Advanced Lightning Glitch

[Graham L Clark]

Hello Adobe Community!

I'm trying to use the advanced lightning effect to highlight some storm compositions, but the second I change any parameters the lightning disappears. If I shift magnification it also disappears. I'm viewing it in the comp window (not layer window), have restarted AE and my computer, uninstalled AE, and have attempted this over multiple versions of AE (2020 and 2019). Both instances have given me glitches making the effect inoperable. I've attached a video below as well as some photos.

I'm operating on a MacBook pro Mid 2014, Mojave, all recent updates of AE

32 bit project (I know the effect is only 8 bit supported, but that shouldn't cause this issue)

Video Rendering and Effects in Project Settings - Mercury GPU Acceleration (Metal)

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Hopefully, I'm just making some bonehead setting issue!

G

[Rick Gerard]

Don't scale the layer with Advanced Lightning. It should be the same size as the comp. 

When you post screenshots it is helpful to name the layers and to show us all modified properties by pressing 'uu' so we can see what you are doing. 

[Graham L Clark]

Sorry I didn't clarify. I haven't changed any parameters. It does this immediately upon adding the effect to a solid layer - even if the solid layer is scaled to fit the comp. I scaled it solely out of frustration with it not working haha. Any other thoughts are much appreciated. 

[OussK]

Try to change the Video rendering from GPU accelerator to Software Only, go to file/project settings then follow the image below 

[Graham L Clark]

Unfortunately still no luck! But thank you. Any other thoughts are much appreciated.

[Mylenium]

I'm not sure what you are getting at. You are zoomed to 25% at quarter resolution and the layer with the lightning is scaled in addition. This gives you a post-stamp sized area to work with. Incorrect previews therefore are inevitable. Start by actually setting your resolution to Full and your zoom to 100%.

Mylenium

[Graham L Clark]

I zoomed out to 25% because that is the only way that the lightning effect would display for some reason. I wasn't working in that magnification. When the resolution is set to full and zoom is at 100% there is still no lightning. Confused that it wasn't displaying, I zoomed out and bingo there was the effect. But then when zooming back to 100%, toying with parameters, or even scrolling on the timeline, the lightning suddenly disappears, never to be seen again even after resetting parameters.

I've purged - so I know it's not a glitch preview frame. I didn't alter any parameters before this issue started. Immediately after applying the effect to a layer, the lightning will not display unless set to this strange zoom. Scaling the layer down was also done out of frustration during trying to get it to work. It's not a scaling issue. This happened when the layer was scaled to comp. Nor is it a preview or cache issue - I've purged multiple times.

I'm starting to believe that I have a corrupt file. I haven't come across anyone else with similar glitches. Thanks for your thoughts. Any other potential problem solves are much appreciated.

[Evan5DC2]

same thing happening to me in 2022, any fixes yet?

[alexis-41294473]

Im having the same issue 

After Effects version 17.7

[ShiveringCactus]

Version 17.7 was the 2021 release, if I'm correct.  Have you tried upgrading to 2022?  There's some new presets based around Advanced Lightning which suggests to me that the original issues have been fixed.

[tcandy19]

same issue man. still no solution?

[ShiveringCactus]

Can you share your project so I can take a look.  If you're not comfortable sharing it on the internet, PM me and we can see if we can sort something out.

[Ahri315269715lk8]

I ended up swapping out advanced lighning for the regular lightning effect and that worked fine! Will try to put back advanced lighning when I access my project tonight and see if that same glitch happens so I can record it for you. 

[tcandy19]

oops sorry i logged in from a wrong email and for some reason were not allowed to delete comments lol. well anyways will update by tonight!

[tcandy19]

https://youtu.be/_KGX0uY9Z-0

hello, heres a demonstration of how advanced lightning isn't working for me. I wasn't able to replicate the glitch which was mentioned - that adjusting any settings within the comp caused the effect to disappear. however this will show that advanced lightning doesn't appear at all, even in a blank comp. any suggestions?

thanks!

[ShiveringCactus]

That is really helpful.  Unfortunately the video had all the details blurred, so I couldn't tell how large your comp is.  I'm wondering if it's too small.  Also, is your solid scaled up to fit?

[tcandy19]

hello, my comp is 1080 x 1080 and the solid is scaled to fit. advanced lighning was working on it before and i had even added effects to it. randomly while i was in the middle of the project, the effect glitched out. whenever i adjusted any paramater including timing of the layer, values of the effects and position of the lighning the effect would disappear. please advise. thanks!