[Stephen Reber]

Cassius…

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I tried that, the vector still didn’t match. What I tried was opening the .jpg in PS as well as the AI file. The .jpg was at 72 dpi, the AI file was open at 300 dpi. When I reduced the AI file to 72 dpi (to match the .jpg). The vector was still to small. So I enlarged the AI file to 75 dpi… and guess what… they finally matched. And I checked, there is a 4% difference between 72 and 75 dpi like I had mentioned before.

Do you have any ideas on the reason for the discrepancy between the .jpg and AI file dpi?? and how to get around it when importing to AE?

Thanks again…

Stephen =]

[Stephen Reber]

EXCELLENT!

Thanks Dan =]

[Stephen Reber]

Hey Dave,

I think I have something that will help. I don’t think there’s anyway to automate the procedure, but I have come up with something that may simplify the process.

OK, create a new comp (720 X 540 is standard). Place your first image in that comp. With the image selected, press “S” to open scale, and shift “A” to open the anchor point. Alt-click on both stop watches to open the expression editor for both.

In the anchor point, place this expression…

x = value[0];
y = value[1];

yy = y + height /2;

[x, yy]

This expression will place the anchor point of your image at the very bottom of that image. The reason I didn’t do it manually will be apparent in a minute.

In the expression editor for scale, place this script…

if (index > 1)
{
[value[0], value[1] * -1]
}
else
{
[value[0], value[1]]
};

This says that any layer that is not layer 1, it’s scale, in the Y direction, will be multiplied by -1.

Now duplicate your image (ctrl-D), you will notice that your second image is now a mirror of the original.

I’m not sure how you’re doing the transparency, or why you’re even making a mask, but here’s what I would suggest…

Create a new solid, any color is fine. Add an effect/generate/ramp. Place this solid between the first and second image, so what we have is…

layer 1 — main upright image
layer 2 — solid layer with ramp
layer 3 — second “mirrored” image

On layer 3, set the track matte to “luma inverse”, this will make the white of the ramp transparent, and the black opaque with the gradient in between, you can adjust the Y positions of the start and end of ramp for each color to adjust the strength of the transparency.

Now up in the “project” tab, rename this comp to “comp 1” and duplicate this comp (ctrl-D), 1 for each image you have (you will notice now that each comp has been renamed in sequence comp 1, comp 2, comp 3).

The last part is reinserting the images. Double click on comp 2. In that comp select the first image (layer 1) and ctrl-select the second image (layer 3). Leave them selected and go up to the project folder and alt-select-drag your next image and drop it ONTO one of the images in comp 2. Since both images are selected, the selected images should now be switched out with the new one.

And there you go, just switch out the images in each comp.

The reason for the script for the anchor point, is so that the anchor point is exactly at the bottom edge of each image, regardless of it’s size, so when the scale is reversed in the Y direction, the bottom edged of both images with be seemless.

This might sound like a long description, but it is actually pretty simple.

Hopefully I helped some.

Let me know who it turns out…

Stephen =]

[Stephen Reber]

Hey Dave…

What kind of effects are you using?? I mean the process in which you are creating this effect?

Stephen

[Stephen Reber]

Excellent! Thanks again Dan =]

[Stephen Reber]

Dan…

Thanks again for the help… totally brilliant! The original set up I had for my idea was a little insane.

The one problem I am having is with modulus.

time on and off = 5 and the time is 5, % = 0 (5%5)
5 divided by 5 with a remainder of 0 or %0

time on and off = 5 and the time is 7, % = 2 (7%5)
7 divided by 5 with a remainder of 2 or %2

O.K., but my problem is with…

time on and off = 5 and the time is 2, % = 2?? (2%5)
2 divided by 5 = .4 with no remainder, so % would be 0 right? But % comes out to 2.

How do you figure modulus with x%y when x is smaller than y??

Thanks again…

Stephen =]

[Stephen Reber]

Excellent! Thanks again for your help Dan =]

[Stephen Reber]

Excellent!

Thanks Dan =]

[Stephen Reber]

EXCELLENT!!! Thanks for your advice and help Joe! Sorry for being a pain =]

Thanks-a-billion…

Stephen =]

[Stephen Reber]

Ok, I got it, but what if my animation was 720 X 480 with square pixels, not .9? That’s what my animation is, I think that might be my main problem (just realizing it). How would I correct this??

Stephen =]