aescripts + aeplugins

Hello Fabien,

Thank you for your comment.

In order to create a specific range, you just multiply the desired number (in your example 235) with the first number you see written in the drop down menu and add 1.

For example: if you select the last option of the drop down menu it is (235 * 16) +1 = 3.761 ruler lines

This is the number (3761) you must type in the "Ruler lines" box.
Please, bear in mind that the slider only goes up to 250, so you must type the number directly into the box.

When you hit "Create Ruler", an alert will pop-up asking you if you are really sure you want to create 236 layers. Just hit "Yes".
(The reason that says 236 and not 235 is that it will also create the "0" number text layer)

Also prepare to wait a bit. After Effects is going to create 236 text layers + one shape layer! This is going to take a while (2-3 minutes).
It is a good idea to have the shy button of the composition enabled. This way, only the shape layer will be visible.

Here are all of the ruler line numbers for your example (a ruler from 0 to 235 with a stepping of 1):

• 1st option in the dropdown list = 236 ruler lines
• 2nd option in the dropdown list = 471 ruler lines
• 3rd option in the dropdown list = 1176 ruler lines
• 4th or 5th or 6th option in the dropdown list = 2361 ruler lines
• 7th or 8th option in the dropdown list = 3761 ruler lines

Hope this helps.

Well, I bought it without
hesitating. And it's fantastic, thank you. BUT how do I change the
NUMBER of sub lines between main lines. I'm trying to create a ruler
that represents TIME for a project manager/calendar, so I need to have
5min increments, which means 12 segments (11 lines) between one hour
main lines. I see no way to achieve this. What am I missing?

Also, it would be great to be able to create suffixes fior main line text (eg "hr" or "ft")

Please let me know how I get away from the multiples of 5 and 8 in the presets...

Many thanks

Hello Trevor,

Unfortunately, a clock with five minute increments is pretty rare, that's why I didn't include a preset for it. (noted for the next version, though)

BUT...you can easily create two rulers, one on top of the other.

Here is how you do it:

• First you create a 13 ruler line, circular ruler, only with main lines (first option in the drop down list) with a gap of 300, with texts starting from 0.
• Then delete the "0" text layer.
• Then you create a second circular ruler with 145 ruler lines, again only with main lines, with a gap of 25, no text numbers.
  

(tip: you can safely rename the shape layers to whatever you want. e.g. hour divisions and 5minute divisions)

If you play with the "Height" slider in the second ruler, you get something like this:



Also remember that the text number layers, are editable. You can just use the type tool and edit them.

Finally, your suggestion for suffixes in the texts is great! I'll definitely have this in the next version. Thank you for that.

Hope this helps!

Cheers!

Bought it and it's great! I'd like to request some video tutorials though to show how to achieve different setups. I don't think the PDF does an adequate job of explaining everything.

Cheers...

Hello Bill,

Thank you for your kind words and feedback. Time permitting, I'll try to make some more examples, explaining the process along the way.

Are you having difficulties wtih a certain setup Ι can help you with?

v1.2 update

- changed: smaller and simpler user interface
- changed: "Create Ruler" button, now shows the range of numbers that is going to be created
- changed: changing the "width" property/slider on a circular ruler, keeps the lines aligned by compensating the rotation (user request: Matthew)

- added: new "text offset" effect control for linear rulers
- added: new "time" line subdivisions preset (user request: Matthew)
- added: prefix and suffix capability (user request: Matthew)

Enjoy!

Hello Brandon,

Yes, you can change the font after you create the ruler.
Just select all the text layers (and while having them selected) go to the "Character" panel of After Effects and choose a different font.

It would be nice if you could select the font from the easyRulers panel but unfortunately Adobe doesn't give to scripts, access to the font list.

Cheers.

Hello Quint,

You can do this by using an expression, and specifically the "length(point1, point2)" expression.

Here is how to do it:

1) Create a ruler
2) On the "Gap" effect control of the easyRuler shape layer, put the following expression on the slider:

point1 =[thisComp.layer("Null 1").transform.position[0],thisComp.layer("Null 1").transform.position[1]];
point2 = [thisComp.layer("Null 2").transform.position[0],thisComp.layer("Null 2").transform.position[1]];
bias = 4;
value = value + length(point1, point2)/bias;

(you can still move the slider and change the length of the ruler)

Now, the length of the easyRuler should change according to the distance of the 2 Nulls. If the effect is too dramatic (the length is too big) you can try changing the bias value of the expression.

