animated backdrops

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

This looks like a job outside of AE’s abilities. At best, you can have someone create the 3D model for you and then use Invigorator Pro to do the animation.

HTH
Roland Kahlenberg

broadcastGEMs.com – the leader in customizable royalty-free animated backdrops

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

The 3D Ride was a tutorial written by Bjorn Sjostrom. You can find it here.

The Cop Lights thingy you alluded was done up by George Polevoy. It’s not a full fledged tutorial, but there’s an AEP included within this link.

HTH
Roland Kahlenberg

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

Hi Charlie
The “Region of Interest” feature is to allow you to work within a specified ‘region’. Thus, having AE process, only, the pixels within the specified region; resulting in speedier screen previews.

Should you ever want to zoom into an area within the Composition Window, you can do so using the Zoom (Magnifying Glass) tool. Just click towards the top-left of the region/area and then, with the mouse button still depresssed, drag towards the bottom-right of the region/area you would like to zoom into.

Should you ever want to navigate, without affecting any layer within the Composition/Timneline Window, just switch to the Hand Tool, and click and drag as required.

HTH
Best Wishes

broadcastGEMs.com – the leader in customizable royalty-free animated backdrops

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

Have you had a look at Philip’ excellent COW Displacement Tutorial? Check it out at Displacement Mapping.

HTH
Roland Kahlenberg

broadcastGEMs.com – the leader in customizable royalty-free animated backdrops

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

Hi MaCOW
Thanks for the headsup. I think I need to add some text so that downloaders know whether a file is a PDF, an AEP or an Animation Preset.

Gracias.
Roland Kahlenberg

broadcastGEMs.com – the leader in customizable royalty-free animated backdrops

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

Take a look at https://www.broadcastGEMs.com and goto the download/freebie page. There are two Text Animation Presets there. These are texture-based presets to complement the one’s that come installed with AE 6.5

HTH

Roland Kahlenberg

broadcastGEMs.com – the leader in customizable royalty-free animated backdrops

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

[Matt Larson] “shatter can use Red Green Blue Cyan Magenta Yellow Black and White colors to create different shapes.”

Yes this works! What the initial Q needs to do is to create a custom map using the colors stated above – grayscale won’t do.

Cheers
Roland Kahlenberg

broadcastGEMs.com – the leader in customizable royalty-free animated backdrops