From: Chris Meyer <chris@crishdesign.com>
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Subject: Re: [AE] building a dynamic node-like effect in AE
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:39:06 -0600
In-Reply-To: <list-4829368@media-motion.tv>
To: "After Effects Mail List" <AE-List@media-motion.tv>
References: <list-4829368@media-motion.tv>
Message-Id: <10D003C6-B956-4FED-A14A-93475DC95068@crishdesign.com>


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If you make one instance of this - a master control layer, and slave =
layer with expressions that point back to the control layer - then you =
can select the effects, expressions, etc. on the slave layer and save it =
as an animation preset. Then when you apply that animation preset to a =
new slave layer inside the same composition, it too will point to the =
same master as the original. (Same will happen if you just duplicate the =
slave layer, then swap out its source.)

If these slaves will be in other compositions, then when you create your =
first slave, put it in another composition, pointing back to the master =
layer in the master comp. You can wire expressions across comps by =
having both Timeline panels open at the same time (just drag one =
timeline's tab above the others, and a new frame will be created in the =
UI), then follow the above.

What might also be of use is someone has created a script that creates =
an "instance" of an effect where every parameter of an effect applied to =
a slave will be attached to every corresponding parameter of a master - =
saves a lot of pick-whipping if you need to set up a lot of parameters, =
instead of just a few expression controls. Let me see what that thing =
was called=85here it is: http://aescripts.com/ft-effect-instance/

good luck -
Chris

P.S. Our books, if you have them, tend to show examples of having one =
master layer control multiple slave layers using expressions.


On Aug 29, 2012, at 2:20 PM, Teddy Gage wrote:

>    Hello, I have a project which is basically a glorified power point =
presentation. I say node-like because I want one effect instance to =
change multiple layers with the effect, like in a node based compositor. =
I have hundreds of images that come onscreen more or less one-by-one, =
many of which will use pretty basic transitions. My desire is to build a =
few nice "stock transitions" (like 3) using expressions, and anywhere I =
drop these on a layer, its properties can be controlled by a single set =
of sliders or keyframes. For example, I have CC page turn on many of =
them, and I want to animate the fold position moving in. I want to be =
able to drop this effect, or effect + expression or preset, onto any =
layer, and have it automatically begin the transition from the layer =
in-point. Additionally, every instance of the effect in the project is =
controlled by a master slider or master set of keyframes in case the =
client wants to tweak the timing. This way it will ripple through my =
100+ layers instead of having to manually change every keyframe. I have =
some basic expression knowledge, but every time I think I'm close to =
figuring this out it eludes me. This may be way more complicated than =
I'm thinking, or way less. Thanks,
> TG
>=20
> --=20
> Animator & Editor
> www.teddygage.com
> Brooklyn
>=20


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<html><head></head><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; =
-webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">If =
you make one instance of this - a master control layer, and slave layer =
with expressions that point back to the control layer - then you can =
select the effects, expressions, etc. on the slave layer and save it as =
an animation preset. Then when you apply that animation preset to a new =
slave layer inside the same composition, it too will point to the same =
master as the original. (Same will happen if you just duplicate the =
slave layer, then swap out its source.)<div><br></div><div>If these =
slaves will be in other compositions, then when you create your first =
slave, put it in another composition, pointing back to the master layer =
in the master comp. You can wire expressions across comps by having both =
Timeline panels open at the same time (just drag one timeline's tab =
above the others, and a new frame will be created in the UI), then =
follow the above.</div><div><br></div><div>What might also be of use is =
someone has created a script that creates an "instance" of an effect =
where every parameter of an effect applied to a slave will be attached =
to every corresponding parameter of a master - saves a lot of =
pick-whipping if you need to set up a lot of parameters, instead of just =
a few expression controls. Let me see what that thing was called=85here =
it is:&nbsp;<a =
href=3D"http://aescripts.com/ft-effect-instance/">http://aescripts.com/ft-=
effect-instance/</a></div><div><br></div><div>good luck =
-</div><div>Chris</div><div><br></div><div>P.S. Our books, if you have =
them, tend to show examples of having one master layer control multiple =
slave layers using =
expressions.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br><div><div>On =
Aug 29, 2012, at 2:20 PM, Teddy Gage wrote:</div><br =
class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite">&nbsp;&nbsp;=
 Hello, I have a project which is basically a glorified power point =
presentation. I say node-like because I want one effect instance to =
change multiple layers with the effect, like in a node based compositor. =
I have hundreds of images that come onscreen more or less one-by-one, =
many of which will use pretty basic transitions. My desire is to build a =
few nice "stock transitions" (like 3) using expressions, and anywhere I =
drop these on a layer, its properties can be controlled by a single set =
of sliders or keyframes. For example, I have CC page turn on many of =
them, and I want to animate the fold position moving in. I want to be =
able to drop this effect, or effect + expression or preset, onto any =
layer, and have it automatically begin the transition from the layer =
in-point. Additionally, every instance of the effect in the project is =
controlled by a master slider or master set of keyframes in case the =
client wants to tweak the timing. This way it will ripple through my =
100+ layers instead of having to manually change every keyframe. I have =
some basic expression knowledge, but every time I think I'm close to =
figuring this out it eludes me. This may be way more complicated than =
I'm thinking, or way less. Thanks,<br>

TG<br clear=3D"all"><br>-- <br><span style=3D"color:rgb(0,0,0)">Animator =
&amp; Editor</span><br style=3D"color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span =
style=3D"color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href=3D"http://www.teddygage.com/" =
target=3D"_blank">www.teddygage.com</a></span><br =
style=3D"color:rgb(0,0,0)">

<span style=3D"color:rgb(0,0,0)">Brooklyn</span><br><br>
</blockquote></div><br></div></body></html>=

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