[Steve Roberts]

I’ve done this on PC, and just tried it on OSX: I set up the queue, closed AE, then copied the AE icon from the Applications folder. Launched AE 1, opened the project, launched AE 2, opened the project, hit render on both. Easy Peasy. By the way, now that the second instance exists, there’s no need to create it every time. Just double-click on one icon & open the project, then double-click on the other icon and open the same project or a different project.

Now … as for working on the same comp in AE 1 while rendering in AE 2: I kept both projects open after the render. Closed queue 1, set up queue 2 to re-render to a different location. Started render on 2, changed the colour of some items in project 1.
Result: Render 2 kept going, no problems. Project 1 didn’t crash. As for the render … it looks fine, with no colour changes — so the colour changes in instance 1 didn’t affect the render in instance 2.

If I had actually saved my work in instance 1, would it have affected the render in instance 2? I don’t think so, since the instance should be accessing the project in RAM, not the one changed on disc.

Remember, if you want to use two instances to render, you must render to a still sequence. Try using the “multi-machine” settings. Be sure to select “skip existing files”.

The only problem I see is knowing in which instance you are working. Maybe if you change the UI brightness in the prefs for one instance …

Hope that helps,
Steve

[Steve Roberts]

Yes.

Search the AE help for “render settings” and “work area”, Sean.

Steve

[Steve Roberts]

Make the comp longer in composition>comp settings – try 30 seconds. That will make the text layer longer. Don’t worry, when you want to render, just set the comp’s work area to the desired length, and render the work area in the Render Settings.

If you need to see the text’s keyframes, select the layer and hit U. If you can’t see the keyframes, search the help for “keyframe navigator”.

Steve

[Steve Roberts]

1. It is supposed to be fat on a computer monitor in AE, normal on a TV. FCP compensates to make it look normal on a computer monitor . To make it look normal in AE temporarily, click the pixel aspect ratio correction switch at the bottom of the comp window. Switch it off when rendering, since it degrades the image.

2. As long as you render it as non-square pixels, you’ll be fine in FCP.

3.
https://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/322300.html

https://www.creativecow.net/show.php?forumid=1&page=/articles/gerard_rick/pixel_madness/index.html

Tip:
To make a comp that has the same settings as your footage, drag the footage from the project window to the “new comp” button at the bottom of the project window.

Steve

[Steve Roberts]

Well, if you take a close look, you’ll see that there’s a correlation between character and black density … so we’re probably talking about the good ol’ ASCII art technique.

https://www.studiolo.org/Mona/MONA43.htm

Here’s a script that converts still GIFs to ASCII:
https://www.degraeve.com/gif2txt.php

Maybe the boys at Profound Effects could come up with something for AE. Otherwise, I can’t think of a canned AE solution.

Steve

[Steve Roberts]

Believe it or not, this has been discussed. Search the COW archives under “train station departure board”.

You might have to go back to 2003 or 2002.

Steve 🙂

[Steve Roberts]

… those that have tread the thread.

[Steve Roberts]

Really, I want to get my hands on the ad flack who tells people that “AE is the tool for motion graphics”.

It’s not. It’s a tool for motion graphics.

“Real” 3D apps are being used more and more for abstract motion graphics. It’s not just for robots and big lucite text any more. In my opinion, every motion graphics professional should have a 3D app in his/her arsenal, or at least understand the limitations of AE with respect to 3D.

I realize that Invigorator can do many things, but I’ve found that attempting to mimic a 3D app’s functionality using Invigorator can be a frustrating exercise after a certain point. A real 3D app offers so much more flexibility, even in just the camera moves, unless Invigorator has improved significantly in that regard.

Please forgive my rant. I’m just trying to reinforce the concept that motion graphics doesn’t have to be created in AE.

Steve

[Steve Roberts]

What do you mean by “limited success”? Can you compare your result to the Bell spot? Describe camera motion, pacing, fluidity, scene elements, perspective …

Steve

[Steve Roberts]

Ah. Good catch!

S.