Shape Exporter to AE - Opacity Not Working

[orphanage]

Doing roto in SA and exporting shapes to AE Plugin. This works fine. When I then convert the shapes to AE splines, the splines shapes export, but the keyframes for opacity do not. I'm using v2.2 for both SA and Plugin and I've tried it in AE6.5 and AE7.0. :confused:

[marcop]

Opacity does not export to AE--only the shapes.

All Silhouette shapes, blurs, opacity, variable point blur, etc. can be preserved by leaving the Silhouette AE plug-in attached to a layer and not exporting the shapes. In other word, just use it as a plug-in.

[orphanage]

Seems like some good insurance on your render plugin node. This completely defeats the purpose of exporting to splines for me. I mean shapes are cool, but not useful at all if they don't have all the elements of opacity, blur, etc... Does the same thing happen when you export and import with shake? Any ETA on AE render node and cost? The Plugin version is a little spending for just a render node.

[marcop]

Shake 4 will import your shape name, shape locked/unlocked, shape opacity, shape visibility, motion blur on/off, shutter angle, and shutter phase. The ability to do this was a result of Apple making these features available to us.

I don't know if anything other than shapes can be exported to After Effects. You are the first person to ask for it, so we will look into if it is possible and if so, what it will take. One of our programmers will look into it.

[jbills]

FYI - the "Rotoimport" plugin that Micah built for Commotion users to import .spl files back in the day imported opacity, shape color, shape name, motion blur on/off, visibility, locked state, transfer mode and blur.

So it's all possible, assuming there hasn't been major changes to the mask SDK in AE7.

http://toolfarm.com/pluginfinder/index.php?Commotion%20RotoImport

[orphanage]

Yeah, I help Micah with testing that beautiful little Commotion Spline Importer. Everything should be right there in the API. Paul did a great job with Useful Things and Useful Assistant that I have to come to the conclusion that you guys know your way around the API backwards and forwards, it just hasn't been made a priority.

We use the Commotion Spline Importer constantly, it is an integral part of our pipeline, and SFX would be so in our pipeline right now if the importer worked.

Not to stand too tall on the soap box but this type of sharing, Commotion to AE, SFX to Shake, and now SFX to AE, is such an important part of a good product. I know it might seem like it is removing SFX from being the one stop shop, but it isn't, it will make it a stronger product - why because you won't be tempted to do the compositing thing like Commotion did, and I'm sure there are strong feelings out there about how if Commotion just stuck with roto that SFX wouldn't have a chance. But it does... more than just a chance... you guys rock!

stepping down off the box... sorry about that.

[marcop]

Initially, we threw in After Effects export capability in because it was quick thing to do. We didn't go farther with it, because frankly, nobody asked for it and didn't need it because they left Silhouette in as plug-in in the AE timeline. This way they have access to all of the Silhouette features--for instance variable point blur. For larger houses like yours, we need to implement licensing for render farms so we can have a different pricing structure for render nodes. Then, exporting our splines to AE would not be an issue. Ya?

[orphanage]

The export to AE will not eliminate the render node necessity. I will buy them when they are available, but I still think there is a need for exporting shapes to splines. There are things we do in AE that call for manipulating individual splines in stead of alpha or luma mattes. SFX is the place to cut those mattes, but AE is the place to use the splines. Let the applications talk to each other... don't just have one do all the lecturing. Your product will be so much more in demand if you open it up, than to close down and think you are the end solution.

I hope you consider this a formal request for the full implementation of the export shapes to AE. I really do think it will strengthen your product and the artist's that use it.

[jbills]

yep, agree. pretty much a no brainer - full export going back into AE opens up a lot of possibilities, not the least of which is it allows you to work with the roto on another box. as the comping and roto are often not done on the same box by the same artist, even in smaller shops - this level of flexibility becomes necessary as it's a highly collaborative environment and the silhouette plugin isn't going to be present on the farm or everyone's box who might need to use mask data.

not surprised the orphanage would be throwing this out - they're about the hardest of the hardcore AE users. But I also think joe roto would benefit - when I was a freelancer in NYC, I can't tell you how many quick roto jobs I busted out in commotion and delivered flawlessly in AE with rotoimport. This level of integration between silhouette/AE would replace that workflow nicely. Otherwise, wanna pass something off and it's back to rendering mattes... yarg :(

[paulm]

Hey guys - finally back from travelling.

You are right - the stuff that is missing was just an oversite, to get some basic stuff in there quickly. I should be able to bump up the rest of the SFX->AE conversion in the next release.

[orphanage]

Word! Can't wait.