Please, tell me if it worked.

Cheers.

Quint Rahaman said:

Hello Theodoros, 

I am investigating different ways of visually showing the following:

Let's say that in a 30 second clip, a tracker has been attached to the top of a person's head and one on the chin. A null object has been attached to each one and the beam effect has been used to connect the null objects. 

Over the 30 second clip, the person moves closer and farther away from the camera, thus, the distance between the null objects changes. 

How can your ruler be used to show the changes in length of the line (beam) over the 30 seconds?

Cheers, 

Quint

Hello Quint,

Nice video

Can you be a little more specific? Isn't this the optical effect you were going for?
Did you find the whole procedure with the expression difficult?

What is exactly would you like easyRulers to include? (feature-wise or control-wise)

Thanks

Hello Quint,

I now understand exactly what you mean and what you were trying to show. It would be a very interesting way to optically illustrate important information to the fighters.

The indicator/cursor you mention, is actually a pretty good idea!
I've made a note for it, to implement it on a future version of easyRulers.

As for your video, for a quick and dirty solution, you could make a small triangle shape and put the same expression on the X (or Y if it is a vertical ruler) position property and then align it with the ruler

Thank you for your suggestion and purchase.

Take care.

Version 1.5 is here. Check it out!

• changed: simpler & smaller interface through the use of more tabs
• changed: the "Create Ruler" button now shows a plus sign when the total number of lines, will not create a whole number of divisions
• changed: changed the "mirror" option to "Sides". Now you can select which side of the ruler to populate. Upper/Outer, Lower/Inner or both

• added: shape selection for the ruler lines. You can now select the shape of the ruler lines. Stripes or Dots
• added: ruler baseline with three options. None, Bottom only or Multiple.
• added: reset-to-defaults button

Enjoy!

Hello Caty,

Sorry about that.

Could you please check if the "Allow Scripts to Write Files and Access Network" in Edit-> Preferences -> General is enabled ?

Also, do you happen to have any firewalls or defenders or special access file permissions that might prevent AE from writing temp files ?

Thank you.

Thierry Caty said:

Hi,
thank's for this script, but i have a little problem today with the script,
when i launch the script from window easyrulers.
This message appear : can't execute script line 1. unable to create temporary image file
I work with AE CS6 on windows 7 64 bit, the script is on C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects CS6\Support Files\Scripts\ScriptUI Panels
thank's for your help

Hello Mikael,

I'm terribly sorry for that. Would you be so kind as to open a support ticket, so we can investigate the issue?

Thank you.

Version 1.6 just arrived with lots of new extra features. Check it out!

• changed: code optimization and fixes. easyRulers is now a lot faster. You can create hundreds of text layers, instantly!
• added: pointer option. You can now create a pointer and choose between four pointer shapes. Added the appropriate tab in the user interface
• added: text alignment options (left, center, right)
• added: randomize, reset and apply colors for the ruler lines
• added: you can now use the up/down arrow keys on your keyboard to change any value of any text box of the interface

Enjoy!

Huy Tran said:

We use this tool at work and it's awesome!!!But how to calculate exactly the Gap on a circle?

Hello Huy,

Thank you for your kind words

You can calculate the gap for a perfect circle using the following equation:

If you want the first line to overlap the last line of a circular ruler:
Gap = 3600 / (Ruler Lines-1)

If you don't want the first line to overlap the last line of a circular ruler:
Gap = 3600 / Ruler Lines

I know this is not the most intuitive way to calculate this.
Maybe on the next update I will include an auto-gap checkbox for perfect circular rulers

Cheers!

Thanks for the quick reply. I am actually interested in the math behind it so how do you come up with the number 3600? It seems you divide 360 degree to get the gap, but why multiplied by 10? Just curious

Hello Huy,

Yes, you are correct. The Gap is divided with 360.
But, in order to make the effect slider 10 times less "sensitive" the above result is then multiplied by 10.

So the actual equation is:
Gap*10 = 360 / Ruler Lines
which is simplified to:
Gap = 3600 / Ruler Lines

Cheers!

Drake Schaberg said:

Is this AE 2019 compatible?