AE already has extruded 3D. Just use a shatter effect and don't shatter it. It is true that you do not get bevel and texturing is limited, but you can get a "true" 3d extrusion out of AE. Yes, it is a better workflow to remain inside a single app. I guess, having worked in 3D and 2D I see ...

This technique does not handle shadowing, or raytracing reflections not to mention objects reflected inside objects. It will always have that "video games" look. IMHO you would be better off simply generating your camera moves in your 3D app then transfer your camera data to after effects....

You can pre-compose 3D comps. I'm not sure what you mean by "(which would bork the 3D positional coordinates)" There is a mode switch called "continuous rasterize" that has an alternate function for a pre-composed 3d layer. Try turning it on and it will "un-bork" your c...

You can always use a try/catch in an expression.

If Leader exists, the code will run, otherwise you will end up in the catch.

Expressions can not remember variables, so there is no such thing as a "global" for expressions.

What you need to do it add an expression that evaluates every frame. I'm not sure how to set speed and influence, but here is the an example of the source.text property being updated every frame. thisFrame=timeToFrames(t=time+thisComp.displayStartTime,fps=1.0/thisComp.frameDuration,isDuration=false)...

Hmm...

That page not longer exists.

http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/exchange/i ... id=1297023

Hmm...that's neat, I suppose you could use that for collision detection (ie hittest).

I have seen some AE to Cinema4D scripts. Perhaps they could be adapted?

Or you could do all your camera work in XSI, then export the camera via RFP file and import the camera into AE and line up what you need.

My first guess would be MoGraph using Cinema 4D.

You could use multiple layers with a single character in each layer.

You could also try wrapping your expressoin in a try-catch. That way when the duration parameter becomes un available, it will simply go to the catch portion of the expression.

Just guessing, it is worth a try...

Here is a script I just put together and Paul adjusted for finalization. http://www.aenhancers.com/viewtopic.php?t=758 It is a very similar request to yours. It loads in an associated alpha map for a diffuse layer. The best wat to approach your problem would be to come up with a naming strategy for ...

Check out the LogoSequencer scripy by Byron Nash http://aenhancers.com/viewtopic.php?t=102 There is code in there for importing footage (stills and movies), setting the length of layers. If you know some programming, you may be able to mix your code into his code for a delicious breakfast! Also, I j...

pixelsarts, This small change to the script will name them as you request. var myCompName = projSelection[i].name; var myComp = myItemCollection.addComp (myCompName,compW,compH,1,compL,compRate); I have updated the original post to reflect this change. If only someone would pop in with the assign as...

Here is a start, perhaps one of the other scripters can help out. Launch After Effects and then run the script. It will make comps. This script will scan the folder, make a 2-layer comp with the alpha movie above the diffuse movie. But I don't know how to set the alpha layer to become a track matte....