Hey, folks -- I've been trying to figure out how to take RayDream's sequenced *.psd files and get them into a package like AfterEffects or even Premiere without having to drag the frames onto the timeline individually, frame 001, then frame 002, then frame 003, then frame 004 on and on (which goes on for a very long time at 30 frames per second). I want to use AfterEffects' outstanding compositing features with RayDream's alpha-channels (or masks, I guess they call it). I'm sure there's some easy answer that I just don't know what it is. Any help out there? Anyone know of a tutorial I can find, or give me some guidance here? Thanks in advance! Dex.

This is really easy - 1 - Open up Quicktime Player (I have Pro, I dont know if you have to have Pro or not, but its only $20 and youre supporting Apple so go ahead (-: ) 2 - File >> Open Image Sequence 3 - Enter in the FPS 4 - QT will compile the images into a mov. Hope this helps! Nebula-SNS moving to Lightwave

Az Chip, here is what the after effects 4.1 help file says: To import a sequence of still images: 1 Do one of the following: In Windows, make sure that each filename has the correct file extension and that all filenames in the sequence contain an equal number of digits at the end of the filename, but before the extension. For example, File000.bmp, File001.bmp, File002.bmp, and so on. In Mac OS, make sure all filenames in the sequence contain an equal number of digits at the end of the filename. For example, File000, File001, File002, and so on. 2 Move all the files in the sequence to the same folder. 3 In After Effects, choose File > Import > Footage File. 4 Locate and select the first file in the sequence. 5 Select Sequence, and then click Open. Premiere has a similar feature. hope this helps! greg

I just busted out the manual for AE 3.1 and it says the same thing as 5.0 which is what Greg answered. You dont even need to find and open the first frame...you can open any frame and if you select it as a sequence it will open the whole thing up. Go find your boss and beat him until he lets you buy after effects 5.0. You will be amazed at the difference. Its like the jump from photoshop 4.0 to 5.0. Can you remember photoshop w/o the history brush? That sucked! I would however experment...you will probably have to import it premultiplied with color (black) or with an inverted alpha. I wish there was a standard all programs use..avid, carrara, ae...I never remember wich program needs what kind of alpha.

It's amazing what you can find if you actually crack open the manual! (But it was at home, I was not, so you get the idea....) I had tried exactly what was described by your very helpful replies above. Here's what I missed: Greg's step 5 says, "select sequence." Problem was, until late last night, I'd never seen the "sequence" tick box. But, once I've hilighted a file that can support a sequence, it suddenly un-shades itself and becomes an option. Thanks so much to everyone! I have it now! Neb -- cool workaround. I never would have thought to go by way of Quicktime. I'm on a PC, so it's not my first line of thought. And, by the way, RDS does generate a great alpha channel. (Unless you're using the motion blur within RDS -- then it gets funky.) For anyone's info, it seems to work best using premultiplied with black. Brent -- I'm on supervisor number 10 in 3 years, now, and they're about to move me to another division. I'm just glad that they haven't decided to get rid of my position entirely! (Besides, this is my personal copy of AE 3.1; I can't afford to upgrade just now -- just spent my wad on a new computer....) And I remember working with photoshop before it had LAYERS! (2.0, I think is the version I started on....) Ack! Thanks, again, to everyone for coming to my rescue! Dex