[Tim Mathews]

Here’s the resource string I used to get it to work (as promised all be it late):

var beginRes = “group {
orientation:’column’, alignment:[‘fill’,’fill’],
tp: Panel {
type:’tabbedpanel’, alignment:[‘fill’,’fill’], alignChildren:[‘fill’,’center’],
tpBasic: Panel {
type:’tab’, orientation: ‘row’, space: ‘0’,text:’Toolbar’, alignChildren:[‘center’,’top’],
preCompBtn: Button { type:’button’, text: ‘PreComp’, helpTip: ‘” + preCompHelpText + “‘},
reflectBtn: Button { type:’button’, text: ‘Reflect’, helpTip: ‘” + reflectionHelpText + “‘},
particularBtn: Button { type:’button’, text: ‘Particular’, helpTip: ‘” + particularHelpText + “‘},
radialTransBtn: Button { type:’button’, text: ‘Radial TransFX’, helpTip: ‘” + radialTransHelpText + “‘},
shineFXBtn: Button { type:’button’, text: ‘Shine FX’, helpTip: ‘” + shineHelpText + “‘},
editorButtons: Button { type:’button’, text: ‘Edit’, helpTip: ‘Edit Button List’},
},
tpAdvanced: Panel { //this tab is just to hold my play buttons
type:’tab’, orientation: ‘row’, space: ‘0’, text:’Play Objects’, alignChildren:[‘center’,’center’],
minSlide: StaticText { text: ‘0’},
mySlider: Slider { type: ‘slider’, minvalue: ‘0’, maxvalue: ‘100’, value: ‘0’},
curSlide: StaticText { text: ‘0’},
maxSlide: StaticText { text: ‘100’},
btnVersion1: Button { text:’Get File’ },
btnVersion2: Button { text:’Version 2′ },” + iconButtonData + “},
},
}”

var myPanel = pal.add(beginRes);

****************************************************************
That creates my dockable Script UI Panel. I’ve got some “helpTip” variables that are used too, so that a user can mouse over and sit on a button and get the help window description.

This works for both CS4 & CS5, but I can’t figure out why it doesn’t work in CS3. Any ideas? I’ve seen other Resource strings for CS3 that were similar to this that work fine, which I’ve tried patterning this after to no avail.

Thanks

[Tim Mathews]

Dan, thanks for looking at this for me. There must be something “out of whack” like you implied. The “show()” doesn’t hurt the panel for me, but it shows on my PC and MAC either way. [I’ll try leaving it in for the PCs sake]. The other interesting thing is that if I declare the buttons to be undefined they won’t show up at all on either machine. I’ll do some more digging around to find the solution for both machines.
I did see one sample script that used a resource string, so I’ll investigate that a little more too.
Thanks again.
I’d like to suggest, although the free help is greatly appreciated, that you write a book: Dan Ebberts’: Everything you need to know about scripting for After Effects. I’d buy it twice just because your site and forum answers have helped me so much over the years. For all those who forgot to say it, “Thanks!”
I’ll post the final working panel settings for others who are struggling. I won’t post the working button code as I think we should support Franquios’ work. His script is really cool and easily customizable. (and NO I don’t know him at all!)

[Tim Mathews]

Thanks Chris, I’ll give this a try. Sorry for such a long gap in response, I’ve been on vacation over the Holidays.

[Tim Mathews]

Todd, thanks!!!

That was too easy. LOL

I guess I’ll need to check & print the list of expressions HERE

Thanks again

[Tim Mathews]

Hey ladorn45,
The answer to your question is yes, “you can control where the mapping happens”. It’s a fairly easy process once you know how the mapping occurs (Invigorator objecst have a little box in the palettes view window [you know the dialog box that shows the edges you have applied and the swatches on an object] . The box shows the starting point of the wrap around. If you’re using the pro version and are using the cylinder you won’t see the edges dialog as mentioned.

Either way here’s the process.
Create a comp (called Comp B from here on out) the size of the comp that the spray can is in.
Next, place the label (can image) into this Comp B and add this comp to the original comp.
Use Comp B as the layer map for your spray can.
Now you can size the label to fit the can.
(Tim’s suggestion:
Move the anchor point on the label graphic to the left bottom-most corner. Position the bottom of the label in Comp B where you want it to fall in the original comp [if you’re using AE7 or CS3 you can open another view window lock the first view to the original comp and the second to Comp B. This will give you constant updates as you move the label around the screen in Comp B]
Once you have the bottom corner in position you can scale the label in Comp B to fit as you visualize it. [That’s y we moved the anchor point on the label so it’ll scale relative to that positon]
Hope this helps,
Tim