From: "Chris Zwar" <chris@chriszwar.com>
To: "After Effects Mail List" <AE-List@media-motion.tv>
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Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2012 23:39:30 +0000
Subject: Re:  [AE] building a dynamic node-like effect in AE
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Hi,

It does make sense, and what I'm suggesting could do that but coming from=
 the problem in a different way. 

What is possible (I have done this many times) is to set up a single poin=
t of control in the composition (an expression slider) that sets the time=
-remapping for the pre-comp.  This control then has an expression applied=
 to it to read the last two or three numbers of the composition name (usi=
ng the subsrt function).  You would name the composition something like P=
ageturn_001.

All you have to do is create one composition, set up your keyframes, then=
 duplicate it 200 times, and because After Effects will increment the num=
ber at the end of each duplicated composition, you will end up with 200 u=
nique compositions that has a different image in it.  No more work requir=
ed.

If you need to change or alter the animation, you would delete the 199 co=
mpositions, change your original, and then duplicate it 200 times again.

This may not suit you - this approach only works in certain situations- b=
ut I have used it successfully many times.

Another completely different alternative is to set up your transition on =
an adjustment layer, and then precomp it.  If you want three different tr=
ansitions, you can set up three different precomps that have nothing in t=
hem except an adjustment layer with the effect applied to it.

Then just drag the precomp on top of your images and enable 'collapse tra=
nsformations' so the effects work in the main comp.  If they're different=
 durations, you can still use a time-remapping on the precomp to match th=
e duration each image (which can itself be automated with an expression).=


Changing the adjustment layer in the precomp will effect every instance o=
f it in your main composition.

Sounds like you're getting there anyway but this is all food for thought,=


-Chris
-----Original Message-----
From: Teddy Gage [mailto:teddygage@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2012 08:26 AM
To: 'After Effects Mail List'
Subject: Re: [AE] building a dynamic node-like effect in AE

Ah that's not quite what I meant, although it brings up an interesting id=
ea
for further automating the project. I'm placing the image layers in
sequence by hand. But I want an effect on each layer that says "starting =
at
the in-point of this layer, move the cc page turn fold position 1000 unit=
s
left to right relative to the anchor point over 30 seconds." Then ideally=
 I
could add this effect to hundreds of layers, but then at the end be able =
to
change the transition time from 3 seconds to 1 second for all layers by
just changing a single variable. Chris solved half the problem (the stati=
c
variables) with a reference to an effect instancing script. But I still
need to be able to change the timing without moving 200 keyframes by hand=
.
Does that make any more sense?

On Wed, Aug 29, 2012 at 6:01 PM, Chris Zwar <chris@chriszwar.com> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> It's difficult to offer advice without seeing exactly what you're tryin=
g
> to do, but I think that I would suggest you consider using time-remappi=
ng
> as a tool to select which image you want to use in each comp.
>
> Rather than have a preset which you drop onto a layer, I would put all =
of
> your source layers into one composition.  If they're stills - great,
> sequence them with 1 second durations.  If they're video, then sequence=

> them with even spacings (the duration of your longest clip, rounded up =
to
> the nearest second).
>
> Build your effects using this pre-comp as your main layer, and use
> time-remapping to control which still or video you can see.  You can us=
e
> the layer as many times as you need to, and link the time-remapping val=
ue
> of each instance to a master slider.
>
> This way, instead of having 3 presets, you will instead create 3 templa=
te
> compositions.  All you need to do is duplicate the one that you want an=
d
> change the slider value so it's working on a different source image.  I=
f
> you want to add more images or video, just add them to the end of your
> sequence in the pre-comp that contains everything.
>
> Hope this makes sense,
>
> -Chris
>
> On 30/08/2012, at 6:20 AM, 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 cha=
nge
> multiple layers with the effect, like in a node based compositor. I hav=
e
> 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 ni=
ce
> "stock transitions" (like 3) using expressions, and anywhere I drop the=
se
> 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 eff=
ect,
> or effect + expression or preset, onto any layer, and have it automatic=
ally
> begin the transition from the layer in-point. Additionally, every insta=
nce
> 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 ever=
y
> keyframe. I have some basic expression knowledge, but every time I thin=
k
> 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
>
> --
> Animator & Editor
> www.teddygage.com
> Brooklyn
>
>
>


-- 
Animator & Editor
www.teddygage.com
Brooklyn