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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Silky smooth credit rolls in After Effects

Michael Romano

Michael Romano

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So after much headache, I finally figured out how to make After Effects deliver smooth credit rolls. Credit to the Creative Cow for helping on that one! You have to use an expression so that it always move the credits by whole pixel increments. I made a little AEP file with templates in HD/2K/4K @ 23.976p for the following aspects...

1:78:1
1:85:1
2:35:1
2:40:1

It is very easy to use if you know anything about AE.

Just make your credit roll, place it just below the bottom of frame and then gang it to the NULL I've added in each Composition.

Adjust Comp length as needed.

You do NOT have to make any keyframes, the NULL does it all for you.

For interlaced shows, always use even numbers in the expressions.

I also did all the resolution conversions for the various aspect ratios using this:

Horizontal Resolution ÷ Aspect Ratio = New Vertical Resolution

Felt like giving back to the RED community, you guys have always been great. Post here with questions or feedback.

Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/sds4uk9aeek9giw/Credit Roller HZ CS6 - V3.aep?dl=0
 
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Great, thanks Michael. Will give it a try.
 
Thats great, thanks for taking the time to do this... It's amazing how many jittery credits you see out there - some of mine included. This is very helpful.
 
I got some PM's from people running CS4 (I used CS5) who were unable to open the session. Here is a breakdown for those and any other interested parties:


1 - Create a NULL object and select it's position property

2 - Go to: Animation > Add Expression

3 - Paste the below expression into the position property

Code: 
rate = 2; //value in px/sec.
value - [0,rate*timeToFrames(time)]

**Remember**
You can edit the number "2" in the above expression.
That is how many pixels per frame your NULL will move.
ALWAYS use even numbers for interlaced or if it ever will be interlaced.

4 - Move the NULL to just below the bottom of the frame and add a keyframe at the beginning of the credit roll

5 - Gang your entire credit roll to the NULL

6 - Press play, you're in business.

Good luck!
 
Thanks ! Used it yesterday : worked GREAT !
It might sound stupid but I can't wait to see it on the big screen in 20 days.
 
Michael,
I copy/pasted your expression to the LAFCPUG "phorum", with attribution to you and a link to this post. It's a question that gets asked frequently and your solution was nice and straightforward for the wide variety of people and skill levels we have coming through LAFCPUG.
Thanks
Andrew
 
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a kines said:
Michael,
I copy/pasted your expression to the LAFCPUG "phorum"
Click to expand...

Nice! You can also link to the session file if you like.
 
Hey,

I tried using this script and everything seemed to be animating fine just as long as I kept it at 2px per sec. However i need it to be twice as fast, so I have it set to 4px per sec. The motion it self is consistent however there seems to be some vibration on the edges of the text as it animates.
I figured it was an aliasing issue so I added a .05% directional blur and reduced the white color of the text to 75% (not the opacity, the brightness of the white).

My comp settings are:

23.976 FPS
1998x1080
Duration: 0:04:35:00

The text layer comp height is 25232px

This credit roll will be played back progressive not interlaced.

I tried to attach my AE project to this post, hopefully it works and you guys can see what I might be doing wrong. This version of my project is a reduced example with all the same settings of the real thing except the text is all dummy text.

The system I am watching it on is a FLAME, with a broadcast monitor.

It is strange that it moves consistently frame by frame yet it has a weird vibration look to it. Any advice would be appreciated!
 

Attachments

Nice.
Thanks
 
Chris Monaco said:
I tried using this script and everything seemed to be animating fine just as long as I kept it at 2px per sec. However i need it to be twice as fast, so I have it set to 4px per sec. The motion it self is consistent however there seems to be some vibration on the edges of the text as it animates. I figured it was an aliasing issue so I added a .05% directional blur and reduced the white color of the text to 75% (not the opacity, the brightness of the white).
Click to expand...
Sometimes, aliasing/motion artifact issues in credit crawls are due to title size, typeface choice, contrast, and/or crawl speed. Adjust one or more of these by hand, and you might be able to come up with a workable compromise.
 
Chris Monaco said:
Hey,
The system I am watching it on is a FLAME, with a broadcast monitor.
Click to expand...

I don't see what you describe onscreen in AEFX or rendered to ProRes422HQ via BM Decklink & BM Media Express. Are you monitoring in true P or Psf? Do you see "vibration" on a paused frame?

Hope I've been helpful!
 
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