TextLink After Effects Script:
Objective: Streamline the localization process for motion design assets.
Coding Initiative:
Recognizing a bottleneck in the localization process, learned basic JavaScript and ExtendScript coding to allow for the creation of a customized localization utility.
Script Development:
Developed the TextLink After Effects script from scratch, addressing various issues in the localization process and incorporating advanced functionality.
Functionality Highlights:
Processes both static and motion assets, identifies missing project text versus csv ingest text strings, and automates output versioning.
Enables user variable inputs and provided feedback throughout the localization and linking pipeline.
User Support:
Created a comprehensive user guide outlining the tool's functionalities to support users.
Pilot Success:
Successfully piloted the localization script, resulting in approximately 85%-90% reduction in total resolution time for a mid-tier requests involving 5-10 one-minute videos across eight languages.
Layers to Artboards Illustrator Script:
Objective: Enhance the workflow of motion designers working with Illustrator artboards containing multiple layers.
Coding Initiative:
Design team identified a workflow bottle neck in that all style sheets for a storyboard needed to be on a single artboard in order to efficiently transfer their contents to an After Effects project. This workflow does not allow for the designers to see all style frames at once, in context, so they would have to switch between layers to see each style frame.
Script Development:
Developed the Layers to Artboards Illustrator script to convert individual Illustrator layers into symbols, placing them on separate artboards with matching names. Each artboard would be offset from the previous and would contain the symbol for the layer it represents. All layers still remain intact on the primary artboard, allowing for ease of export.
Workflow Improvement:
Allowed for designers to view all storyboard layers simultaneously and make modifications through the symbol element, maintaining a single artboard multi-layer stack.
Facilitated asset tracking throughout the animation workflow, enhancing traceability and organization.
MarkerMaster Script:
Objective: Automate the setup process for a 'trigger with markers' animation expression in After Effects.
Coding Initiative:
Design team use of the trigger with markers expression was not be adequately leveraged. The creation and modification of markers was impeding the workflow, so a marker script was requested.
Script Creation:
Developed the MarkerMaster script to automate the setup process for a 'trigger with markers' animation expression.
Functionality Highlights:
Enabled the 'trigger with markers' expression for a control composition, allowing multi-layer and multi-animation sources to be called based on associated action layer labels.
Offered various functions, including selecting preset marker names, creating custom named markers, forming marker groups for sets of animation markers, and shifting or removing markers within a specified range.
Potential Impact:
The MarkerMaster script was developed and launched but did not receive a comprehensive analysis or design review. It did however show significant potential to impact workflow efficiency by allowing streamlined access to action layer markers and therefor to the underlying animation tracks.
The use case shows that this setup, when applied to projects with redundant animations, such as user interface interactions with repeated trigger animations; such as clicks, drags, taps, and holds, would be significantly optimized both at time of creation, as well as upon execution of requested revisions. Unfortunately the optimization scale is nearly impossible to estimate due to the number of associated factors; such as number of animation layers, complexity of animations, number of repetitions of animations, and more.
