[Sando Calrissian]

Hi Guys,

I’m actually experiencing the same problem. I’ve been working on this machine for 2 years (G5 running CS2 and AFX 7 – obviously this has been updated from 6.5, but many months prior to this situation arising) and I’ve never before had a problem importing illustrator files or photoshop files into AFX as comps. It’s something thats happened in the last couple of weeks.

I can open the photoshop files as AFX comps on another identical computer and all the layers appear seperated, but if i import that project onto my machine suddenly the seperate layers just disappear in AFX…

There must be a setting I’ve somehow selected in AFX. Any ideas folks?

Thanks guys in advance!

Sam

[Sando Calrissian]

For our macs we have a program called Flip4mac which allows us to export .wmv’s from final cut (clients on PC’s sometimes ask for this format) Once installed it also sits under your export option in After Effects.

I have only really used it for approval versions where immense quality isn’t really that important. But it does work… You may be able to get a trial version – i havn’t checked.

[Sando Calrissian]

Is the subjects head moving much?

If its nearly stationary you can duplicate your footage layer and draw a rough mask around the centre of your subjects face (this is where the majority of highlights occur – and the colour will become way similar to your orange/yellow BG). Then place this unkeyed version over your keyed version. Then tweak the key on the lower layer.

If necessary use multiple keys set to more subtle settings (attempting to use one instance of the key effect will just cause too many problems). Try messing with the Screen shrink settings in Keylight as well as the edge colour correction (if you are keying onto a solid BG you can try changing the colour of the edges to blend it in better).

Matt choker may also be an option…

Also this tutorial might help. Its designed for compositing keyed footage into a scene, but iv found in the past that it can help improve the key (although be warned it can REALLy bump up your render times!)

https://forums.creativecow.net/cgi-bin/new_page_wrapper.cgi?forumid=1&page=https://www.creativecow.net/articles/dewar_john/light_spill/index.html

You might also find this one useful

https://forums.creativecow.net/cgi-bin/new_page_wrapper.cgi?forumid=1&page=https://www.creativecow.net/articles/onneweer_barend/keyingtut/index.html

By the way – hats off to all the dudes who make these tutorials. You guys are awesome.

[Sando Calrissian]

Trapcodes echospace is the baby for you. It is (like all the other trapcode plugins) absolutely awesome. Check out the website at

http://www.trapcode.com

its also darn good value! $49 and you get a whole lot less brain drain.

Sam

[Sando Calrissian]

Thanks Steve – i have done that very thing.

I am using Nucleo Pro Version 1.0.4.391

I dont think my system clock reset itself (unless it had updated again by the time i got in this morning) although that was what we thought it was initially… and like you say, the computer is less than a year old.

Thanks for your response.

[Sando Calrissian]

Hey,

When i’ve had similar problems i find that if you purge your RAM this can help matters.