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AE_Effect_Match_Name from Pixel Bender Kernels?

May 18, 2012 9:17 PM

Hi,

 

I was using Pixel Bender to develop plugins until the recent discontinuation in CS6. I am working on porting my plugins into the After Effects SDK, but if possible, I would like for the native plugins to silently replace my pixel bender kernels, so that projects using the old plugins could load using the new ones.

 

Is there a way, perhaps by setting AE_Effect_Match_Name to a specific value, for After Effects to see both the pixel bender kernel and the native plugin as the same plugin?

 

Thanks,

Andrew

585 Views   3 Replies   Latest reply: shachar carmi, May 19, 2012 9:47 AM
 
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  • shachar carmi
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    1. shachar carmi,
    May 19, 2012 12:12 AM   in reply to Andrew_YY
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    i don't have a definite answer for you, but i seems that pixel benders plug-ins do have a match name.

    create a new project, with a single comp, with a single solid, and put your PB plug-in on it.

    now run this java script:

     

    alert(app.project.item(1).layer(1).effect(1).matchName);

     

    it will tell you the match name for your plug-in. (something based on the id data in the pixel bender script)

    will that matchName stick for a regular plug-in?

    i have no idea.

    but i hope so.

    :-)

     
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  • Andrew_YY
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    2. Andrew_YY,
    May 19, 2012 9:27 AM   in reply to shachar carmi
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    Thanks for your reply

     

    The matchName is a perfect solution, and I was able to get the new plugin to replace the old one.

     

    One caveat: the parameter disk_ids are not just a simple enum, so I had to loop through the parameter matchNames as well, to get the right indices.

    Another problem I had to deal with: percent sliders are implemented as float sliders in pixel bender, so a PF_ADD_PERCENT won't work (use PF_ADD_FLOAT_SLIDERX)

     

    Thanks again,

    Andrew

     
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  • shachar carmi
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    3. shachar carmi,
    May 19, 2012 9:47 AM   in reply to Andrew_YY
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    hey andrew,

    glad to hear the matchName worked!

     

    as for the precent->float transition,

    i don't know if you already know that, but you can add PF_ValueDisplayFlag_PERCENT to the PF_ADD_FLOAT_SLIDER call, and you'll get the float slider represented as percentage. (only in the UI)

     
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