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Inspiring
November 29, 2024
Answered

Cross dissolve flashes

  • November 29, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 955 views

In an animation I need lots of quick cross dissolves from one frame to another. So I use the sequence option to offset all frames and do a cross between them. But this results in white flashes in the middle of each dissolve. How can I prevent this?

Correct answer thepixelsmith

I have seen posts on ways to fake it using various effects and/or blending modes but there is really no built in method that is as simple as doing it in a video editing program.

I've seen a tutorial that using teh block dissolve effect with a very high feather to fake it. But since each layer in Ae is technically independednt of each other layer I have never seen an exact 1 to 1 function to mimic the cross dissolve that NLEs can do.

AE isn't an NLE it's a motion graphics and compositing program so even things that have the same name can sometimes function differently. 

And to be honest I'm not sure there is much of a difference visually in applying a cross dissolve transtion in an NLE and just fadign out the opacity of a top layer in AE. Now if you are using other dissolves like film dissolve or additive dissolve then use they do look different and they can be mimiced using effects that animate exposure or tone.

2 replies

thepixelsmith
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 1, 2024

That sounds like it is the background color showing through the Opacity animation th sequence layers command creates. 

In the Sequence Layers dialog box try the option Dissolve Front Layer instead.

Unlike in a video editing program when AE "cross dissolves"" it is really just building two opacity animations the top layer fades out from 100-0% while the bottom one fades up from 0-100%. This results in the BG color being visible between them.

Inspiring
December 2, 2024

Hey! Thanks for responding! You are right. Like I explaind above it is because in the middle of each dissolve, transparancy of both levels are at 50%. When I choose just the option Dissolve Front Layer, the second layer doesn't dissolve in anymore so it just pops in. So there is no way to do a proper cross dissolve in AFX then???

thepixelsmith
Community Expert
thepixelsmithCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
December 3, 2024

I have seen posts on ways to fake it using various effects and/or blending modes but there is really no built in method that is as simple as doing it in a video editing program.

I've seen a tutorial that using teh block dissolve effect with a very high feather to fake it. But since each layer in Ae is technically independednt of each other layer I have never seen an exact 1 to 1 function to mimic the cross dissolve that NLEs can do.

AE isn't an NLE it's a motion graphics and compositing program so even things that have the same name can sometimes function differently. 

And to be honest I'm not sure there is much of a difference visually in applying a cross dissolve transtion in an NLE and just fadign out the opacity of a top layer in AE. Now if you are using other dissolves like film dissolve or additive dissolve then use they do look different and they can be mimiced using effects that animate exposure or tone.

Community Manager
November 29, 2024

Hi ComicHouse,

 

Sorry about the poor experience. We can get this checked. If possible, could you share a screen recording of the workflow that you are using & the white flashes that you are getting in preview? It will help us understand & troubleshoot the issue properly.

 

Thanks,

Sumeet

Inspiring
December 2, 2024

I guess what happens is this:

 

So halfway the dissolve both layers are at 50%, so both are half transparant, right? This is probably why the background is shimmering trough at that point. But in my head two layers at 50% together, are at 100% opacity! How else can we do a cross dissolve without the underlaying layers peeping through each time?