[Zax Dow]

Hi Paul,

I feel your pain. There’s hope in the future.

Best,
Zax

[Zax Dow]

Jon’s point about super-complicated objects and large texture maps are good to keep in mind. However, two of the things you mentioned (shadows and motion blur) are the biggest render hogs.

The default 8-pass motion blur renders the frame 8 times, so it takes 8 times as long as no motion blur.

If you are rendering interlaced images that will also double rendering time.

Each shadow adds approximately 30-70% to the rendering time, based on what you set the size of the shadow butter to be.

Let’s take a look at your rendering times. 450 frames at 32hrs = 4.3 minutes per frame. Take off the motion blur and you’ll end up at 32 seconds per frame. That’s a reasonable time with shadows turned on.

Hope that helps!
-Zax

[Zax Dow]

Hi Sam,

Jon’s right, you have to trace the raster art to turn it into vectors. There are several movies on our web site which will help you to understand how to do this.

Go to this page: https://zaxwerks.com/training/index.shtml and watch the 2 movies on how to create vector artwork in Photoshop.

I’d recommend you watch them all but these two address the exact situation you’re facing.

Best,
Zax

[Zax Dow]

Please send me the project file. zax@zaxwerks.com

Once I see what you’re working with we’ll have a better chance of figuring out what’s going on.

In the mean time you could try making a new project, on the main monitor only, that is DV resolution, then then create something simple. Look for parallels between this project and the ones that crash.

Also, make sure you are using the 4.3.3 version of ProAnimator.

Best,
Zax

[Zax Dow]

You are correct, Jon!

You can tilt objects to any angle (inside the SetUp window) and the Depth Scale (in the Effects Controls) will then skew them.

This technique can be used to animate the height of objects rather than their depth, or the width too. Just tilt the objects so the direction you want to scale is aligned with the Z axis of the Set and viola!

Happy New Year!
-Zax

[Zax Dow]

Hi Brian,

Let’s simplify things to see where we stand.

– Please make a DV sized comp
– Make a comp sized solid.
– Apply the Grid Warp effect to the solid.

Does it work?

If it does then what’s the difference between this project and the one you’re having trouble with.

If it doesn’t let me know. Write to zax@zaxwerks.com

Best,
Zax

[Zax Dow]

Hi Mitchell,

Go to the Help Center on the Zaxwerks site and read the questions about Crashes and Freezes. It sounds like you may have a panel undocked in AE.

Send me a screen shot showing where you’ve installed the software.

Send it to zax@zaxwerks.com

-Zax

[Zax Dow]

You’re right, Jon, Depth Scale *is* an attribute of a Set. And since it is we can do tricks with them. Depth Scale happens from the center of the Set. The center of the Set is positioned when the objects are first placed into the Set, which means the center of a Set ends up at the center of the objects.

To make the objects scale from the back do the following…

– Go into the Set Up window (click the Red Ball)
– Turn on Object Mode (click the Cube button)
– Turn on Drag Using Object’s Axis
– Select only the objects you want to scale from the back.
– Select the Dolly Tool
– Click the up/down arrow keys to nudge the objects forward until their backs are on the origin of the Z axis.

Since the center of the set was at the origin, the objects will now scale forward when you animate the Depth Scale control.

You may have to use the *Set* Z Position control to move the whole set backwards a little bit to compensate for how much you just moved it forward. Be sure this is done with the Set controls found in the Effects Controls window (or the timeline). Do not do it in the SetUp window, or you’ll be undoing the adjustment you just did.

Best,
Zax

[Zax Dow]

The multi-monitor fix keeps the window size and position the same once you close the software. Previously when you closed the software, the next time you open it back up the windows were repositioned so they alway fit onto the main monitor. Now, when you reopen a project, the windows are where you left them.

Holding down the Control key is the command for resetting window positions. If you want to keep the windows in their last positions, don’t hold down the Control key.

Best,
Zax

[Zax Dow]

First, make sure you’ve installed the software correctly. If you want to double check there are movies which show you step by step, how to install.
https://zaxwerks.com/installation/index.shtml

If you are still having trouble see the procedure for fixing Vista’s file permissions.
https://zaxwerks.com/helpcenter/?page_id=53

If that doesn’t work try running the software as an Administrator. (right click on the program icon and chose Run As Administrator) if that works you haven’t completely fixed the permissions yet.

-Z