[Serge Hamad]

Hi guys,

I think that Naveen is after animating the Z axis. Animating the depth parameter in this case would (As Jon already mentioned) do the trick. But before animating your object you need first to follow these steps:

1– Create a plane primitive. This object will automatically be centered at the World Origin.

2– Import your IL file.

3– Select your object, check the Drag Using Object’s axis box and use the dolly tool to move it so it lays on the plane. (Use an appropriate camera view of your choice to align your object perfectly)
The idea is to exactly meet the Pivot Point/ World Origin of your plane with the back face of your object in order to later animate the growth of your object from 1.00 to whatever #

4– Hit OK and animate in AE the Depth Scale parameter from 1.00 to 100 over time and here you go you have now an object’s depth increase in a few steps.

Although Invigorator is supposed to animate the Z depth only. You could still animate the X or Y depth by simply rotating your object to 90 degrees in the axis of your choice (X or Y) in the stats menu first before following step 4. I will go in more details on this in my next training.

If you need more help let us know.

Salut.
Serge

Invigorator/Proanimator Training Review:
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/murphy_kurt/invigorator_tr_rev.php

Invigorator/Proanimator Training: https://library.creativecow.net/articles/hamad_serge/invig_training.php

[Serge Hamad]

Hi,

You need to create a custom edge and apply it to a tinny circle (1pt X 1pt). Check my tutorial on this.

Here is how your custom edge may look:
https://www.nyc-visual.com/Drop.zip

Salut.
Serge

Invigorator/Proanimator Training Review:
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/murphy_kurt/invigorator_tr_rev.php

Invigorator/Proanimator Training: https://library.creativecow.net/articles/hamad_serge/invig_training.php

[Serge Hamad]

[Ken Latman] “Will using the ProAnimator lights still cast shadows correctly in this mode even though some elemnents are not visible?”

No. Only visible objects can cast shadows.

[Ken Latman] “I guess I’m only castin the sadow of the plane of the layer, not the shodw of the 3D object with all it’s nuances?”

You are guessing right.

I would keep the bulb-housing and the sign plane together as they are the two elements that are supposed to cast shadows on each other and use the PA lights.

Send me your AE project (Animated if possible)at: serge(at)nyc-visual(dot)com

Salut.
Serge

Invigorator/Proanimator Training Review:
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/murphy_kurt/invigorator_tr_rev.php

Invigorator/Proanimator Training: https://library.creativecow.net/articles/hamad_serge/invig_training.php

[Serge Hamad]

Hi Ken,

Sorry, the workarounds are not on the DVD.

[Ken Latman] “He says in lesson 1 that he would explain how to do a work around for casting shadows with AE lights,”

What I actually said was that you won’t be able to cast shadows with AE lights.

The workarounds were not meant on casting shadows on Invigorator objects using the AE lights as you seam to have understood.

Most of the time Invigorator/PA users use AE lights because they are compositing AE 3D layers and want their Invigorator/PA 3D objects to cast shadows on these layers.

Here are some tips:

If you want your PA objects to cast shadows on each other you must use the PA lights.

If you want your PA objects to cast shadows on AE layers, you could map these layers to 3D planes inside of PA, arrange the planes as you want and use the Absolute Color mode for instance (As I already explained in the DVD) to avoid highlights etc… Again, you need to use the PA lights.

Depending on your animation you could use the AE lights to have PA objects cast shadows on AE 3D layers. For this you need to switch the PA layer to 3D. Again depending on your animation you might need to switch your PA 3D layer Auto- Orientation to Orient Towards Camera or use a couple of expressions.

Although this last workaround will allow you to use the AE lights to cast shadows from PA objects on AE 3D layers, your PA objects won’t cast shadows on each other!
But, if you use the PA lights for your objects to cast shadows on each other, render your PA layer only, import the movie into AE and use it instead of the original PA layer, you may have better chances to make it look real.

I hope this helps.

Salut.
Serge

PS: There are more possibilities of course, it’s just a question of thinking out of the box. Let me know what you are exactly after 😉

Invigorator/Proanimator Training Review:
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/murphy_kurt/invigorator_tr_rev.php

Invigorator/Proanimator Training: https://library.creativecow.net/articles/hamad_serge/invig_training.php

[Serge Hamad]

Hi Kenn,

Yes. You just need to import your older project in the new one.
AE will then create a new folder named after your imported aep in the project window.

You could then open the folder and drag and drop the comp you need in your main comp or wherever.

Salut.
Serge
Invigorator/Proanimator Training Review:
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/murphy_kurt/invigorator_tr_rev.php

Invigorator/Proanimator Training: https://library.creativecow.net/articles/hamad_serge/invig_training.php

[Serge Hamad]

LIoyd! Thanks a bunch for this one;-)

always be a fan of your great stuff;-)

Salut.
Serge

Invigorator/Proanimator Training Review:
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/murphy_kurt/invigorator_tr_rev.php

Invigorator/Proanimator Training: https://library.creativecow.net/articles/hamad_serge/invig_training.php

[Serge Hamad]

Hi Jim,

You could achieve this in many different ways. Adeeb already mentioned some very creative workarounds. (This guy learns fast!)

In case (like Adeeb assumed) you are using PA in AE you could use the “Offset X” & /or “Offset Y” feature. This will animate your reflection layer map even when your object stays still. The feature is located in the AE effects control window.

If you are not using PA for AE you could use animated maps (Movies)as reflection or even texture maps.

Salut.
Serge

Invigorator/Proanimator Training Review:
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/murphy_kurt/invigorator_tr_rev.php

Invigorator/Proanimator Training: https://library.creativecow.net/articles/hamad_serge/invig_training.php

[Serge Hamad]

BTW. What version of AE and IL are you using?

I am asking because saving a CS3 IL file and opening it in AE 7.0 for instance would not allow you to see more then one layer even when you use the Import As Composition feature.

Salut.
Serge

Invigorator/Proanimator Training Review:
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/murphy_kurt/invigorator_tr_rev.php

Invigorator/Proanimator Training: https://library.creativecow.net/articles/hamad_serge/invig_training.php

[Serge Hamad]

In IL when you click on the Release To Layers (Sequence) IL should create a layer for each path you created in layer 1 for instance.

You should then select the new created layers and drag and drop them on top of layer 1 in the layers window.

let us know if you are still stuck.

Salut.
Serge

Invigorator/Proanimator Training Review:
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/murphy_kurt/invigorator_tr_rev.php

Invigorator/Proanimator Training: https://library.creativecow.net/articles/hamad_serge/invig_training.php

[Serge Hamad]

Hi Nate,

Either you didn’t select, drag and drop your sequenced layers on top of your main IL layer or you didn’t select the “Composition” or “Composition cropped Layers” option in the Import File window.

Does this help?

Salut.
Serge

Invigorator/Proanimator Training Review:
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/murphy_kurt/invigorator_tr_rev.php

Invigorator/Proanimator Training: https://library.creativecow.net/articles/hamad_serge/invig_training.php