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    Anchor SNIPER User Guide v1.0

    Uploaded by

    D'Marinho
    This document provides instructions for using the Anchor SNIPER script in After Effects. It allows users to quickly relocate a layer's anchor point. The summary is: 1. The Anchor SNIPER script allows users to accurately set a layer's anchor point location in After Effects. 2. To use it, select the layer(s) and choose a target location using the fixed or custom target buttons while adjusting options like using the layer's alpha or composition bounds. 3. Additional tools in the script allow creating null layer parents, splitting masks, and precomposing/cropping layers.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Anchor SNIPER User Guide v1.0

    Uploaded by

    D'Marinho
    107 views7 pages
    This document provides instructions for using the Anchor SNIPER script in After Effects. It allows users to quickly relocate a layer's anchor point. The summary is: 1. The Anchor SNIPER script allows users to accurately set a layer's anchor point location in After Effects. 2. To use it, select the layer(s) and choose a target location using the fixed or custom target buttons while adjusting options like using the layer's alpha or composition bounds. 3. Additional tools in the script allow creating null layer parents, splitting masks, and precomposing/cropping layers.

    Original Description:

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    Original Title

    Anchor_SNIPER_User_Guide_v1.0

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    © © All Rights Reserved

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    This document provides instructions for using the Anchor SNIPER script in After Effects. It allows users to quickly relocate a layer's anchor point. The summary is: 1. The Anchor SNIPER script allows users to accurately set a layer's anchor point location in After Effects. 2. To use it, select the layer(s) and choose a target location using the fixed or custom target buttons while adjusting options like using the layer's alpha or composition bounds. 3. Additional tools in the script allow creating null layer parents, splitting masks, and precomposing/cropping layers.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    107 views7 pages

    Anchor SNIPER User Guide v1.0

    Uploaded by

    D'Marinho
    This document provides instructions for using the Anchor SNIPER script in After Effects. It allows users to quickly relocate a layer's anchor point. The summary is: 1. The Anchor SNIPER script allows users to accurately set a layer's anchor point location in After Effects. 2. To use it, select the layer(s) and choose a target location using the fixed or custom target buttons while adjusting options like using the layer's alpha or composition bounds. 3. Additional tools in the script allow creating null layer parents, splitting masks, and precomposing/cropping layers.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 7

    Page 1 of 7

    by Video Narco
    Manual for version 1.0

    Table of Contents
    Introduction……………………………….. Page 1
    Installation ………………………………… Page 1
    Uninstallation…………………………….. Page 2
    Basic Usage………………………………… Page 3
    Tools Basic Usage………………………. Page 3
    Fixed Target Buttons..………………… Page 4
    Custom Target Buttons………………. Page 4
    Target Options…………………………... Page 5
    Tools: Null Parent………….…………… Page 6
    Tools: Split Masks………….…………… Page 6
    Tools: Crop Layer……………………..... Page 6
    Settings……………………………………... Page 6
    Additional Support……………………... Page 7

    Introduction
    Anchor SNIPER is an After Effects script that lets you quickly and accurately set the location
    of a layer's anchor point.

    Supported layer types: Bitmap, Vector, Text, Shape and Video layers (with support for 3D
    switch enabled for these layer types as well).

    Compatibility: After Effects CC 2014 and up.

    Installation
    Copy the AnchorSNIPER.jsxbin file to the After Effects ScriptUI Panel folder based on your
    Operating System.

    Mac:
    Applications/Adobe After Effects <version>/Scripts/ScriptUI Panels

    Windows:
    C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects <version>\Support Files\Scripts\ScriptUI Panels

    To run the script in After Effects, select from the top menu Window -> Anchor SNIPER
    Page 2 of 7

    Important: You must enable the option


    to Allow Scripts to Write Files and Access Enable
    Network in Edit -> Preferences for the
    script to run properly.

    In After Effects CC 2019+ this option is in:

    Edit -> Preferences -> Scripting &


    Expressions

    In After Effects CC 2018 and lower:

    Edit -> Preferences -> General

    Uninstalltion
    To completely remove the script simply delete the AnchorSNIPER.jsxbin file.
    Page 3 of 7

    Basic Usage
    1. Select the layers whose anchor Fixed Target Buttons
    point you wish to relocate (in
    an active composition).
    2. Set the different options using
    the four checkboxes (right side
    of the interface). These options Help & Settings
    are independent of each other
    and can be mixed and matched
    as desired, allowing for a total
    of sixteen combinations. Options
    3. Click on any of the nine Fixed
    Target buttons or the Custom Custom Target Buttons
    Target button to relocate the
    selected layers' anchor point.

