[Tom Hepburn]

Could you bring it in to FCP or another NLE, drag it into the timeline and export the movie?

T

[Tom Hepburn]

You need to merge the beveled layer down into the new/blank layer.

T

[Tom Hepburn]

The way I do it is to create a new empty layer and “merge down.” Then you have a layer with no PS effects on it yet you retain the effect you had before you merged. You really don’t need an alpha as AE will read the transparency on the layer you’re imoporting. I would save it as a PSD and select THAT layer when you import it into AE.

Hope that helps.
T

[Tom Hepburn]

Is it possible you have a renegade point somewhere? If you have more than one path that you’re cutting and pasting it won’t work, even if it’s just one extra point that you inadvertently started. I just tried it with a fairly complex path and didn’t have a problem. Make sure you click on the edge of the path you want as opposed to a drag selection.

T

[Tom Hepburn]

I think what you may need to do is select the font change it to arial (or anything else) and the change it back to the font you want. Then save and close and open up the project again and see if the warning comes up. I seem to remember that happening a few months back to me.

OR, if your original was on a different platform (PC to Mac or visa versa) it may be something else, but the above is where I would start.

T

[Tom Hepburn]

The key is you need to have the word “position” selected in the layer you want to go down the path. First have the path on your clipboard (from Illustrator or PS), select the layer and open up position. Then select word position and paste. It will come in as keyframes. If you don’t select position, it will come in as a mask.

Hope this helps.
T

[Tom Hepburn]

Thanks Dave,

Would you recommend, given the 3D software, that I continue using the 3D programs and going back and forth to AE? Of course while still learning these tools in AE. I’m looking for the best results.

Thanks,
T

[Tom Hepburn]

Hey Jerry,

For anmations the source is usually an AfterEffects composite of some sort. It is usually compressed with the Animation codec and then brought into Compressor. I set it up to encode at the preset, high quality 60 minute, to MPEG 2. I do the same with FCP movies except. I export using compressor (while in FCP) with the same preset. Crashes in both instances. The crashes btw freezes the cursor and requires me to pull the plug.

Any help would be appreciated.

T

[Tom Hepburn]

Thank for the replies all. To further detail:

It crashes even when I bring animations into it. In other words I’m just encoding and not using FCP. So if I export a QT from FCP and bring it in to Compressor I’ll have the same result.

Also, Shake is not installed.

I guess the thing to do would be installing the OS again. I’ve reinstalled FCP, Compressor, etc., a couple of times with the same result.

Thanks,
T