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Activity Forums Adobe After Effects Control Scale with Null Position

  • Control Scale with Null Position

    Posted by Brian Altman on February 24, 2010 at 4:47 pm

    Is there a way to control a layer’s scale by using the position of a null and/or gradient?

    For example, let’s say that you have a grid of boxes. Each box is on it’s own layer. Is it possible to then drag a null from left to right that will scale those boxes up as it moves past them?

    Thanks for any help!

    Michael Szalapski replied 16 years, 2 months ago 3 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • Andy George

    February 24, 2010 at 5:13 pm

    Hi Brian,

    Is there a reason you want to use a null or gradiant?
    The way I would scale multiple items is like this-

    Create a null object and apply the “slider” effect from the
    expression controlls effect catagory.

    Open the scale property of the first item I want to control the scale of (“layer_1” lets call it)
    and option click on the stopwatch to reveal the expression controls. Quickwhip
    the scale property to the slider effect on the null object.

    Now select layer_1 and go to edit>copy expression only.

    Select the rest of the layers you want linked to the null and paste-

    -Andy

  • Brian Altman

    February 24, 2010 at 5:28 pm

    That works for scaling all of the objects at the same time. I’m trying to figure out a way to “grow” the objects on in a linear way.

    It would be similar to manually setting the scale for all objects from 0 to 100%, and then offsetting the layers so that they scale up starting on the left and ending on the right. Does that make sense?

    The problem is that I am going to be working with a ton of layers and would rather find a more efficient way of working.

  • Andy George

    February 24, 2010 at 5:44 pm

    Hi Brian,

    Yes that makes sense. You could use a “follow the leader” expression,
    which would allow you to set a consistent offset between each scale.

    Is that what your looking for? Here is a article that does a good job
    of breaking down Time offset in expressions.

    https://www.creativemac.com/2003/12_dec/tutorials/followtheleader.htm

    -Andy

  • Brian Altman

    February 24, 2010 at 6:01 pm

    I think that just may work; although I already have it set up in my 3D app for this particular project!!

    Thanks for the tip…I’ll review that link for future use.

  • Michael Szalapski

    February 24, 2010 at 6:33 pm

    Check this out. It uses expressions on a null object (mouse layer) to drive the scale of objects.

    – The Great Szalam
    (The ‘Great’ stands for ‘Not So Great, in fact, Extremely Humble’)

    No trees were harmed in the creation of this message, but several thousand electrons were mildly inconvenienced.

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