• Adobe After Effects Expressions

  Proximity of 3D layers expression: when x=x then z=N

  Posted by Damian Kemp on March 22, 2020 at 3:48 pm

  Hi,

  I’m trying to find custom code but probably searching for it the wrong way so I would like some technical help.

  I have a 3D null that moves from left to right across my comp. I also have an array of layers that I want to reference the null’s X position only as it moves across the comp window. When the layer and nulls’ X are equal the layer’s Z position will change (to a given slider value) and go back to it’s original value after.

  Example
  Keyframe 0: Null (-500,600,5000) – Layer (-10,600,5000)
  Keyframe 49: Null (-10,600,5000) – Layer (-10,600,100)
  Keyframe 99: Null (500,600,5000) – Layer (-10,600,5000)

  I also would like to able to define the layer’s Z animating position to be linear/ease etc and the amount of keyframes this is active over e.g. 25/50/100 frames before and after.

  I imagine this is similar to Dan Ebberts proximity detector but although I have been using expressions for over 10 years I’ve never looked into how to raw code.

  I could hand code this but client’s change their mid all the time, plus I like expressions! Any help is greatly appreciated.

  Thanks,
  Bearwolf

  bearwolfstudios.co.uk

  Tomas Bumbulevičius replied 6 years, 5 months ago 2 Members · 1 Reply
• 1 Reply

• 

  Tomas Bumbulevičius

  April 4, 2020 at 9:59 am

  Hey Damian, old thread, maybe you sorted out it already.

  Few clarifications:
  1. When the layer and nulls’ X are equal – basically, this does mean only the fact, that animation start point should happen after this condition is met? Because – equal condition itself will be only for a glimpse of a second.
  2. Z layer position size – you said its based on a given slider value. Will it be a single value?
  3. How many layers you planned to have in a comp? What their role in the scene? Are they just sitting there and waiting for value to move?

  Cheers!

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