    Tools Section
    General Info
    • Anchor SNIPER calculations are based on the current frame of the active comp's
    timeline.
    • If the Anchor Point parameter of a layer already has keyframes, a new keyframe will
    be created at the current time. Existing animation keyframes earlier or later in the
    timeline will be automatically adjusted to the new anchor point location.

    Tip: This script uses a detailed scanning process


    of a layer’s alpha channel (this option is turned
    on by default). This process is significantly
    more accurate when the project’s Color Bit-
    Depth is set to 16 bits or higher.

    Tools Section Basic Usage


    The lower section of the interface contains three separate tools that can significantly speed
    up the workflow of any AE user. See the specific help section of each tool for additional
    details. These tools are:

    Null Parent – This tool creates a new null parent layer at the selected target instead of
    moving the anchor point. This feature is disabled in trial mode.

    Split Masks – This tool creates a duplicate of the selected layer for each mask it has and
    copies one of the masks to the new duplicate layer.

    Crop Layer – This tool pre-composes a layer and automatically crops the new pre-comp to
    the area of the layer's non-transparent pixels.
    Page 4 of 7

    Fixed Target Buttons


    Each of the nine Fixed Target buttons lets you move the anchor
    point to layer’s exact center or along its edges. The new target
    location is determined using the current setting of the four option
    checkboxes (see Target Options section on page 4).

    Usage with the Null Parent tool


    After clicking the Null Parent tool button, clicking any of the Fixed
    Target buttons will create a null layer parent for the selected layer
    at the selected location. This is instead of moving the anchor point. Once a null layer parent
    is created the Fixed Target buttons revert to their normal behavior. You can manually cancel
    the Null Parent mode by clicking the Null Parent button a second time (the button’s text will
    say “Cancel”).

    Custom Target Buttons


    Below the Fixed Target buttons are the three Custom Target
    buttons. These let you move a layer’s anchor point to any desired
    location you choose in the composition viewer. When this feature
    is used, only these two options apply: Move Layer and Group
    Layers. The other two options (Use Layer’s Alpha and Use Comps Bounds) are ignored.
    To set a Custom Target for a selected layer’s anchor point first click the left most Custom
    Target button. This will create a temporary target layer and automatically lock any other
    layers on the Timeline. Additionally, the Anchor SNIPER’s interface will become disabled
    except for the OK and Cancel Custom Target buttons. Then, using After Effects’ Move tool,
    drag the Anchor SNIPER’s target layer to a desired location in the composition viewer. To
    approve the new location and move the anchor point click the OK button (green check
    mark). To cancel the operation, click the cancel button (red X mark). After clicking either the
    OK or Cancel buttons, the temporary target layer will be automatically removed and all other
    layers will return to their previous locked status.

    Specific options
    Move Layer: If this option is enabled, after clicking the OK button both the anchor point and
    the layer itself will move to the new selected location. This is equivalent to manually creating
    a new null layer parent for the layer, moving the Null and then deleting it.

    Group Layers: This option is only relevant if the Move Layer option is turned on. When Move
    layers is turned on and group layers is turned off, all selected layers are moved to the exact
    same position, stacked on top of each other. If move layers is turned on and Group Layers is
    turned on, the selected layers move as a single object and are centered around the chosen
    new location.

    IMPORTANT: Since clicking the Custom Target button creates new Timeline layers (though
    temporarily) this adds an action to the After Effects history list. Dragging the temporary
    target layer and clicking the OK button each add more actions to the history list as well. This
    means that if you wish to undo moving the anchor point then you would need to undo three
    times or more, depending on how many times you dragged the temporary target layer.
    Make sure you click either the OK or Cancel buttons before taking any other action to
    automatically remove the temporary layers and return the timeline and the anchor SNIPER
    interface to their normal states – so you can continue working normally. This process is due
    to an unfortunate limitation of AE User Interface scripting.
    Page 5 of 7

    Target Options
    The checkboxes on the right side of the interface consist of four
    options that affect the behavior of the Fixed Target buttons, the
    Custom Target button and the Null Parent tool. Each option is
    independent. The final target location for the anchor point is
    determined using the combination of all four options.

    Use Layer’s Alpha


    When this option is turned on (default), the Anchor SNIPER script will perform a detailed
    scan of the layer’s alpha channel, detecting its actual non-transparent edges. The anchor
    point will then be placed accordingly. This scanning process requires rendering the current
    frame of the layer in full resolution and its duration depends on how effects-heavy is the
    layer and the workstation’s computing power.
    When this option is turned off, the anchor point’s location is determined using the original
    bounds of the layer, regardless of its content. This process is instantaneous.
    Note: This option does not affect the Custom Target buttons.

