[Roland R. kahlenberg]

Pastiche does this sort of animation very well.
https://www.motionboutique.com/pastiche/

Additionally, you may want to use Shape Layers for the dots instead of the AI file. If things bog down, work in stages by animating 25% of the dots at a time – render that and then piece them together once all four chunks have been pre-rendered. These productivity hacks are suggestions on my part. You will likely have better alternatives once you get going. Good Luck.

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

You should use curly brackets to encapsulate your “if … else” conditionals.
Something like the following –

slider = Math.floor(thisComp.layer(“<wbr>Color”).effect(“Slider Control”)(“Slider”).value);
if (slider == 1) {
effect(“Color Control”)(“Color”)
} else if (slider == 2) {
effect(“Color Control 2”)(“Color”)
} else if (slider == 3) {
…
}

And as others have suggested, a Dropdown Menu is preferred for a more elegant UI/UX. You’ll want to be use descriptive a name for each Color Theme/Selection to make it onto the “This Week’s Awesome Dropdown Menu List”. 🙂

And for completeness, if you ever need to use a Slider Control for discreet selection/action, you’ll want to apply the Math.floor Expression directly onto the Slider Control instead of applying it onto the effect being controlled by the Slider Control.

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

To add on with related shortcuts to Walter’s answer –

1) u – single “u” displays properties with keyframes

2) uu – double tap “uu” to display all properties wits values that have changed, relative to their default values

3) ALT + u – this shortcut displays properties with Expressions and Keyframes

4) e – single “e” displays effects applied to layers

All shortcuts are contextualized to one or more layers being in a selected state or when no layer is selected, AE applies the shortcut to ALL layers.

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

As Martin has stated, what you have is good to go. I will just add a few pointers that I hope will add clarity which should help you and others better delineate the workflow, for future work.

(1) Open Mocha AE CC.
(2) Create an X-spline or a bezier layer that extends a little beyond the outer edges of the sign (since these edges might help mocha in achieving good tracking).

This is the Tracking Spline(s). Your workflow begins with drawing one or more Tracking Splines.
It’s a good idea to pay attention to which features you want tracked + the percentage of pixels, within the Tracking Splines, which will be used by mocha to track. The percentage of pixels setting is akin to the tracking resolution – a higher value equals tighter tracking data which may or may not be redundant; depending on the complexity of the tracking requirements and off course, a higher value means longer computational times, although the latest mocha products are finely tuned for GPU acceleration.

(3) Track everything and adjust (create keyframes) the X-spline or bezier after tracking if needed.

(4) Create a new X-spline or a bezier layer, but make sure it sits right on the outer edge of the sign this time.

This is the roto spline and is only required if your insert object/region cannot be perfectly shaped by four corner points – it four corners are appropriate then all you need to do is to apply the Surface Area and export out Corner Pin tracking data. For other shape types, an articulated matte is required.

(5) Link the new X-spline or bezier to the original (motion-tracked) X-spline or a bezier; this will make the new X-spline or bezier follow the motion of the original.

(6) Go through the frames and adjust the new X-spline or bezier layer until it fits really good.

Adjustments to refine tracking accuracy can be in the form of additional/repeated tracking with new/old keyframes OR via the Adjust Track Module.

(7) Export to AE and apply the mask from there (you’ll end up with a sign on a transparent background).
Is this a good workflow?

You’ll now off course have to use the shape data/layer as a matte for your insert object. Critical to all of this is the requirement to also export tracking data; Translations and or Corner Pin data for your insert layer.

HTH
Roland Kahlenberg

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

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PathSlicer – Advanced AE Shape Layer Effect
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– create highly customizable custom animated typefaces
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Do it all on a single Shape layer with minimal keyframes.

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[Roland R. kahlenberg]

You should be looking at Group. Select the clips and right-click to bring up the context menu. Then select Group.

HTH
– RolandK

PathSlicer – Advanced AE Shape Layer Effect
https://www.broadcastgems.com/pathSlicer
– create highly customizable custom animated typefaces
– create amazing transitions
– create cool lower 3rds and panels
– create burst effects
Do it all on a single Shape layer with minimal keyframes.

TypeGEMs – The Most Complete Type Tool Effect for AE
https://www.broadcastgems.com/typegems/

Intensive mocha & AE Training in Singapore and Other Dangerous Locations
Adobe After Effects CC ACE/ACI
BorisFX mocha Certified Instructor

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

Well … you mentioned “brightness” and you adjust this in Prefs>Appearance. To change the text color and even an app’s status bar color, you’ll have to do this via the OS – not in the app.

Cheers
– RolandK

PathSlicer – Advanced AE Shape Layer Effect
https://www.broadcastgems.com/pathSlicer
– create highly customizable custom animated typefaces
– create amazing transitions
– create cool lower 3rds and panels
– create burst effects
Do it all on a single Shape layer with minimal keyframes.

TypeGEMs – The Most Complete Type Tool Effect for AE
https://www.broadcastgems.com/typegems/

Intensive mocha & AE Training in Singapore and Other Dangerous Locations
Adobe After Effects CC ACE/ACI
BorisFX mocha Certified Instructor

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

Preferences>Appearance is where you can adjust UI settings.

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

Another option is to send the renders to AME.

PathSlicer – Advanced AE Shape Layer Effect
https://www.broadcastgems.com/pathSlicer
– create highly customizable custom animated typefaces
– create amazing transitions
– create cool lower 3rds and panels
– create burst effects
Do it all on a single Shape layer with minimal keyframes.

TypeGEMs – The Most Complete Type Tool Effect for AE
https://www.broadcastgems.com/typegems/

Intensive mocha & AE Training in Singapore and Other Dangerous Locations
Adobe After Effects CC ACE/ACI
BorisFX mocha Certified Instructor

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

You can prevent the ‘demo’ noises by going to AE’s Preferences>Previews and enabling “Mute Audio when Preview is not Real-time”.

PathSlicer – Advanced AE Shape Layer Effect
https://www.broadcastgems.com/pathSlicer
– create highly customizable custom animated typefaces
– create amazing transitions
– create cool lower 3rds and panels
– create burst effects
Do it all on a single Shape layer with minimal keyframes.

TypeGEMs – The Most Complete Type Tool Effect for AE
https://www.broadcastgems.com/typegems/

Intensive mocha & AE Training in Singapore and Other Dangerous Locations
Adobe After Effects CC ACE/ACI
BorisFX mocha Certified Instructor