After Effects - In a bind here

The old Video Software Help forum, left visible as an archive.

After Effects - In a bind here

Postby The14thGOD » Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:31 am

Hey, been a while since I've been on here, but I'm working on a school project, and basically, somehow i manged to move my mask off the screen, halfway off that is, and now 3/4'ths of the keyframes dont work.

I can't think of anythign to do other than keyframe every frame (frame by frame) again. Would really not want to do taht again, since it took me like 3 1/2 hours.

2 Options I'm hoping for:
1: I duplicated the layer, hoping that, if i select all the keyframes, and move one into position, it will apply the same +X and +Y to each keyframe, nope, just does the first one (any way to get around that?)

2: somehow move the mask back into the orginal position, and not effect the keyframes position.

Ive tried other things like duplicating the mask, flippin it or moving it over, removing those keyframes, hoping that the mask above it would pick it up, nope ; /.

IDK what else to try, if anyoene would know a way to get around this please let me know, it's due rather quickly here ; /. Im gonna take a nap hoping to clear my head maybe with some new ideas, staye dup all night ;/.

Oh, and if you need to knwo waht im doing, it's basically adding a lightsaber, so thats why i did it frame by frame, to keep it at the base.

The14thGOD
thanks in advance
http://the14thgod.com
A man is only blind to the world, if he does not understand it.
User avatar
The14thGOD
 
Joined: 21 Feb 2004
Location: Everywhere

Postby Zarxrax » Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:44 am

If I understand you correctly, your mask keyframes are all incorrectly aligned with your image, but all by the same amount.

I think you can fix this by using the Pan Behind tool to move the layer into position with the masks.
User avatar
Zarxrax
 
Joined: 01 Apr 2001
Location: Concord, NC

Postby The14thGOD » Sun Sep 03, 2006 8:05 pm

hmm, ill try that, that pan behind tool came to mind, but idk for what reason, i know i watched tutorials on it b4, but i have no idea what it does lol, ill replay back once i find out if it works

ty

The14thgOD
http://the14thgod.com
A man is only blind to the world, if he does not understand it.
User avatar
The14thGOD
 
Joined: 21 Feb 2004
Location: Everywhere

Postby Sierra Lorna » Sun Sep 03, 2006 9:09 pm

Hm, well you can use a track matte. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Create a black Solid.
2. Duplicate all of your keyframe information onto your new Solid.
3. Use your Anchor Point settings on the solid to move your mask to where it needs to be.
4. Place the layer for the scene you want masked out directly underneath the Solid layer.
5. Select "alpha matte" in the Track Matte settings on the scene you want masked out.

You should see the mask keyframes you applied to the Solid working on your scene. You can read more about track mattes in After Effects Help.

Hopefully that was what you're looking for. :wink:
Image
ImageImage
User avatar
Sierra Lorna
 
Joined: 19 Jan 2002
Location: BC, Canada

Postby The14thGOD » Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:27 pm

I tired the pan behidn tool, assuming i used it right, i moved the anchor point back into the middle, and the pts didnt move, but they still did not show up, ill have to try the 2nd method later tonight, have some other homework to attend to ; /

Ty for the suggestions, I'll replie asap.

The14thGOD
http://the14thgod.com
A man is only blind to the world, if he does not understand it.
User avatar
The14thGOD
 
Joined: 21 Feb 2004
Location: Everywhere

Postby Zarxrax » Sun Sep 03, 2006 11:15 pm

The14thGOD wrote:I tired the pan behidn tool, assuming i used it right, i moved the anchor point back into the middle, and the pts didnt move, but they still did not show up, ill have to try the 2nd method later tonight, have some other homework to attend to ; /

Ty for the suggestions, I'll replie asap.

The14thGOD


The pan behind tool isnt for moving the mask, its for moving the stuff behind the mask. In other words, instead of moving your mask to the correct position over the video, you move the video to the correct position under the mask. That track matte method should work too though.
User avatar
Zarxrax
 
Joined: 01 Apr 2001
Location: Concord, NC

Postby The14thGOD » Mon Sep 04, 2006 12:05 am

hmm, well, the videos on topof the mask lol (screen mode)

Layers:
Movie
(1-60 text animations)
adjustment layer6 (lightsaber effect)
adjustment layer5
...
...
...
adjustment layer 1
white solid 1
black solid 1

idk if thatll be of any help.
http://the14thgod.com
A man is only blind to the world, if he does not understand it.
User avatar
The14thGOD
 
Joined: 21 Feb 2004
Location: Everywhere

Postby The14thGOD » Mon Sep 04, 2006 1:39 am

i should prolly tell ya that all 6 adjust ment layers, and the 2 solids are all for the lightsaber effect.

and ive tried the track matte but im not gettin it...

so for easier sake , less layers to mess with, im making everything in its own comp, well the main video, lightsaber, then the new matte, and see if that works,


i also attemped the pan behind again, and got it to work for one frame...lol
pretty soon im prolly just gonna redo the whole effeect ; /, er at least move the mask into positon and just move each keyframe's postion over, to bad you cant "apply to all keyframes" or soemthing ; /

thx again for the help.

The14thGOD
http://the14thgod.com
A man is only blind to the world, if he does not understand it.
User avatar
The14thGOD
 
Joined: 21 Feb 2004
Location: Everywhere

Postby Zarxrax » Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:19 am

Wait a minute, so you mean you just masked a solid layer, not a video layer?
In that case, why dont you just move the entire layer? Or am I missing something here?
User avatar
Zarxrax
 
Joined: 01 Apr 2001
Location: Concord, NC

Postby The14thGOD » Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:51 am

Ah don't worry about it, i fixed it the long way, luckily it only took 30mins so it's no biggie.

I appreciate all of the help though =D

The14thGOD
http://the14thgod.com
A man is only blind to the world, if he does not understand it.
User avatar
The14thGOD
 
Joined: 21 Feb 2004
Location: Everywhere


Return to Video Software Help Archive

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests