Action Essentials 2

Why do the pre-keyed effects in the Action Essentials pack still have the black background when I drag them over clips in Final Cut X? I tried changing the mode to Add and Screen and all of the other modes, but none simply key out the background. Final Cut 7 used to do this automatically.

Tom is right, you'll need to use blend modes. Have a look at this:
https://www.videocopilot.net/products/action2/tutorials/compositing_breakdown/
You might also want to consider doing this in a compositing app like Motion or After Effects.

Similar Messages

Bridge CS6 and Action Essentials 2 Video Problem

Hello,
I am viewing the previews of Action Essentials 2 from Video Copilot and the resolution seems very degraded, tons of artifacts also. This never happened before, and these are just pre-keyed clips for special effects, .mov files.
I have included a jpg of viewing the same clip in preview window of Bridge CS6 5.0.1.23, and in Quicktime 7.73. You can see in the image there is a huge difference. It renders fine in After Effects CS6, Premiere, and Photoshop.
I have purged the cache, restarted, checked for updates, etc.
I have updated nvidia drivers 306.97 and a 480 gtx EVGA vid card. Windows 7 64bit SP1, and i7-920.
This seems to have happened recently, as it used to preview in high quality. I checked video I did on my Nikon D800 and it appears to be fine, and uses a .MOV extension.
Please any advice would be helpful.

I am pretty sure the CODECS are installed on my pc, since I can view the clip in quicktime. But I'll give it a shot.
Update: I used G-spot and the codec on these videos appears to be png. The fact it says codec status undetermined is strange, but I also checked files from my camera and files I rendered out using media encoder and these all say the same thing, but work with no problems.
<--this is the .H264 file i exported using media encoder. Next is video clip G-spot info is straight from my Nikon D800.

Best way to load "Action Essentials"

Kinda new with using Macs....need to know the BEST way to load Action Essentials?

well I was really over-thinking it! ha
Thanks so much Rick!
On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 12:24 PM, Rick Gerard <[email protected]>

Action Essentials black background wont go away fcpx 10.0.5

does anyone know how to make the black background of pre-keyed effects blend in to the clip??
AL
[email protected]

tried using both....they get rid of black background but i cant see the blood at all.....

How to create a Custom Effect?

First of all, I'm sorry, if I make any mistakes writing this post! I actually am German!
I would like to know how I can alter the Animation Presets in AE CS5, that are quite messy because they just are a collection of effects, into the much more organised and nicer Custom Effects like Andrew Kramer (from Video Copilot) has on his website for free download.
I already tried out a tutorial from aetuts+ ("Create Your Own Custom Effects!"), but it just didn't work and told me it couldn't apply my effect when I runned the script (maybe because it actually was written for AE CS4).
So my question is: Is there an easy way to organize the effects and expressions from an ordinary preset to make the preset friendlier to use? And even if it's not easy, is there a way at all?
I thank you in advance and hope you can help me!

(As always: Sorry for mistakes! )
Rick Gerard schrieb:
[...] Creating a true plug-in requires knowledge of programming and a good understanding of the AE SDK (Software Development Kit). [...] I think you're looking for some help with scripts, which can look like a plug-in. Some more details about your project will be helpful. [...]
Mylenium schrieb:
[...] You can store a ton of things in a simple animation preset, so whether or not you turn them into "custom" effects is not of much consequence in the end. [...]
I might have asked my question badly so I want to say some more things about it:
I do not want to create a real plug-in like Andrew Kramer's "Action Essentials" for example. Something like his little presets you can download with his projects like the first lightsaber "plug-in" he made was what I thought about. (It might actually be a bad example, because it could have involved some serious programming, but I'm refering more to the way, it is customized than the way it functions.)
I just want to have one panel (like each individual built-in effect) that controls the effects. I find it really annoying and messy to have to change the values from sliders that are all in their own panel. So I'm not looking to programming any plug-in, just to organizing a preset in a way, it becomes more comfortable to use.
Mylenium schrieb:
[...] It's more likely a language isue. [...]
That's really bad, because that tutorial trained exactly what I wanted! But thank you for the advice!
Mylenium schrieb:
[...] I really should think that users have better things to do than waste
their time with such toyish stuff, but well, I guess some have too much
time to spare... [...]
You're right, it's a waste of time to make things more comfortable to use! Imagine After Effects would have a nice interface which by the way also looks kind of cool!