    Use Comp’s Bounds


    When this option is turned off (default) the anchor point’s location is determined using the
    layer’s own coordinate system regardless of its rotation value. For example, if the layer is
    rotated +90 degrees and you click the Top Fixed Target button, the anchor point will actually
    move to the center of the edge facing the RIGHT side of the composition -- since now the top
    edge of the layer is rotated to face that direction.
    If this option is turned on, the anchor point location is determined using the composition’s
    coordinate system. Using the same 90 degrees rotated layer from above and clicking the Top
    Fixed Target button will place the anchor point at the edge facing the TOP part of the
    composition.
    Additionally, when turned on, this option limits the new target location of the anchor point
    to the bounds of the composition. i.e. layers positioned completely outside of the
    composition’s bounds will not be scanned and their anchor point will be placed at the center
    of the composition.
    Note: This option does not affect the Custom Target buttons.

    Move Layer
    When this option is turned on, instead of moving the anchor point, the layer position value is
    changed (the layer moves) in accordance with the Fixed Target button pressed.

    When this option is turned on and you select a Custom Target then after clicking the OK
    button both the anchor point and the layer itself will move to the new selected location. This
    is equivalent to manually creating a new null layer parent for the layer, moving the null, then
    deleting it.

    Group Layers
    When this option is turned on, all selected layers are treated as a single object and the
    anchor point of all layers is placed in the same location, according to their combined area.
    When using a Custom Target with the Move Layer option turned on, the Group Layers option
    also becomes relevant. When Move Layer is turned on and Group Layers is turned off, all
    selected layers are moved to the exact same position, stacked on top of each other. If Move
    Layer is turned on and Group Layers is turned on, the selected layers move as a single object
    and are centered around the chosen new anchor location.
    Page 6 of 7

    Null Target
    This tool temporarily changes the behavior of the main Anchor
    SNIPER interface. Every option and button still behave in the
    same way but instead of moving the layer's anchor point, a new
    Null Layer is created at the desired target location and the
    selected layer is automatically parented to it. Once the new null
    layer is created the main Anchor SNIPER interface reverts to its
    normal behavior. To revert to the normal behavior without creating a new Null parent click
    the same Null Target button again – the text on the button will be “Cancel”.

    Split Masks
    This tool creates a duplicate of the selected layer for each mask
    it has and copies only one of the masks to the new duplicated
    layer. The original selected layer's video switch is then disabled.
    This tool skips layers with one or zero masks. Additionally, this
    tool ignores masks that are set in “None” mask mode.

    Crop Layer
    This tool pre-composes a layer and automatically crops the new
    pre-comp to the area of the layer's non-transparent pixels at the
    current frame. The pre-comping uses the "Leave all attributes"
    method except for any masks on the layer. All Masks are moved
    into the pre-comped layer before cropping.

    Settings
    Anchor SNIPER's Settings panel can be accessed by
    hovering over the top right "hamburger" icon and
    selecting "Settings…" from the revealed fly menu.

    Toggle Layer Controls on Custom Target Selection


    When clicking the Custom Target button, a temporary
    target layer is created in the timeline which allows you to choose a new location for the
    anchor point. To make this layer easier to relocate the composition viewer’s layer control
    gizmos are temporarily toggled (off presumably). When you click either the OK or Cancel
    buttons the layer controls' visibility is toggled back. Due to a limitation of AE scripting, the
    layer controls can only be toggled and not specifically turned off. You can disable automatic
    hiding of the layer controls by disabling this option.

    Center Anchor Point After Cropping Layer


    If this very useful setting is turned on, a layer’s anchor point is automatically centered after
    the Crop Layer tool button in pressed.
    Page 7 of 7

    Small User Interface Fixed Target Buttons


    Enable this option to reduce the size of the
    Anchor SNIPER interface. This will change
    most text into icons and is recommended
    for experienced users who wish to save on
    screen real-estate.
    After setting this option you need to close Help & Settings
    the script’s panel and restart it.

    Show Tools Panels


    If you wish to save on screen real-estate
    Options
    even further you can completely hide the
    Tools section by disabling this option. Custom Target Buttons

    Hide Background Texture Image

    Enable this option to hide the background


    camouflage texture image in anchor
    SNIPER’s interface. Tools Section

    Additional Support
    For additional resources, updates and support visit http://aescripts.com

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