Global Variables to Determine Color

I had a project where I needed to set specific objects throughout all my comps to global color values.

1. Create a comp called globalVars and add a null layer named globalVars
2. In this layer add a Color expression control and set to desired color. Name it Color1.
3. In another comp select a layer and add a Effect>Generate>Fill effect
4. Set the filled layer to this expression: comp("globalVars").layer("globalVars").effect("Color1")("Color")

Color Management in After Effects

Here is a great tutorial on Creative Cow that explains color management in After Effects very well.

http://library.creativecow.net/articles/devis_andrew/Assigning-colour-profile/video-tutorial

Smooth Credit Rolls in After Effects

To remove the jitter from scrolling text, the next needs to be set at 80% transparency (so it isn't so harsh), and moved in whole-pixel increments.

This amazing template makes it super easy. Just open the AEP, select your desired format comp, past in your roll art, and parent it to the null.

Silky smooth.

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?58688-Silky-smooth-credit-rolls-in-After-Effects

Video Preview Preference in After Effects CS6

You can display a full-screen preview on a second monitor in After Effects without extra Firewire hardware. Just hook a standard 2nd monitor (in my case a 3D HDTV) to your Mac and choose Preferences:Video Preview: Output Device: Digital Cinema Desktop. Then choose: Preferences:Video Preview: Output Mode: Digital Cinema Desktop Preview - Full screen (the third item down). After that check the box for Output During Previews (or other desired option).

IMPORTANT: If you can't see more than two choices in the Output Device menu, you need some Quicktime codecs that come with Final Cut Studio. But no need to buy the software. Apple is overcharging for FCP Studio 7 and version X sucks - and you can't even install FC Pro 6 on new Macs. Just find a friend who has Final Cut Pro and have them send you the codecs located in this folder on their Mac: Macintosh HD: Library: Quicktime and put them in your same folder. Restart and you should then see the added options in your Video Preview Preferences settings.


This capability is great because you can have a realtime preview full screen on a second monitor as you work.

After Effects CS6 GPU Options and Prices - I chose "nVidia Quadro 4000 for Mac"

Here are the card options for After effects CS6. I bought the "Quadro FX 4000 for Mac". Make sure you get the "for Mac" version. The card comes with NO documentation, but when you install it, make sure you also install the power cord that connects the card to the motherboard. 


UPDATE: This card has been so awesome, I bought a second one. Since the card comes with no instructions, I called PNY at (973) 515-9700 and they were very helpful. Here is what I found out about the card: 1. you can install two Quadro 4000s in a Mac Pro, 2. They both each need to be plugged into the power supply jacks on the mother board. You have to remove the GPU that came with the Mac to free up the second slot.  3. It is perfectly OK to remove the ATI 5770 card that came with the Mac to make room for the Quadros,  4. The little extra card that came with the Quadro is for their stereo 3D glasses. I don't need to install it.

1. GeForce GTX 285 - Cost: $249  PCI Express 2.0  CUDA cores:240
  Low price concerns me

1. Quadro CX - Cost $2000  CUDA cores:192
 Too expensive

1. Quadro FX 4800
  ("Previous generation" according to Nvidia)  CUDA cores:192  Discontinued

1. Quadro 4000 for Mac
 ("High end" and "new" according to Nvidia)   256 Cuda cores  (This was used in Lynda.com training video)

Animating Using Anchor Point - Motion Control

Here is the racecar lesson that animates the anchor point to allow better scaling and positioning. See section 2 of this lesson. This is for the Motion Control "Ken Burns" effect.

 Steps:

• Make a new comp 
• Select the photo in the library
• Command-"\" (this places the photo in the comp with it centered and the anchor point centered. Dont change the position
• Double click the layer (this opens the layer in a new window)
• Position the comp window and the layer window side by side
• Click stopwatch on Anchor point and Scale
• In the layer panel, select View: Anchor Point Path
• Use the arrow tool (not Pan Behind) to drag the Anchor point to the desired position. Just like aiming a camera. Or scrub the Anchor Point or Scale values.

Keyframe Velocity in Simple Terms

I have always been mustified by the Keyframe Velocity window. There is an excellent explanation in section 1 of this lesson.

Reverse the Stacking Order of Pasted Layers in After Effects

Sometimes when I copy a bunch of layers from one comp then paste them in another comp, they paste in reverse stacking order. Really irritating. But if in the source comp I shift-click the bottom layer, then the top layer, move to teh destination comp, then paste, the proper order is perserved.

Two-node Camera Hard to Control

Turn off "Orient to point of interest" under Auto Orient

Looping

loopOut("cycle") This takes any keyframe sequence on the timeline and plays it over and over (like a flapping bird wing).

Linear Wipe - Feather rectangular (set completion) Motion tile - Flip art and

Add an expression

Option (or alt) click on the stopwatch for the property that you wish to add an expression.

Timeline Markers

Use the "*" key on the numeric keypad to add a layer or comp marker.

Adjusting motion blur level

Go into Composition Settings/Advanced and lower default level of motion blur Shutter Angle (270) down to a desirable level. Remember to do it in left, right, and 3D comp if you are doing stereo 3D. Those other comps need to have the motion blur setting on in the timeline and if so, will render a motion blur even if the switch is off on the main comp.

Position Layer Below Above layer at a Set Z Distance

thisComp.layer(index-1).transform.position+[0,0,2]