Graphics

I am debating how to accomplish a graphic look in Xpression. I want to minimize the load on the system, have the greatest flexibility, and manage time spent.

What taxes system resources most? Xpression codec video files, .3ds models or primitives? How much do lights, textures and shading tax resources?

Using video files alone might seem simplest, but I would need a movie for every variation of each graphic element and I'd have less flexibility.

I could combine 3D models of the dimensional layers with quads, but that means more time in a 3D modeling program and I think I'd have less control over the texture and shading of the 3D models within Xpression.

Or I could build the look with primitives and quads---it seems that I would have great flexibility, but then I might spend more time in Xpression and use more keyframed texture layers and light objects to get the living look we've come to expect from motion graphics.

Ideas? Observations? Gotchas?

Full screen HD video files will use the most resources.. In most cases you can't play more than 2 HD fullscreen clips at a time without starting to run out of performance (meter will be over 100% and stutter).. On the lastest generation of XPression hardware you can probably do more than 2 simultaneous clips.. When the clips are smaller than fullscreen you can play quite a few at a time.

3d models and primitives don't use too much in terms of resources; although enabling per-pixel lighting in the shader and having many lights can start to use a lot of performance (probably less than video clips though). Adding many "layer objects" to a scene can use up performance..

Just keep your eye on the Performance meter at the top of xpression. You need to play your scene on a real hardware output though for that meter to be accurate. You'll find when playing on virtual outputs the meter is always much lower..

#XPression

Personally I try to build as much as possible all animations and graphics inside xpression. You do get the most flexibility if you want to add logic to change textures or play other animation controllers.

I think that most people in graphics who already know After Effects simply keep using it to create motion graphic clips to be then imported in XPRESSION. If they force themselves to really learn the capabilities of Xpression they will start to understand how easy it is to create amazing graphics out of some simple textures.

#XPression

If I use two instances of the exact same video clip in the same channel or in two separate channels---does that count against resources as one or two files?

Does the apparent size of an imported .3ds model or a primitive seem to affect performance?

Does the number of invisible layers in a template affect performance either in Xpression or in ENPS?

I'm a big fan of using the right tool for the job. I love AfterEffects, but if Xpression is capable of doing an aspect of the work more flexibly and/or efficiently---that's the tool to use.

#XPression