Using the loopOut() expression always leaves the last frame blank, no matter what I do

[davidmoore20]

The problem:

I've enabled Time Remapping on a composition and am using the loopOut() expression to repeat a 16 second animation until the end of the video.

When I apply the expression, it places a keyframe at the beginning of the clip and at the 16 second mark. When I look at the single frame at the 16 second mark, the composition is not visible. (The object boundaries are visible to scale/move but the image is not.) This also occurs at the 32sec mark, 48sec mark, 64sec mark...

The solution I found (that's not working for me):

1. Create a new keyframe one frame before the 16 second mark
2. Delete the keyframe at the 16 second mark
   

What happens instead:

Once I delete the keyframe at the 16 second mark, the keyframe at 15;29 becomes blank. The last keyframe will always be blank, no matter where it was placed, before or after the original.

If I have four keyframes and delete the last one (#4), the third keyframe will become blank. If I then delete the third keyframe, the second keyframe will become blank.

Any troubleshooting help would be appreciated.

[Rick Gerard]

This is normal behavior. Don't delete the keyframe at 16. Let me explain.

Let's say you have 2 keyframes for transparency. Frame 0 is 0 and frame 10 is 100. Adding the loop out expression to these keyframes will give you the following:

Frame Opacity

0 = 0

1 = 10

2 = 20

3 = 30

4 = 40

5 = 50

6 = 60

7 = 70

8 = 80

9 = 90

10 = 100

11 = 10

Then frame 19 will be 90 and frame 20 will be 0 and so on. This is because the animation loops between frame one and frame 10 which means it only reaches the value of frame 10 the first time through the loop. Every time after that the loop starts over at the first frame of the loop (frame 10, 20, 30 and so on).

This is normal. If you want frame 11 to be 0 then you'll need to add a keyframe there so you have an 11 frame loop instead of a 10 frame loop.

To solve your problem try backing up 1 keyframe from the end, inserting a new keyframe, and then leaving the last one. Now you have a seamless loop of all of your keyframes.

Does that make sense? The loopOut() method loop is exactly the same length as the keyframes to therefore the next frame after the loop has the same value as the second frame after the start of the loop and all subsequent loops will end one frame before the last keyframe. To make a continuous loop from 0 to 100 you need 3 keyframes. One at 0, two at 100 and 3 at 0.

You can also change the loopOut method from the default "cycle" to "pingpong" by writing loopOut("pingpong"). This would give you a smooth fade up and fade down between 0 and 100 because the loop goes back and forth between the first and last keyframes.

This is the way looping functions work in Java, 3D apps, and everywhere else that I have used them.

[davidmoore20]

When I put a new keyframe 1 frame before the end, there are no visible changes. The last keyframe is still blank.

I can assign the last keyframe the timecode 00;01 instead of 16;00 and then the second-to-last keyframe becomes blank.

This feels like a bug more than anything. I understand where you're coming from, but After Effects isn't giving me the logical result.

[davidmoore20]

Ok, I might be on to something...I need to do a little more testing but I think I've solved it. I'll report back in 30 minutes.

[davidmoore20]

I found out I can use the loopOut() expression on another composition with the new keyframe method outlined above, and it fixed the blank frame.

The same method does not work on the original composition in question, for whatever reason.

Fortunately, the loopOut("ping-pong") expression you mentioned will work for this animation, and that does remove the blank frame.

[Mylenium]

Well, time-remapping means time-remapping not frame-remapping. Everything happens on genuine time calculations and if your values are off by a fraction, sampling the discrete frames may simply end up in a blank area. This may not show up in the first few iteration cycles, but may become apparaent later as those minute discrepancies accumulate. Well, whatever, without seeing your project it's just guessing around...

Mylenium

[OMRGL]

If you are still experiencing a blank frame even after creating a new keyframe back one frame from the end and then deleting the last one, try to "Purge All Memory & Disk Cache...".

This fixes the problem for me when I have a stubborn comp that keeps the blank frame even after setting up the loop correctly as other users have stated.

[taoj24206035]

This really helps! Thank you!

[amarekun]

IT WORKS! THANKS A LOT

[mantisdinghong]

it works..T_T finally~~thank you very much~

[Paul Machikhin]

In my case, moving time remapped frames resulted the last frame before 00:00:00 being blurred."Toggle hold keyframe" couple frames before the last worked for me.

[Teighe · Accepted solution]

The solution to this problem, that I found, was ridiculously simple. I just had to turn on the "continuously rasterize" icon (the little star burst) next to the "shy" icon. I hope that's helpful to anyone reading this post now.

[rocios53101895]

omfg I've been looking for like 30 mins for this! ughh. so stupid. thanks!!

[DAVIDE PEPE]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS IS THE BEST SOLUTION HERE AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS CORRECT ANSWER!!!

[Beeej___]

I agree.this is the right answer. I thought this was a glitch in AE for years. never thought to press the continuous rastersize layer. Thanks Teighe

[Beeej___]

Thank you.

[yeiny9239114]

Thank you soooooooooomuch !!!!!!!!!!!

[MonsieurOliver]

Worked for me as well, thank you!

[DougJohnsonRevolution]

YOU'RE A HERO!

[dollarside]

Thank you so much! This is a life saver!

[cavanhaas]

yesss

[arashmaz]

Just to confirm, I'd be messing about with keyframes for the last hour. I had a 24 frame animation had tried every which way... described in tutorials on YouTube in other threads on here. Using the pingpong method worked. But I wanted to get the cycle working as well.

As soon as I turned on the 'continuously rasterise' icon it worked like a charm.

[ihajo]

I am using loopOut() after enabling Time Remapping and at the end of the comp (which i'm trying to loop) I get a black frame, therefore I have selected the comp and in the timeline at the second diamond shape for the Time Remap (the last frame the Black one ) type in one less frame. exp: the comp which you want to loop is 215 frames therefore you can go ahead and type 214.

That solve it for me I hope it will do for you.

[IanJGavin]

I've just had the same issue. I only get a single blank frame on the first loop around so it has to be a bug. I ended up just duplicating my comp for that single missing frame. Simple solution this time but I hope Adobe fix this bug.

[Roei Tzoref]

To make a prefect loop do this:

1. enable TR for the layer

2. Go one frame before the last TR keyframe And Add a keyframe (hit the diamond icon)

4. Copy the first TR keyframe over the last keyframe

5. Add the loopout expression