AE questions

[Flame-X]

There's several AE questions I like to ask regarding effects and other.

1)

How do u do that transition/masking or whatever effect that is?
If this pic wont help then see this video please.
http://tinyurl.com/3bpow7 <<< effect starts at 31 sec.

2)

Sorry for the sloppy arrows but on the masked rectangles how do u do the gradient opacity?

3)

Ok.. are those sakura petals from particle plugins or do u have to manually create them?

4) Is there any way to play audio anywhere in the timeline rather than from the beginning?

[BasharOfTheAges]

1) That's all playing with layers and masking. Moving multiple masks over time with boarders and playing with their settings will get effects like that. Add masks, edit their points, keyframe them, and play with the different other options and you'll find things that you like.

2) I'm not entirely sure how to do this, but since i know you can import custom masks into effects like shatter, i'm thinking you can import a gradient into a chroma key to get an opacity-gradient layer.

3) I'm not sure, but they look to be particle generated.

[Up In Flamez]

1. Like Bashar said, use several masks, but they don't have to be closed masks. Just make lines with the pen tool, and go to Effects > Generate > Stroke to make the border.

2. Ok for this one, make a mask, then make a second mask on top where you want it to "fade" out. Then set that to subtract and play with the points.

3. About this one, I'm not to sure. It looks like the petals are from the anime itself. But you can create something similar with CC Particle World, or you could try Trapcode's Particular.

4. Just move this header around to start and end where you preview.

[Zarxrax]

For 2, I'd just make a rectangular image with a gradient on it, and set it as a track matte.

[Flame-X]

thanks for the replies =)