Newbie question!

jgastelb

jgastelb

Well-known member
Hi,
I just downloaded the demo version of After Affects 7 pro. I was working on creating a shatter effect on some footage. I got it to work by using the rendered selection -- happy about that. However, I can't seem to find how to put the shatter effect at a certain point in the timeline. The effect just happens right at the beginning of the timeline. Sorry if this question is too basic but I'm trying to find out whether to purchase this software or not. Also, why is it that when you play back it sometimes switches between realtime and not realtime?
Thanks for any info!
Jgastelb
 
well you have to Ram preview it, you always have to render the frames, and if you do not have eniough ram and processor this will happen. you set AE to render only half... so it is gonna be faster
 
you can place the desired effect anywhere you want in gthe timeline by expanding it in the timeline window and manipulating the set keframes for the effect, or you can use the effect controls window to do the same thing. if the effect is for some reason not keyframable i would suggest placing a cut in the footage at the place wher you would like the effect to begin. then apply the effect to the clip after the cut.alternatively you can just copy the footage to another layer and scrub the end point of the first footage at the cut point and scrub the beginning point of the copy of the footage to the cut point and then apply the effect to the secondary layer.
 
After effects doesnt play back a file like Vegas or Premiere or FCP. It doesn't use a clips codec and play it back with that codec for real time. It also detinterlaces as it plays, hence the slowdown.

If you want to have the shatter happen at a specific time, have the shatter be in it's own composition and drag that composition into a new one where you want the shatter to begin.
 
You can also apply the effect on an adjustment layer. Go to Layer/New/Ajustment Layer (or something similar). Drag the new layer on top of your footage and trim it so that it covers the timeline you want. Then apply shatter to the adjustment layer. This will cause the effect to be apply to all the video that are directly underneath it.
 
Do as Rapier suggested, create the layer to be shattered then move to the time you want it to start, select the layer in the timeline, split it there ( Shift + Ctrl + D )
and apply the shatter on the second newly created layer.

For real & not real time playback, clicking playback starts RAM rendering, if i can handle it it plays real-time.Also for scrubing make sure you have set thecomp to Adaptive Resolution
 
Also, rather than PreComping, you can also control when your shatter happens by adding a keyframe to the Radius property (Force 1). Place a keyframe value of 0 one frame before where you want the shatter, then one frame later, keyframe the radius to where you want it.
 
Then again, the shatter effect is so ancient and worthless, you'd be better off doing it in 3D. That's pretty simple.
 
Any time I've seen the Shatter effect used, it is always at the default setting. Like any plug-in, it takes some time and understanding to make it sing.

Granted, if I need an explosion, I use Particular. But Shatter in my book is two steps above 'worthless' but definitely not even in my top 20 favorite plug-ins.
 
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