Lines Creator - Manual

connect objects with lines

Introduction

Lines Creator is a script for After Effects that connects objects with lines.

You can connect all kinds of objects with three main types of lines - straight, arc and squared. Easy to customize and work with it will speed up your workflow in no time.

Lines Creator is also equipped with one click solutions for adjusting objects' anchor points, caps or joins thanks to the Anchor Point tool, Caps tool and the Joins tool. You can also change all lines' styles with a single click from the Style tool or change their type from 2D to 3D and vice versa.

Installation

To install Lines Creator you simply need to follow these 2 steps:

After unpacking the archive of the script, copy and paste the files contained in it to this specific folder of After Effects:
- On Windows this folder is located at:
  "(after_effects_install_path)/Support Files/Scripts/ScriptUI Panels"
- On Macintosh this folder is located at:
  "(after_effects_install_path)/Scripts/ScriptUI Panels"
Allow Lines Creator to access the network so your copy can be registered. This option is found under "Preferences > General" tab of After Effects
- On Windows this option is located in:
  "Edit > Preferences > General...
- On Macintosh this option is located in:
  "After Effects > Preferences > General...
Make sure the user that runs AE has permissions to read from and write to the ScriptUI Panels folder. If you have issues with your license file you can try to:
- On Windows:
  run After Effects as administrator or change the permissions of that folder from Properties > Security > Edit..
- On Macintosh:
  change the permissions of that folder from Get Info > Sharing & Permissions

User Interface

Lines Creator adaptive design

Lines Creator has adaptive design that will shrink and float depending on your window size.

Lines Creator User Interface elements

1) Settings button

Opens Lines Creator Settings window. Check Lines Creator Settings window section below.

2) Anchor Point tool

Change the anchor point position of the selected layers.

3) Create Lines from one layer to all other

Create lines from the first selected layer to all other layers in the selection.

4) Create Lines in the selection order

Create lines from first to second layer in the selection, from second to third and so on.

5) Create Lines from all to all

Create Lines from every selected layer to all other layers in the selection.

6) Set lines style to Straight Line

Change selected lines' style to straight lines. Sets default line style to straight.

7) Set lines style to Straight Rectangle Line

Change selected lines' style to straight rectangle lines. Sets default line style to straight rectangle.

8) Set lines style to Arc Line

Change selected lines' style to arc lines. Sets default line style to arc.

9) Set lines style to Arc Reversed Line

Change selected lines' style to arc reversed lines. Sets default line style to arc reversed.

10) Set lines style to Square Horizontal Line

Change selected lines' style to square horizontal lines. Sets default line style to square horizontal.

11) Set lines style to Square Vertical Line

Change selected lines' style to square vertical lines. Sets default line style to square vertical.

12) Copy Line Effects Styles

Copy all settings in the Effects panel from the selected line (first line if more than one selected).

13) Paste Line Effects Styles

Paste all previously copied Effects panel settings to all selected lines.

14) 2D Lines

Set selected lines' style and layer to 2D.

15) 3D Lines

Set selected lines' style and layer to 3D.

16) Butt Caps

Change selected layers' caps to Butt Caps. Sets default caps to Butt Caps

17) Round Caps

Change selected layers' caps to Round Caps. Sets default caps to Round Caps

18) Projecting Caps

Change selected layers' caps to Projecting Caps. Sets default caps to Projecting Caps

19) Miter Join

Change selected layers' join to Miter Join. Sets default joins to Miter Join

20) Round Join

Change selected layers' join to Round Join. Sets default joins to Round Join

21) Bevel Join

Change selected layers' join to Bevel Join. Sets default joins to Bevel Join

Lines Creator Line User Interface elements

1) From

Start-point layer for the line.

2) To

End-point layer for the line.

3) Trim Start

Trim the line from the start. Value in percentage.

4) Trim End

Trim the line from the end. Value in percentage.

5) Trim Offset

Offset the trim. Value in degrees.

6) 3D

Turn straight line in 3D line. This happens automatically if both From and To layers are 3D when you create the line.

7) Z Orientation

Rotate the line around its Z orientation axis. Works only with straight and arc line styles.

