-
Expression Help (Lux Spotlight rotation)
Hello there, I have been asked to create some looping graphics for back screens to play in a concert (not a paid job). I have made about 10 so far, but one has me stumped, mainly in the useage of expressions which I know little about.
Basically the for the look of a full lighting rig with those spotlights that are computer controlled (not sure of their sorrect name.intellegent spotlights?) well basically I have set them up in AE to mimmic an overhead truss setup and applied Lux.
Now, I have 24 lights and 1 minute of workspace, basically I need the lights to slowly sweep as they would in a real concert (all randomly, but with relatively similar velocity). I figured to do this would be to animate the lights X and Y rotation over an arc of about 180 degrees, I tried using a simple expression, (wiggle(.2,180)) for both rotation properties, and this looked OK, except the velocity was not constant. I am basically going for the look of a constant ‘sweep’ from the lights.
Now I know its not that cool to simply ask for work to be done for me, but I am sure most of you would have a better grasp of expressions than my very basic knowledge. Could you recommend at least a starting point or an expression that would achieve the look I am going for? If any of you have any lighting experience and have programed those lights perhaps you would know an algorithm?
Thanks, I really appreciate it guys
-
2 Replies
-
I think you are using the wrong approach for this. You should randomize the timing, not the animation itself. What I would do is to create a reference spotlight. Animate it one cycle, then use loopOut(“cycle”) to continue that animation infinitely. On your other lights use something like that:
seedRandom(index,true);
original=thisComp.layer(“Reference Light”).rotationX;
//timing variation offset in seconds
time_min=-10;
time_max=10;
time_rand=random(time_min,time_max);//timing variation multiplier
time_mult_min=-10;
time_mult_max=10;
time_mult=random(time_min,time_max);//angle variation
angle_min=-90;
angle_max=90;
angle_rand=random(angle_min,angle_max);//rotation value of reference mapped to new time
angle_time=original.valueAtTime(time+time_rand*time_mult);
//new rotation
angle_final=angle_time+angle_rand;
[angle_final]
By playing with the values you should be able to control every parameter pretter easily. I would create some sliders on a dummy layer, so you can vary all your parameters easily once you have your expression applied and cloned your lights into an array.
Mylenium
[Pour Myl
-
Thanks alot, i ended up using loopOut(type = “cycle) after I keyframed one rotation, then just duplicated the animation and changed some valvues manually.
I got the result I was looking for, thanks again
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up