Trails
  • SystemSystem

    imageTrails

    Trails is an add-on for After Effects which creates amazing, fully dynamic trails, swooshes and speed lines. You can set up a Trail in seconds, and apply dynamic effects to give even more life to your animation.

    https://aescripts.com/trails/


  • Jörg ReichertJörg Reichert
    Hello OtherCubed,
    the script-demo don't works in the German actual AE-Version. Script-error in line 3 - "Layer" don't exist in the German Version. Here it's "Ebene" - when I replace the word the script-error is gone but nothing happens from the trail-script and animation.
    Jörg R. - germany
  • Tom StockleyTom Stockley
    Hey Jörg, thanks for letting me know! I’ll try and patch this in the next few days.
  • Alexander VorontsovAlexander Vorontsov
    can you post some tutorial? how make something like this?gif-rocket1_2.gif
  • Robert PenczakRobert Penczak
    Hi - how does this functionality compare to that offered in Yaro Super Lines https://aescripts.com/super-lines/ ?  Thanks.
  • Tom StockleyTom Stockley
    Alexander Vorontsov said:
    can you post some tutorial? how make something like this?gif-rocket1_2.gif

    Hey! I’ll post a tutorial in the next few days. Thanks!
  • Tom StockleyTom Stockley
    Robert Penczak said:
    Hi - how does this functionality compare to that offered in Yaro Super Lines https://aescripts.com/super-lines/ ?  Thanks.

    Hey - Trails creates dynamic trails that update instantly when you make changes. You can also add dynamic effects like velocity, movement etc. to the trails.
  • Chris MarriottChris Marriott
    Would there be possible CS6 support? 

    I've downloaded the Trial, the UI generates perfectly, and the layers all generate but there seems to be a single Expression issue.

    Here is an image to the issue - https://www.screencast.com/t/DE2XhCg4aP
    Thanks
  • Chris MarriottChris Marriott
    Chris Marriott said:
    Would there be possible CS6 support? 

    I've downloaded the Trial, the UI generates perfectly, and the layers all generate but there seems to be a single Expression issue.

    Here is an image to the issue - https://www.screencast.com/t/DE2XhCg4aP
    Thanks
    PS happy to help testing/Betas
  • Jörg ReichertJörg Reichert
    Hello Tom,
    I'm now a little further in my German AE version. The tail is now created on a null object in the middle of the screen. If you attach this null object to the actual object, everything is fine. However, after a few minutes I had a serious AE memory error.


  • Tom StockleyTom Stockley
    Chris Marriott said:
    Would there be possible CS6 support? 

    I've downloaded the Trial, the UI generates perfectly, and the layers all generate but there seems to be a single Expression issue.

    Here is an image to the issue - https://www.screencast.com/t/DE2XhCg4aP
    Thanks

    Unfortunately, the expressions needed to make Trails work aren’t available before CC2018! I’d love to have it work with earlier versions but it won’t be possible.
  • Tom StockleyTom Stockley
    Jörg Reichert said:
    Hello Tom,
    I'm now a little further in my German AE version. The tail is now created on a null object in the middle of the screen. If you attach this null object to the actual object, everything is fine. However, after a few minutes I had a serious AE memory error.



    Hey, could you create a support ticket so I can try and help you further?
  • Tim Anderson-BonsorTim Anderson-Bonsor
    Fantastic add-on! I'm with Alexander Vorontsov – I'd love to know how the tapered strokes from the rocket gif are achieved. Any quick tips?
  • Tom StockleyTom Stockley
    Tim Anderson-Bonsor said:
    Fantastic add-on! I'm with Alexander Vorontsov – I'd love to know how the tapered strokes from the rocket gif are achieved. Any quick tips?

    Alexander Vorontsov said:
    can you post some tutorial? how make something like this?gif-rocket1_2.gif
    I'm happy to let you guys know that I've just posted a tutorial for recreating the rocket on the main page and on the video tab!
  • Libin GuLibin Gu
    Hello OtherCubed,

    I used the trial version, there is issue on the trace point when I try to attach it to one layer , I found it was not adsorbed on the anchor point but always on the top left of the target layer, not sure if it is the only problem on trail version.
  • Tom StockleyTom Stockley
    Libin Gu said:
    Hello OtherCubed,

    I used the trial version, there is issue on the trace point when I try to attach it to one layer , I found it was not adsorbed on the anchor point but always on the top left of the target layer, not sure if it is the only problem on trail version.
    Hey Liben! I've just fixed this so the Trail will stick to the anchor point instead.
  • Mint DesignMint Design
    get's really laggy after a while, is there a way to bake the expression?
  • Tom StockleyTom Stockley
    Miska Dounaev said:
    get's really laggy after a while, is there a way to bake the expression?
    Hey - I'll look into adding a way to bake the keyframes within the script for a future update. However, for now it's worth checking that you've not raised the point samples higher than needs be, and that you've changed the trail path to rotobezier (You can see how by clicking the '?' button on the trails panel).

    If you really need to bake, you can look at using 'convert expression to keyframes' within After Effects, or you can check out a script such as the excellent Easy Bake!
  • Ian MynderupIan Mynderup
    Does this work with Ouroboros? Would be nice to have that functionality coupled with your trails script!
  • Wayne DalioWayne Dalio
    Is it possible to set one side of the trails scale and also the other?
    This would be cool for asteroid tails, gun blasts etc where the tail tapers off from either end.
    Thanks
  • David OulashianDavid Oulashian
    I'm having trouble understanding how the script calculates velocity for a 3d comp. If I have a trail that does not move then no trail shows. However if I then add a camera, set a keyframe, then move the camera right on the x axis, the trail appears and goes to the left on the x axis. It seems like no trail should appear since the Trail point is not changing value. But somehow it still is getting velocity from the camera movement (even though the position of the trail point does not change in 3D space.
  • Laurens VerwijsLaurens Verwijs
    Hey Tom!

    Thanks for this great plugin! Saved me a lot of time with some orbiting spheres and trails merging. I do have a question/request concerning gradient strokes. There most be a way to let the start and end point of a gradient stick to the movement of the target. Do you have a suggestion to achieve this or am I not seeing the obvious :) 

    Hope to hear from you!
    Thx
  • Tom StockleyTom Stockley
    Laurens Verwijs said:
    Hey Tom!

    Thanks for this great plugin! Saved me a lot of time with some orbiting spheres and trails merging. I do have a question/request concerning gradient strokes. There most be a way to let the start and end point of a gradient stick to the movement of the target. Do you have a suggestion to achieve this or am I not seeing the obvious :) 

    Hope to hear from you!
    Thx
    Hey! Unfortunately this is a limitation with AE itself. There is a stroke plugin called 'Thicc Stroke' which allows gradients along a stroke, but I have not tried it with Trails myself!
  • Matt GagarinMatt Gagarin
    Trails MandalaHOW TO DO THIS PLS
  • Lloyd AlvarezLloyd Alvarez
    Matt Gagarin said:
    HOW TO DO THIS PLS

    You can do that with Ouroboros 2 https://aescripts.com/ouroboros-2
  • Ramon MontoyaRamon Montoya
    Hello,

    Is this compatible with AE2021? If not, are you planning on supporting it?
  • Joe DiGerolamoJoe DiGerolamo
    Hey, I just bought this but it's not compatible AE 2020. When will you update so I can use it?
  • Michael VelasquezMichael Velasquez
    Hello. I'm trying to make the trails work properly in 3D. Specifically, my 3D object that the trail is parented to is orbiting another 3D object (a circular layer acting as a planet) and I want the trails to be obscured by the planet when my 3D object goes behind it. The OC Trails Point Null is 3D already and I can see it moving in 3D space with my orbiting object. However, the trail is visible behind the planet even though my orbiting object is obscured by it as expected. 

    When I change the OC Trails shape layer to be 3D, the expression errors out.

    Thank you.
  • Sean JenkinsonSean Jenkinson
    Compatibility says it's only compatible up to cc 2021. Will it work in 2022? Are you working on a 2022 version?
  • Romy BianchiRomy Bianchi
    Sean Jenkinson said:
    Compatibility says it's only compatible up to cc 2021. Will it work in 2022? Are you working on a 2022 version?
    I have not been able to use it since the 2022 update. 
  • Tom StockleyTom Stockley
    Sean Jenkinson said:
    Compatibility says it's only compatible up to cc 2021. Will it work in 2022? Are you working on a 2022 version?
    Apologies - I've tested on 2022 and it should be working. I've just updated the compatibility tab! There is a trial version available for you to check before you buy if you wish.


    Romy Bianchi said:
    Sean Jenkinson said:
    Compatibility says it's only compatible up to cc 2021. Will it work in 2022? Are you working on a 2022 version?
    I have not been able to use it since the 2022 update. 
    Could you open a support ticket if you're having issues with 2022? Per my testing it should be functioning as normal.
  • Leah van der WestenLeah van der Westen
    When my shape stops moving the length of my trail also goes to 0, causing the trail to disappear. How do I make sure my trial stays the same length?

    Thanks!
  • Leah van der WestenLeah van der Westen
    Sean Jenkinson said:
    Compatibility says it's only compatible up to cc 2021. Will it work in 2022? Are you working on a 2022 version?
    I am working on After Effects cc 2023 and it seems to be working well for me :))
  • Oleg UkrainskiOleg Ukrainski
    Hey, awesome tool!

    Please can you add an option to make a "path" stay on place like a static pencil draw trail on canvas trail without any moving but initiate from the object as you plugin do.

    example case:
    here you can see a pink selection "trail" moving after the hand object but the path-the trail are not moving. 
  • Martin CookMartin Cook
    Hi there. Do they trails only work on the x and y axis? Or can you also add the z axis? For instance could you track an object through a real shot and then use this to add the trails?

    Cheers
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