Problem linking a video clip to a 3D element in After effects

Good morning
In the following picture from my project I want to link the fire to the basin in front of the statue. The camera pans up when approaching the statue and at this moment my fire flies up!!!
The temple is a unique group I built in Element 3D . The fire consists of three layers of a clip from Videocopilot action essentials 2.
At first I thought of tracking the clip or the temple, but for the clip it's impossible as its background is black and Mocha doesn't load the Temple Element layer. AE gives me the only Mocha tracker as an option for tracking here but doesn't seem to recognize the 3D group element.
I thought of creating a group null in Element 3D but I can't find the resulting null in the workspace...It's lost somewhere into space!
So I must be very dumb but I do not see how to solve my problem. I've checked different tutorials and experienced some of the proposed solutions without success.
Could anyone suggest a solution or explain me which of the above could do and how?
Thanks in advance
Claude

If you want to track multiple layers or layers with an effect you must first pre-compose them. If you want to use Mocha then you have to Pre-render them. If you have a camera move you can use expressions to analyze the move but since we know very little about your composition I can't begin to suggest what you should be doing. Here's how to easily tell us all about your comp. Select all of the layers in the time line that are important to the shot. Press the "u" key twice. This will reveal all modified properties. If an effect is applied to a layer that may be causing problems then make sure the Effects Control Panel is visible for that layer or layers. Now take a screenshot. If you need to reduce the size of your Composition Panel to 50% or even 25% to fit things in do that. Now drag the screenshot to the Reply field on this forum and describe in detail what you are trying to do.

Color Burn inverts color!! Not working!!

Hello! I have recently started to work with different VFX for example man getting shot and blood comes out.
I have action essentials and when i add the blood and put color burn on the black background is still there and a different color appears on the blood itself in the middle!
This is really frustrating and it keeps me from finishing my project. Thanks

Why would you use Color Burn on a black background? This isn't even a specific issue with Action Essentials, you simply lack a basic understanding of how blending modes work and when to use which. Sorry, but you really need to start at the beginning:
Getting started with After Effects
Mylenium

My FCP X wont use Pre-Keyed effects.

When I drag the effect down, it works for a minute, then the background turns black. I have not had this problem before...

Sure... I am using action essentials 2, and also am bringing in some Daz studio animations that are pre-keyed.
I have the default settings

Image border trouble

I have an image from the Action Essentials 2 package that I´m using as a layer.
The image blends perfectly, but the border/edges of the image is visible as a black box. Not in a in-your-face kind of way, but it's still visible...
I tried making a mask, but that just changed my border from a square to a circle. I tried feathering my mask, but the feathered area became a darker grey and just made things worse.
Any thoughts?
[IMG]http://i45.tinypic.com/2zeyntd.png[/IMG]

Doesn't happen for me, but I'm just using the version of the cracks file
from a screenshot. I don't have the original file. My guess would have
been some sort of premult issue, but you say you've checked that out.
I wonder if there's some weirdness around the edges of the cracks image itself.
What if you just follow the cracks FileIn with a Crop node, and shave off
the edge?
Have you tried this?
http://www.videocopilot.net/support/
The people at Video Copilot are actually paid to answer your questions.
Here on the Apple Forums, all we get are little virtual stars
when people remember to mark our responses.
Good luck! Let us know if you are able to solve the problem.

AE error: Could not convert Unicode Characters

Hey guys,
I purchased the Video Copliot Action essentials 2 (720p). Whenever I try to import or drag and drop the pre-keyed clips (quicktime .mov format) into AE, I get the After Effects error: could not convert Unicode Characters (23 ::46) . I found an article online that said to make changes to the text in whatever Im importing, but umm it's a video, not text.
I am using AE cs5.
I can import the clips just fine into Premier Pro and export them oddly enough in Quicktime format just fine, however I lose the transperency "pre-keyed" , that's somehow embedded into the original video, therefore I now have a video of smoke, but with a non removable black background.
Please help! thanks!

Hey man i made an account just to reply to this, i had the same error come up while i was importing video files so i had a look around and found that it had something to do with the language/coding not being recognised, so i looked closer into the footage and tried different method of importing the file and later realised that after effects didnt recognise some of the characters in the file path way, the original folder was created using a macbook, windows recognises the language but after effects didnt, so i moved the file to my desktop and tried to import it again and presto it worked fine, you may not have the same problem but i thought just incase you do, you should try moving the file,
if not heres a thread for the error:
http://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/kb/error-could-convert-unicode-characters.html
hope that could be of some help.
Zai

UI delay when dragging

When dragging a key frame or object it takes about 10 seconds to let go of that object or key frame. I'm working in a after effects comp that uses 3d lights solids and ai vector imaged. The file was started on a Windows machine in which it had no issues
-I'm working in after effects on my new mac pro that is currently the fastest and most expensive computer that apple sells 5/25/14.
-I'm working in an after effects comp that uses 3d lights solids and ai vector images.
-The file was started on a Windows machine in which it had no issues.
On the Mac. Moving lights or key frames in the time line it really lags really lag and is barely workable.
Just got this mac wondering if I need to adjust settings. I hope...
BTW other things are in fact very fast such as ram preview

