Advice on transitioning between expression and keyframes

[Dan Lind]

Good question! I am very interested in a solution like that as well.

A thought, maybe it’s possible to transition the noise generated movement of the cubes to the keyframed position/movement with a slider control?

[Yoan Boisjoli]

Hi!

First method that can work is with a simple if/else statement. i.e.: if time is smaller than keyframe’s time apply expression, else apply keyframes value.

Second method would be just like Dan said, link the expression to an expression controller and keyframe the controllers.

Let me know if it answers your question!

Cheers!

[Armand Bakx]

Thanks a lot for your input Yoan!

Your first mentioned solution sounds logical. I have two questions about it:

1. Within expressions: how do you indicate which values (either the expression- or keyframe-based) the property should adhere to? I have never applied that method before. Could you show me an example of what such an expression would look like?

2. Using that method: would it be possible to exercice control over the transition between the last ‘generated’ position value, and the new ‘set’ (keyframed) position value? The way you describe it makes it sounds as if the shape only switches between which ‘source’ the values come from (either an expression or a keyframe), but that there isn’t any interpolation between these two values. I’m hoping that it’s possible to apply different kinds of easing when switching between these sources.

Secondly: If you’re willing to elaborate on Dans solution a little bit more, which you mentioned should also work, I would really appreciate it. I can see the logic in it, but can’t wrap my head around how that would work, for I’ve also never applied sliders or slider controllers much in my AE projects.

Looking forward to your answers. Thanks a lot again! ?

[Filip Vandueren]

For example, paste the below keyframes on a layer.

Using a slider will allow you to crossfade manually (with keyframes) between the results of an expression (in this case simply a wiggle), and the pure keyframes

Adobe After Effects 8.0 Keyframe Data
	Units Per Second	24
	Source Width	1
	Source Height	1
	Source Pixel Aspect Ratio	1
	Comp Pixel Aspect Ratio	1
Transform	Position
	Frame	X pixels	Y pixels	Z pixels	
	0	705.165	668.574	0	
	20	865.165	668.574	0	
	40	865.165	508.574	0	
	60	705.165	508.574	0	
	80	705.165	668.574	0	
	100	865.165	668.574	0	
	120	865.165	508.574	0	
	140	705.165	508.574	0	
	160	705.165	668.574	0	
Expression Data
w=wiggle(2,200,2);
linear(effect("Slider Control")("Slider"),0,100, value, w);
End of Expression Data
Effects	Slider Control #1	Slider #2
	Frame		
	0	100	
	28	100	
	140	0	
End of Keyframe Data

[Trent Armstrong]

Hi, everyone!

I love this kind of stuff! For me, it usually comes down to the linear() or ease() expressions. These are range mapper expressions. The setup looks generally like this:

linear([input value], [range start value], [range end value], [result value 1], [result value 2])

EXAMPLE:

1) Using Time as the input value

2) An opacity change happens between 1 second and 3 seconds

3) The opacity change needs to be from 0% to 100%

linear(time, 1, 3, 0, 100)

For your random position scenario, your expression might look like this:

var timeStart = 4; // There is random motion before this time

var timeEnd = 6; // The random motion has settled by this time

var temp = time; // Try using a slider with keyframes set to the values of timeStart and timeEnd

var pos1 = wiggle(1, 400); // The random motion

var pos2 = value; // This is the value of the position if the layer didn’t have the expression

ease(temp, timeStart, timeEnd, pos1, pos2) //

Ask questions about this if you don’t get it yet. Linear() and ease() are so important to my workflows that I want to help you understand them!

Trent

[Yoan Boisjoli]

Oh yes how did I ever forget about the linear() and ease() functions! These are life savers!

Thanks Trent!

[Dan Lind]

Wow, I’m learning a lot here! Really cool to see different ways to solve this issue.

As usual I took the low tech approach (which I guess doesn’t work in as many cases). I separated the dimensions of the Position and pasted this on the X Position that already had some keyframes, on a layer with a keyframed slider control.

transform.xPosition + ((wiggle(1,250)-transform.xPosition)*effect(“Slider Control”)(“Slider”))

It works, but it’s not pretty. ?

[Isa Alsup]

When you click to make a new expression, the expression box is populated with an expression that means “use current keyframes”

One easy way to do exactly what you describe is to add your expression to the current parameter value. Even if there are keyframes it works. Also if you edit the value or keyframe, you are editing it before the expression (it shows value after expression). Remember with 2 dimensional or 3 dimensional parameters arrays you need to use vector math or operate on each part separately.

I commonly will animate a parameter 0-1 or 0-100 then multiply it by a constant in the expression. In this way one animation could drive the fade for items with different transparency levels.

All the best