Keyframe behavior in AM CTX

[George]

Hi,

Longtime user. One process I use is to create clouds on the fly for backgrounds. 

I figure the length of time for the 'cloud fill', enter the length in the timeline, create a beginning cloud keyframe (1) and an end cloud keyframe (2), making sure they are relatively adjacent to each other.

Then I create a movie and fly it into FCPX.

AM CTX is not behaving, at all. It is not doing what I tell it to do, or working within the time and keyframe parameters I set for it.

Attached are two screenshots; the first is where I want to begin. In the past, I would simply copy the exact same image in keyframe 2, adjust keyframe 2 to the left or the right, and replace keyframe 2 with the new position.

The entire tree is locked. For the life of me, I cannot create a duplicate of Keyframe 1 into Keyframe 2. Why?

[pe...@scribbletronics.com]

Hi George,

I replicated your tree, and I was able to create a second keyframe with no problem. I looked back at your system and I noticed something: the 1->4 Set Constant component appears to have the icon from an older version of AMD. Is this an old system you've loaded into CTX? In beta testing we've found that some older systems behave erratically, so the system itself could be the problem. Can I suggest you build the tree from scratch in CTX and see if that solves the issue?

Best
Peter.

[George]

Hi Peter,

Thank you for looking in to this. I took your advice, closed out the program, and built the system from scratch, (I really like the way the new Constant component updates its color!), but although it was 'better', the behavior was still the same.

I broke it down to what I believe is the offending component: the fractal cloud component behaves differently than every other 2 in 4 out component I tested. 

Somehow that component adds movement to the keyframe.

Attached are two systems in their simplest form to show what I mean. 

Best,

George

[Eric Wenger]

George and Peter,

Some components are internally time-sensitive and will change over time like fractal clouds or time turbulences.Thus you cannot have the same at different times (i.e. different keyframes) when using theses. CTX version is doing a better job than before to display the keyframe with the proper time.

If your goal is to create loops, more seamless and sophisticated technics exists to ensure seamless looping without going back and forth.

If your goal is to have no motion then there is no need for animation.

If your goal is to have have a motion starting after a still period then use non -time sensitive fractal components. (Most are)

Hope that helps.

Best,

Eric

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<2in 4out fractal cloud component.jpg><2in 4out component .jpg>

[Edward Spiegel]

Maybe a note could be added in the component descriptions online that are time-sensitive.

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[pe...@scribbletronics.com]

Oh, sorry George, I misunderstood what you meant - I thought that you were unable to create an actual second keyframe. What Eric says is correct - some components are time-sensitive and Fractal Shaded Clouds is one such component. Many time-based components have either 'Z' or 'Time' in the name of the component, so keep an eye out for that (this one doesn't unfortunately). It does take a bit of getting used to, especially if you're an animator and want precise control over all aspects of your animation path, but in some ways it's better (you can have fluid unchanging cloud movement no matter what your animation length, for example, as Z is regular over the duration). 

If you just make a system with only the Fractal Shaded Clouds component by itself and make 2 key frames, then set the animation duration first to 10 seconds, and then 10 minutes, you'll see what I mean - instant moving clouds over any duration. The drawback of course is that you can't control the speed. 

Most time-based systems are indicated in the online component reference, but I note that this one is not, and As Edward says, that should be amended for clarity.

Best
Peter.

[George]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your feedback!

Best,

George