Todd
thanks for getting back to me so quickly I’ve answered the questions below.
Let if you need any thing else
G
What exact version of After Effects? Include the minor version number---e.g., After Effects CC (12.2.1) or After Effects CS6 (11.0.4). Do not just say "After Effects with the latest updates" or "After Effects CC"; give the specific version number.
After effects cc 12.2.1.5
Have you installed the recent updates? (If not, you should. They fix a lot of problems.)
Yes this morning 5/25/14
What operating system? This should include specific minor version numbers, like "Mac OSX v10.6.8"---not just "Mac”.
osx 10.9.2
If you are getting error message(s), what is the full text of the error message(s)?
No error message
What were you doing when the problem occurred? What is the exact sequence of steps that you are taking
moving a key frame of element in an after effects comp
Has this ever worked before? If this worked before by doesn't work now, what has changed on your computer in the intervening time?
Yes on a different computer windows AE
Tell us about your computer hardware. Include CPU type and number of processor cores, amount of RAM installed, GPU, number and sizes of connected monitors, number of disk drives, and how any external drives are connected.
Mac Pro
Processor 2.7 GHz 12-Core Intel Xeon E5
Memory 64 GB 1867 MHz DDR3 ECC
Graphics AMD FirePro D700 6144 MB
Software OS X 10.9.2 (13C64)
What versions of drivers for your graphics hardware do you have installed (including CUDA driver and driver for display adapter)?
what it came with
Do you have any third-party I/O hardware (e.g., AJA, Matrox, Blackmagic, MOTU)?
NO
What kind(s) of source footage? When telling about your source footage, tell us about the codecs, not just the container types. For example, "H.264 in a .mov container", not just "QuickTime”.
illustrator files, solids, action essentials stock footage QT( PNG codec)
Do you have QuickTime installed. (You should.) If so, what version? The answer should be specific, such as "QuickTime 7.6.2”
YES 10.3
What other software are you running?
None
Do you have any third-party effects or codecs installed?
not used in this comp but Motion tracker by foundry
Are you using OpenGL features in After Effects?
I don’t know classic 3d
Does the problem only happen with your final output, RAM preview, or both?
NA
Are you using Render Multiple Frames Simultaneously multiprocessing
NO
Are you using the ray-traced 3D renderer
NO
If the problem is with output, give your exact output settings (both render setting and output module settings). Screenshots help.
NA
24759 ViewsTags:

Convert canon 60D for FCE.

im using the canon 60D. footage is shot at full 1080p HD at 24p. how do i import into FCE? question 2 i also purchased action essentials 2 stock FX footage 720p High Definition: [ 1280 X 720 ] The 720p Version is ideal for SD and 720p work but many of the elements work great with 1080i projects as well. Especially effects like muzzle flashes and bullet holes, which are generally smaller in the frame how do i import footage into FCE? i am really clueless and stumped... any suggestions on my problem...thanks
Message was edited by: angeluvp

im using the canon 60D. footage is shot at full 1080p HD at 24p. how do i >import into FCE?
You can't directly.
An app like Streamclip can transcode to a QuickTime file that FCE can use.
Use one of the HD FCE Easy Setup specs as the template for the Streamclip settings.
Seems like a 720p Easy Setup may be a good place to start.
http://www.squared5.com/
Al

Imported footage is different in Mac and PC?

Using 'Action Essentials' footage of smoke, If we import in PC it appears correct however in Mac it appears darker. It looks like it's something to do with interpreting the footage however the settings are the same. If we place the cursor in the same co-ordinates of the image in each of the devices, the colour values are significantly different in the 'info' pane. Both devices are reading the same file and project. Both running CS6 and both are up to date.

Hey, thanks for the input. All the colour management profiles and settings were identical in both machines. I decided to try and convert the smoke '.mov' into a png sequence with an alpha. I re-imported the sequence into both machines and sure enough they are identical. Something must be wrong with how the mac interprets the '.mov' footage. What is strange though is that this occurs on 3 separate macs. You would have thought .mov would actually run better as they are both from apple. I now at least have a workaround but I'm very curious to know what is going on.

AE Plug Ins?

I'm getting my kids (8&12) a green screen for Christmas. I'd like to get them plugins for explosions and flying effects. I don't want to spend a ton of money...any suggestions?

Also consider this tutorial. It requires only After Effects with no extra plugins, creates a nice fire effect and is created with a freely available fire clip.
The tutorial is for absolute beginners with no knowledge of AE.
Guru Lesson 1 - Getting Started with After Effects | mamoworld
As Todd suggested, you can create similar effects with stock footage of explosions using the same techniques. Here is another (more advanced) tutorial that creates such effects using Video Copilots Action Essentials and my MochaImport+:
Advanced Compositing of an Action Scene with Explosions | mamoworld

Action Essentials 2

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