Control Scale with Null Position

[Andy George]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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’)

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