sampleImage() is fun

sampleImage() is a new layer method expression introduced in After Effects CS3 that allows you to access a layer’s color pixel data. Combined with sophisticated particle systems like Particular, I think we’re likely to see some really interesting designer driven explorations a la Processing, but with more of a tinkering, let’s try things out approach.

I’ll have more scripts, and automated stuff as I explore further, but until then you might want to take a look at theĀ reference and examples that Dan Ebberts is posting at the brilliant MotionScript.com

2 Comments

  1. Jon said

    Hi,
    you just got me thinking, when you mentioned Particular.

    I’ll try to make it short:
    We’re trying to achieve a “living” animated
    book page by linking the size (or the spacing)
    of the letters on the page to the luminance of
    the source layer – by using a sampleImage
    expression.

    This works – however you seem to need one layer
    per letter!! which slows down the computer drastically… (working with 900 layers…) do
    you think there is a better way by doing this
    with Trapcode Particular??

    (something like letters floating around,
    accumulating wherever the source layer is dark)

    Thanks for reading this.
    I suspect this is not exactly a forum, so I’d be
    REALLY grateful if you gave a short response.

    thanks, Jon

  2. Dale said

    Hey Jon,

    Yes, I think Particular would work nicely there. You might want to take a look at some of the Harry Frank presets to get some ideas.
    I think the halftone preset here in14 presets
    and
    lite bright should be a good starting point.

    Dale

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