child moves half the rate of parent

[Robert Paynter]

I want the child layer to move half as far in the same amount of time as the parent

[Bob Root]

Hi Robert,

Hopefully this is what you are looking for… and hopefully I can explain it so it makes some sense. This explanation is a bit wordy, but no worries….in the end it’s four pretty simple steps.

Open the position properties on your parent and child layer. If you’ve already set position keyframes for the parent layer, move your timeline slider to the first position keyframe. Things will be alot easier for you if your initial parent position values are divisible by two.

First, you’ll need to create an expression in the position properties of the child layer.

[Option] or [Alt] click on the position stopwatch in your child layer (you’ll should now see an area to enter to enter your expression in the timeline area).

The first expression you’ll enter will be for the initial x,y position coordinates. You’ll want to type the same position values that your parent layer has. Your expression should look like this [x,y]. Use your parent position numbers for the x and y values.

Keeping your expression window open type the + key and then picwip your child position to the parent position.

Your expression should now look like this…

[x,y]+thisComp.layer(“Blue Solid 1”).transform.position

“Blue Solid” is just the name of my layer I’m using in this example. You should see the name of your parent layer instead of that.

Remember that the x and y values are the coordinates you copied from your parent layer position.

Now enter *.5 at the end of your expression.

Your expression should now look like this…

[x,y]+thisComp.layer(“Blue Solid 1”).transform.position*.5

You’ll notice that your child layer has hopped around a bit by this point, Depending on your initial coordinates, it may not be visible within your comp.

Change your expressions x and y values to 50% of the original values you entered. For example, if your original setting in your expression were [600,400] , you should re-enter them as [300,200].

This will place your child layer at the same coordinates as the parent.

Depending on where you want to place your child layer in the initial relation to the parent, you’ll need to offset the [x,y] values in the expression.

That’s should do it.

Try dragging your x and y values in the parent to see how things work for you.

Let me know if this works for you or if something doesn’t make sense. It’s pretty simple, but there are probably a dozen ways to get tricked up in it.

Bob

[Matt Gerard]

Bob, just found this wonderful explanation and expression that is working perfectly for me. Thanks for the excellent explanation and knowledge. Even from back in 2009, this just made my life a lot easier!

Regards-

Matt

Its more fun to ride a slow motorcycle fast than a fast motorcycle slow…