How do I import a background that I created with After Effects into Character Animator.

Question

I know how to create moving backgrounds when a character walks. That is a well covered topic. I have recently come upon a situation, that is slightly different for my next upcoming episode. I have this background , that has a water/river effect created using Adobe After effects (mirror+fractal approach). https://youtu.be/b68RGExIhzs

I am wondering how to import this into character animator. 1)As a puppet? or 2)maybe a cycle layer(is this hack possible), so that it acts as the background for my next episode. Is there a way to do it in Character Animator. The reason I want to do that is because: Camera feature in Character Animator is reallyconvenient to work with.

For example once this background is somehow imported in Character Animator. I then can proceed to record my puppets perform, as well as use the Camera in Character Animator, to zoom in, our pan etc etc.

alank99101739 · Accepted Answer

If you want it in CH then I think Keiko's first suggestion is the right option - cycle layers. I would consider having a static image for the top half and only doing cycle layers for the bottom half to reduce CPU/memory load (it only has to change 1/3rd the screen). You might only need like 8 frames maybe in a loop? The fewer the better I suspect (for performance).

If Keiko's option b sounds better, I would add another option is to export from CH a video file with alpha channel (transparency) then compose it with AE.

I guess another option if live-streaming is to export from CH with a green screen background, then use OBS Studio to mix a video steam in. But that does not sound like what you are trying to achieve.

keiko.yamada · Answer

Hi,

I think there are 2 ways to composite After Effects (AE) background comp and Character Animator (CH) puppets/camera.

a) Using Cycle layer in CH

a-1) In AE, render AE comp to PNG or JPEG sequences.

a-2) In CH, import (a-1) as cycle (File -> Import Cycle)

a-3) In CH, Place (a-2) into the CH scene.

a-4) In CH, set Cycle Layer -> Cycle to "Continuously"

Or

b) Using Dynamic link

b-1) In CH, prepare the scene including your puppets/camera etc.

b-2) In AE, import (b-1) via Dynamic Link, or drag & drop (b-1) from the CH project panel into the AE project panel. Place it in the AE background comp.

b-3) In CH, record animation in the scene (b-1). The DL scene in AE (b-2) should be updated (if not, please file a bug).

Please note (b) does not work for live streaming.

Hope this helps.

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded