aescripts + aeplugins

Cordelia Brown · November 2019

Hi there,

The scale and rotation modifers don't seem to be working for me for some reason. Position modifier works just fine but when values are changed in scale/rotation there is no change.

Any suggestions? Have a missed something?

Thanks

Matt Wilson · November 2019

Hey Cordelia,

Did you enter you license when you opened the script? It sounds like you're still running the trial mode which is limited to delay, x & y position.

What version of AE are you using?

Best wishes,

Matt

Cordelia Brown · November 2019

Hi Matt,

Ah, yes I suspected it might have been a licensing thing but couldn't see anywhere what the restrictions were.

I applied the script in trial mode, then purchased it and applied the license, but the rotation/scale modifiers are still not working. Have tried a restart of AE also. Using AE2020.

I'm thinking I might need to reapply the script from scratch.

Thanks,

Matt Wilson · November 2019

Hi Cordelia,

Can you copy the expression you have on the rotation, scale and opacity values. If you hit the ? icon at the top it should say whether you have an active license. Does yours look like mine?

Luis Ozonas Ferrer · November 2019

Hi Matt
Is it possible to clone layers and precomps, or is it only for shapes?
Thanks

Matt Wilson · November 2019

Hi Luis,

Easy Clones is a cloning system built for 2D artwork, including Bitmap Layers, Vector Layers, Shape Layers and Precomps.

There are 5 demo videos I'd recommend watching to find out more about the tool:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfla-R6TCGJ3dYtUyfjRErpVZg072bMOO

Cheers,

Matt

Cordelia Brown · November 2019

Matt Wilson said:

Hi Cordelia,

Can you copy the expression you have on the rotation, scale and opacity values. If you hit the ? icon at the top it should say whether you have an active license. Does yours look like mine?

Yep: "/*this is a trial version, purchase a license to unlock this feature.*/

thisComp.layer("Leaves Clone Controls").transform.rotation"

But the full version is definitely active - as per your screenshot.

I reapplied the script and it's working fine now - just a heads up that the trial version didn't unlock properly for me on an already built animation with the script applied.

Script is awesome by the way, thanks!

Matt Wilson · November 2019

Ahh yeah I should mention that it won't update the expressions automatically, you'll either have to add more clones or create a new system from scratch. The trial mode is suppose to be a teaser I didn't anticipate people continuing directly from a trail version. Glad you've got it up and running now though!

Mish Zac · January 2020

Hi , If i purchase this plugin , and install in 1 computer to use , if I spot using that specific computer can I uninstall and re-install into a new computer ?

Matt Wilson · January 2020

Hi Misha,

Yeah you can uninstall the script whenever you like using the ? button on the interface which will pop up a window and in the top right corner you can select Deactivate License.

I believe you can have the script installed on two machines but I'm not completely sure about aescripts policies for more.

Matt

Dani Sabroso · February 2020

I'm trying to follow the tutorials, however the script does not work as it does in your tutorial. For example, scaling the circles... instead of scaling with delay they all scale at the same time. I'm getting crazy to figure this out.

Matt Wilson · February 2020

Hi Dani,

Before I can help you I need to know more information.

What are you keyframing to control the scale? can you share a screenshot?

Matt

Matt Wilson · February 2020

Also have you purchased a licence or are you in trial mode? The trial mode has limited features which might be causing your issues.

Nikolaus Schwarten · May 2020

Matt, thank you for your tool - bought it and want to recreate something like your tree -- but I fear I am not smart enough hahah.
Could you point me or share your comp for this tree so i can learn

Matt Wilson · May 2020

Hey Nikolaus,

Sorry for the slow response.

The tree wasn't too difficult to set up, just design the tree and leaves and make sure you don't zero the clones position to the control null. All I did then was add some wiggles to the rotation and played with the random on the scale then I animated the control nulls position to have them all blow off the tree.

For the Leaves themselves you'll have to build a bit of a rig, so I separated the black lines / details from the coloured leaf, then parented all the details to their retrospective leaf and made sure the anchor point of the leaf was aligned with the stork. Finally make a clone system of the leaves and you're good to go.

I hope this helps.

Matt

Stephen Pickering · May 2020

I love your script! I've been using the X and Y movement, but I see it has Z as well, but Z position doesn't seem to work like I expect when I make it 3D. Does it work with 3D or is it strictly 2D?
Thank you!
-Stephen

Matt Wilson · May 2020

Hi Stephen,

I'm not sure what your issue is exactly, what isn't working when you're using 3d? It has been designed to be mainly a 2d cloning system as there are plenty of better tools for 3d use but it does support 3d positioning allowing the user to add depth to the clones.

I've attached a few screenshots. As you'll see the top view shows the depth defined by the Near and Far Limits.

What are you trying to achieve?

Matt

Nikolaus Schwarten · May 2020

Matt Wilson said:

Hey Nikolaus,

Sorry for the slow response.

The tree wasn't too difficult to set up, just design the tree and leaves and make sure you don't zero the clones position to the control null. All I did then was add some wiggles to the rotation and played with the random on the scale then I animated the control nulls position to have them all blow off the tree.

For the Leaves themselves you'll have to build a bit of a rig, so I separated the black lines / details from the coloured leaf, then parented all the details to their retrospective leaf and made sure the anchor point of the leaf was aligned with the stork. Finally make a clone system of the leaves and you're good to go.

I hope this helps.

Matt

Awesome - thank you Matt -- so you design the tree and than you add the leaves to the cloner system?
Got it.

Nikolaus Schwarten · May 2020

I have a tricky question Matt,
You have the wiggle which is great -- but when I try to loop the wiggles I get deep into expression trouble hahaha.
I should search and replace in your system the wiggle expression according to Dan in this great page:
http://www.motionscript.com/design-guide/looping-wiggle.html

Would you think you could implement this already into your system?

Best vibes

Matt Wilson · June 2020

Hey Nikolaus,

Sorry about the slow reply, I've been busy building my new tool Blend. I'm now in the process of making a major update to Easy Clones so I'll look into whether I can incorporate this Wiggle Loop method. Can't make any promises but I'll try my best.

Matt

James Rockwell · January 2021

I'm working on a project in AE2018, which is supposed to be compatible, but when I try to create a clone system it says that I must use a later version of After Effects. How do I get around this? The entire project I'm working on is working flawlessly in 2018 and I don't want to have to jump to 2019 or 2020 and risk things breaking.

Suzanne Hemphill · February 2022

I'm trying to use the script with KBar, but when I execute the script via KBar, it gives me an error: "Invalid argument. Valid arguments are: create clones, add clones, renumber clones, shuffle clones, centre clones, replace colors, add expressions. Please check your KBar settings."

What can I do to fix this? Is it possible to use with KBar?

Thanks so much!

Matt Wilson · February 2022

Hi Suzanne,

Easy Clones works with Kbar but because the script has several buttons you need to give Kbar additional information so that it knows which button of the script you want to execute with your Kbar button you're creating. The error message you are getting is telling you the arguements you need to write into Kbar so that it knows what button you're trying to press.

I've attached some screenshots of setting up Easy Clones with Kbar, this uses the aguement create clones which is the first button on Easy Clone's UI pannel.

I hope this helps.

Matt

Hennes Elbert · October 2022

Hi Matt,

I have a question. Maybe you can help me. I installed the trial version to test your app. Because it looks exactly like what I need for a project. And wanted to use it on a shapelayer first to get familiar with the functionalities. But as soon as I create a clone system, my shapelayer disappears from the canvas and is scaled to 0%. when I scale it back to 100%, it remains "invisible". Have you had this problem before? is it just the trial version? I work with AfterEffects 2021, which should actually fit.

Thank you very much for your help,

Best regards

Hennes

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Matt Wilson · October 2022

Hi Hennes,

Hmm thats odd behavior. Can you quick check what the opacity is set to? I have a feeling it might be 0. in which case the solution is to just put that up to 100.

I'll have to have a look into this but this is definately just an issue with the trial version as it's limited to just position within the cloning system.

Let me know if the opacity is the issue!

Matt

Jozef Behr · October 2022

Informational Thread..Helpful for me...

Rose Hans · March 2023

Soo this looks so good but... The trial version is completely non-functional. I can't get anything to work at all

I see in one of the previous comments that it's supposed to be limited to just position (which is totally fair), but that doesn't even work

Essentially, you can create the clone system, but nothing appears to be linked. When you check the checkboxes and move any of the variables/sliders in the "Easy Clone" effects control, it has no effect over any of the clones. Not even the original.

I'm almost 100% sure it's not me, I've tried to follow the basic tutorials and done everything the same and it still doesn't work.

Please let me know if this gets rectified, or if I am doing something wrong that's specific to the trial version. I was so excited to try this tool

(P.S. the disappearing shapelayer problem with the trial version is definitely the scale/opacity issue)

Matt Wilson · March 2023

Hi Rose,

Sorry that you're having issues with the trial version, this might be a bug that has crept in with the latest Adobe AE update. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, however I'm not going to have time to solve this immediately as I am very busy with client work and I have an 11 month old so my free time is pretty much non existent at the moment.

If you purchase a license for the tool the full version should work as I was using it the other day. You will have to start a completely new clone system though. If you're unhappy with the tool you can get a full refund.

Sorry that I can't fix the issue with the trail version for you.

Best wishes,

Matt

Steve Williams · December 2023

Can this create radial clone arrays?

Also, is it possible to Rotate the Clone Controller and have the child Clones rotate around the Controller, rather than rotating on their own anchor point?

Thanks!

Matt Wilson · January 2

Hi Steve,

Sorry for the delay.

No Easy Clones does not have a radial array unfortunately, gird or line are the only functions at the moment.

You can parent the clones to a new null to control a 'global' rotation however this unfortunately does not support delays.

I hope this helps.

Matt

javier mira herreros · March 8

Hi Matt,

I'm a licensed user starting up with the script and my question could sound a little silly, but cannot find a way to remove the clone system without manual deleting the expressions and effects the script applies to the master clone

Is it possible to full remove the clone system returning to the pre clone state?

Thanks!

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