Scripted rendering?


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Scripted rendering?
by Mike James on Sep 25, 2008 at 5:33:47 pm

Hi - Newb here,

I'm creating a number of 8196 x 768 videos in AE with the aim to cut them up into six 1366 x 768 chunks for a multi-screen display.

Currently, after I finish each full piece, I have to manually add six render jobs and adjust each one to have its own cropping spec and unique name.

Is there any way to automate this? Also is there any way to set defaults for rendering? Codec, etc.?

BTW I'm using Nucleo Pro 2.

Thanks,

Mike

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Re: Scripted rendering?
by Dave LaRonde on Sep 25, 2008 at 8:02:00 pm

[Mike James] "I'm creating a number of 8196 x 768 videos in AE with the aim to cut them up into six 1366 x 768 chunks for a multi-screen display... Is there any way to automate this?"

Yup, and it doesn't even involve scripts. It involves setting up a bare-bones AE project ONCE.

Create a 8196 x 768 comp. You might want to call it "Master Comp" or something. In it you'll place six solids, each a different color, and each solid is 1366 x 768. Position the solids so they're side-by-side.

Now create six 1366 x 768 comps, named "Screen1", "Screen2", etc. These comps only have one layer in them: the Master Comp, positioned appropriately. The multiple-colored solids will serve as a visual reference that you've gotten the horizontal positioning right.

Save the AE project. Whenever you need it, you simply import the project into your current project, and do all your work in the Master Comp.

Once the Master Comp is completed, add ONLY the Screen1 comp to the Render Queue, and navigate to the destination folder for your renders. You will note that the file name is "Screen1.mov" or something like that. Then -- and ONLY then -- add the remaining comps to the render queue. The other comps will then be rendered to the same destination folder.

"Also is there any way to set defaults for rendering? Codec, etc.? "

You sure can! You can do it by going File>Templates>Render Settings and File>Templates>Output Module. You can create your own custom settings if needed, or specify one of the presets as the default.

For more information, look in AE Help under the topic of "Work With Render Settings" and "Work With Output Module"

Dave LaRonde
Sr. Promotion Producer
KCRG-TV (ABC) Cedar Rapids, IA

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Re: Scripted rendering?
by Mike James on Sep 25, 2008 at 8:17:45 pm

Thanks Dave,

I can see how this will eliminate the individual crop settings and that's the real PITA part.

I'll give it a try and let you know how it goes.

Mike

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Re: Scripted rendering?
by david bogie on Sep 25, 2008 at 9:36:17 pm

Are you using a sign system for playback?
If so, you may not even need to slice it up, let the signage system's scalar do the job form the huge master file.

boiesan

This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: "For crying out loud, read the freakin' manual."

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Re: Scripted rendering?
by Mike James on Sep 25, 2008 at 11:57:06 pm

This presentation will be run on an Omnivex system. Their techs say that the sliced up videos should work better than one big piece, however I'm sending full 8196 tests and 1366 video sets to see what works best in reality.

Any idea what codec would be best? This will be played back on a multicore XP machine with fast HDs and Matrox cards.

Thanks,

Mike

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Re: Scripted rendering?
by Dave LaRonde on Sep 26, 2008 at 2:41:59 pm

Well, you could always ask the techs who recommend slicing up your video into pieces, and who probably have a lot more experience at this kind of presentation than any of us......

Dave LaRonde
Sr. Promotion Producer
KCRG-TV (ABC) Cedar Rapids, IA

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