Countdown timer, again, but differnt…sorry!

[Sam Baum]

Hi Dave

As I need the counter to be 90 to zero and not 1.30 to zero, doesn’t this mean a need a differnt approach? I can’t get the usual methods to display numbers higher than 60.

Thanks

Sam

[Kevin Camp]

you can do this several ways, but a fairly simple, straight forward way is to create a text layer and add a slider expression control effect to the text layer.

then twirl down the text layer properties to get to the source text property and enable expressions for that property (select it and choose animation>add expression). in the expression field type Math.round( and drag the expression pickwhip to the sider value, then type ); after that. so your expression shoule look similar to this:

Math.round(effect(“Slider Control”)(“Slider”));

now if you key frame the slider value from 90 to 0 you should only get whole numbers.

Kevin Camp
Senior Designer
KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW

[Walter Soyka]

[sam baum] “I need to produce a countdown timer from 90 to zero. No decimal points, just 90, 89, 88 etc etc. “

Assuming you are talking about 90 seconds:

• Create a text layer in your comp. Add some dummy text and format it to your liking.
• In the Timeline panel, twirl down the text layer (click the disclosure triangle next to the layer name), then twirl down the Text properties set, revealing the Source Text property.
• Alt-click the Source Text stopwatch, and enter the following expression:

90-Math.floor(time)


Explaining the expression from right to left:

• time yields the current comp time in seconds with decimals.
• Math.floor(time) returns that time value as an integer, ignoring everything after the decimal point.
• 90-Math.floor(time) subtracts that time value from 90 to create the countdown.

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events

[Sam Baum]

Hi Kevin

This is a beautifully simple solution! Thanks!

One other thing, is there a way when using this method that I can have all number have 2 charectors? So that 9 – 0 show like this. 09, 08, 07 etc etc?

Many thanks

S

[Sam Baum]

Walter, yet another beautifully simple solution. There truly is many ways to skin a cat!

Same question to you, is there a way when using this method that I can have all number have 2 charectors? So that 9 – 0 show like this. 09, 08, 07 etc etc?

Many thanks

S

[Walter Soyka]

[sam baum] “Same question to you, is there a way when using this method that I can have all number have 2 charectors? So that 9 – 0 show like this. 09, 08, 07 etc etc?”

Add a test to see if the countdown is less than 10. If it is, add a leading zero:

countdown = 90-Math.floor(time);
if (countdown < 10) {"0" + countdown} else countdown

The same method would work for Kevin’s solution, too.

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events

[Sam Baum]

What a Legend! Thanks so much, I must say that I love this forum!

Have a great day everyone!

S

[Abie Silva]

I just used this and it worked great for me…

https://www.videocopilot.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10946&start=0