8) Straight Line Mode

Makes sure the line style is at least straight. Always on.

9) Rect Height

If more than 0 the line becomes rectangle and this setting changes its height. Value in pixels.

10) Corner Roundness

Change the straight line rectangle corner roundness when "Rect Height" is more than 0. Value in pixels.

11) Arc Mode

If on line becomes arc. Overwrites "Straight Line Mode".

12) Reverse

Reverse arc direction when the line is in "Arc Mode".

13) Size

Change arc size when the line is in "Arc Mode". Value in pixels.

14) Square Mode

Turn the line into squared line. Overwrites "Straight Line Mode" and "Arc Mode".

15) Horizontal

Change line's direction to horizontal when the line is in "Square Mode".

16) Corners Proportion

Change line's corner proportions when the line is in "Square Mode". Value in percentage.

17) Corner 1 Lock

Change line's first corner size when the line is in "Square Mode". Overwrites "Corners Proportion". Value in pixels.

18) Corner 2 Lock

Change line's second corner size when the line is in "Square Mode". Overwrites "Corners Proportion" and "Corner 1 Lock". Value in pixels.

19) Corner 1 Roundness

Roundness for the first corner when "Square Mode" is on.

20) Corner 2 Roundness

Roundness for the second corner when "Square Mode" is on.

Lines Creator shortcuts window

1) Left Click

Left clicking on any of the "Lines" buttons will create line(s) between all selected layers in the desired order depending on which button you use.

2) Ctrl/Cmd + Left Click

Holding down Ctrl(Win)/Cmd(Mac) key and then Left clicking on any of the "Lines" buttons will create arc line.

3) Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Left Click

Holding down Ctrl(Win)/Cmd(Mac) key and Shift key and then Left clicking on any of the "Lines" buttons will create reversed arc line.

2) Alt + Left Click

Holding down Ctrl(Win)/Cmd(Mac) key and then Left clicking on any of the "Lines" buttons will create horizontally aligned squared line.

3) Alt + Shift + Left Click

Holding down Ctrl(Win)/Cmd(Mac) key and Shift key and then Left clicking on any of the "Lines" buttons will create vertically aligned squared line.

Lines Creator Settings

Set the desired preferences for Lines Creator.

Lines Creator Settings window > General tab

1) General tab

All preferences concerning Lines Creator.

2) Trim Line Layer

Change the newly created line layer in and out points in the timeline to intercept the layers it connects.

3) Default Line Width

The default line width in pixels.

4) Hide Line Style Controls

Minify the UI by hiding the Style controls.

5) Hide 2D/3D Controls

Minify the UI by hiding the 2D/3D controls.

6) Hide Caps/Joins Controls

Minify the UI by hiding the Caps/Joins controls.

7) Reset

Reset all settings to their default state. This action won't affect your licenses.

8) Save

Save changes made on all tabs.

9) Cancel/Close button

Closes Settings window. If any changes to the General tab were made pop-up window will ask to whether save or discard the changes.

10) Social links

Open our social pages in your browser.

Lines Creator Settings window > License tab

1) License tab

2) License information

Shows your current license status. It will automatically give you option to "Uninstall" if the product is already active.

3) Uninstall

If you're planning to transfer your license to another machine you must first remove all license data from your current computer - each license serves only one machine. After uninstalling contact our support for further instructions.

Activation

After acquiring an Activation key for Lines Creator from aesweets.com you simply need to enter your purchase e-mail and the received Activation key in the Lines Creator Settings window > License tab and then press the Activate button.

How to Activate Lines Creator

1) Enter your email

Enter your Activation email. The email is listed in your "Product Activation Keys" table and sent to you via email after successful purchase. If you can't find your email please contact our help center.

2) Enter your Activation key

Enter the received "Activation Key" from your purchase email.

3) Activate

Press the Activate button and wait for the process to finish. After successful activation your "License information" status will change to Active. Make sure that your firewall is is disabled upon activation and AE have access to aesweets.com

NOTE: Make sure your After Effects and your machine can access aesweets.com for the activation process to take place. If you have firewall or proxy add the needed exceptions or disable them before the activation. You can turn back on your firewall and proxy server after the process.