AE - Shatter Effect - just a big blue circle...

[fireKeeper]

Hello!

I have a problem with the shatter effect (AE CC 2018) and hope somebody can help me (I've googled and researched, but nothing helped..).

I have watched several tutorials, they always make a text layer and then apply the shatter effect to the text layer and it works. When I do that, I get a big blue circle in the middle and the bricks on the outsode (shown in the picture below). When I set it rendered, the text disappears. Does anybody know what I can do?

[Roland Kahlenberg]

The FIRST property in the Shatter Effects Control Panel is View and it has a Menu. The default is set to Wireframe & Forces  - change the menu selection to Rendered.

[fireKeeper]

I've done this, but then the text disappears..

[Roei Tzoref]

When I set it rendered, the text disappears. Does anybody know what I can do?

Shatter starts at the beginning of the layer, you may have trimmed your layer so by the time you are seeing the effect, it's already passed that.

if it's a text layer, you need to trim it back to the true in Point. you will see a dash sign on the layer bar like this:

or you could simply create a new text layer and make sure you don't trim it from the beginning.

[fireKeeper]

First thanks for your kind answer!

Unfortunately it doesn't work. Also when I create a new textlayer, without trimming anything, it does the same.. Only if I start a whole new project it works. So I would have to combine two projects and render it seperately I think..

[Roei Tzoref]

show a full screenshot of your Ae interface when you are placing the CTI (current time indicator) on the beginning of a text layer and with the composition and timeline fully visible so we can see what's wrong.

[Rick Gerard]

Type Shatter in AE's search help field at the top right corner of the app and read the instructions. You'll only figure it out if you take some time to learn how this simulation effect works. It's easy to control, it's just set to show you the force field and the shape of the pieces and then blast a hole in the center of a layer when the layer starts and make that the shape of bricks. Everything about Shatter can be animated so you can change when things happen, what color the edges are, what image is on the front and back of the pieces and how the pieces react when the force happens. Saying it does not work means you are not using it correctly. There has not been a bug in Shatter for many many years.

[Mylenium]

What Rick said - for the life of it start reading the help on how the effect actually works instead of relying on questionable tutorials from people who often barely know AE themselves.

Mylenium

[Roland Kahlenberg]

Provide screen captures of your Effects Control Panel and your Timeline. ENSURE you provide sufficient details.