AEMap v0.3.1

Create custom world maps in After Effects

AEMap gives you a lot of options to create maps. But these maps are sometimes hard to handle. The more features you throw in the more it will eat up your memory. After creating a map you should purge the memory and close the panel. Watch the tutorial or read all the options summaries below.

COMP SETTINGS

These are the basic settings for the new composition the script will create. The script starts at a scale of 3 (1080x540 pixels) with a 23 seconds 25fps comp. It will draw all masks onto one single layer. This is much faster than having the comps separated. (click the image above for a closer look)

3D? Checkbox:

If this is checked all the solids and precomps will be 3D and the continuous rasterization will be activated

Single Layer? Checkbox:

If this is checked all the the masks will be created on a single layer. This is pretty fast. In CS4 it is superfast. It will disable the zorro,precompose and color options. This also renders quicker than havin all those precomps. Great for a quick earth with CC-Sphere without fancy colors.

Use ShapeLayers? Checkbox:

This allows you to switch bewtween shape layers and masks on solids. If you use shape layers the script wont use the stroke effect for them. It uses the stroke property.

Use Timestamp? Checkbox:

This option adds a unique timestamp to the compname. This is useful if you have to create several maps or if you use the "Add Stroke Effect?" option.

Add Stroke Effect/Property? Checkbox:

Adds the Stroke effect to every polygon and links the following properties to some expression controllers in your map composition:
- stroke color - stroke weight - brush hardness - opacity - start - end - spacing 286 layers with a stroke effect and each with expressions will need a lot of render power. BE - AWARE - OF THAT !

Add Zorro Tags? Checkbox:

This adds comments to each layer the way Zorro-The-Layer-Tagger likes them. If you dont know Zorro have a look over here. This script is very usefull when dealing with lots of layers.

Precompose? Checkbox:

If this is checked all the 286 created polygons will be precomposed into 178 compositions loosly based on jurisdictions or location.

Reposition Anchor? Checkbox:

Thanx to the great script "RepositionAnchorPoint" by Charles Bordenave a.k.a nab you can reposition the anchors for the layers. They will be set into the center of the Layer.

Link Properties? Checkbox:

With this option you can decide to link the properties of the the contour or not. If you do not you can't change the styling via a controller. The Settings will be
for shape layers:
- Stroke Opacity percent 100
- Stroke Width 2
- Stroke Color alpha 255 red 255 green 255 blue 255 (also called white)

for masks on solids (stroke effect):
- Stroke Color white
- Stroke Brush Size 2
- Stroke Brush Hardness percent 78.9476
- Stroke Opacity percent 100
- Stroke Start percent 0
- Stroke End percent 100
- Stroke Spacing percent 15
These are ther basic settings for the stroke effect. If you need to make changes to that have a look @:

function addStrokeEffect(curComp, layer, countrieControl, onto_singlelayer, linkProps,contourColor)

Compname Textfield:

enter a name for the map composition.

Scale Textfield:

This option scales the composition. The default value is 1. That will create a comp in 360 x 180 pixels. So if you set it to 2.5… (Do the math youself). This field only accepts floating point values. If your value produces a composition size that does not use integer values like 5.555 * 380 = 2110.9, the script will floor the comp size and warn you about it. That dos not affect the map. But still it is recommended to use a scale that produces integer values.

Duration Textfield:

This sets the duration of the new comp in seconds. Use e.g. "10.25" or "1.5". This field only accepts floating point values

FPS Droppdown List:

Select the frame-rate for your new composition.

Fill Settings

With these options you can customize the colors of the map.

The DropDown List:

• black
• white
• grey
• light grey
• dark grey
• red
• green
• blue
• guave
• random - sets random colors
• hsl colors - define a range, offset,saturation and lightness
• hsl theme - lilac to red
• hsl theme - paleish greenish - sick ocean
• hsl theme - strong blue - wide
• hsl theme - strong red yellow green - pastafari baby!
• Custom HSL Color...
• Custom RGB Color...

Random Colors

Creates Random colors for all 286 layers

HSL colors & themes

If you choose option 2 “hsl colors” the Range / Offset / Sat / Light / fields get enabled so you can set your own values for the colors. There are 177 precomps so there will be 177 colors.The HSL themes are nothing more than presets for these fields. So don’t wonder if the interfaces keeps switching back to hsl Colors (list item 2).

Range in ° (degrees) Textfield: This

defines the range in degrees of colors that get created. It Uses the HSL color model. So a range of 360 is once around the circle. 720 is 2 times around. This field accepts only integer values.

Offset in ° (degrees) Textfield:

This option allows you to offset the starting point of the range. So if you set the range to 20 and the offset to 300 the script will produce colors from 300 to 320 degrees in 177 steps. That is something blueish. This field accepts only integer values.

Sat(uration) in % (percent) Textfield:

Use this to define the saturation of your colors from 0 -100. This field accepts only integer values.

Light(ness) in % (percent) Textfield:

Use this to define the lightness of your colors from 0-100. This field accepts only integer values.

Custom HSL Color...

When selected the H, S and L fields get enabled. H takes integer values between 0 and 360. The other two take integer values between 0 and 100

Custom RGB Color...

When selected THE R,G and B fields get enabled. They all take integer values between 0 and 255

No Fill

This creates shapelayers with no fill property. You have to add a stroke property or you wont se a thing.

Contour Settings

Here you can set the color of the contour. As in the fill settings you have some predefiend colors (black, white, grey, light grey, dark grey, red, green, blue, guave) and the possibility to set a custom RGB or HSL color.

Custom HSL Color...

Same as the fill setting

Custom RGB Color...

Same as the fill setting