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create a path with expressions and use methods like pointOnPath
Hi forum
How can I create a path with expressions and use methods like pointOnPath etc. later within the same expression?
For example this expression on the source of a textlayer doesnt output [0,0] as expected. It outputs the middlepoint of the original path.originalPath = thisComp.layer(“Pathlayer”).content(“Form 1”).content(“Path 1”).path
correctedPath = originalPath;
correctedPath.createPath([[-100,0] , [100,0]] , [] , [] , originalPath.isClosed());
correctedPath.pointOnPath(.5,time);Any ideas?
Thanks so much. -
6 Replies
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Hi Arne,
As far as I know you can only create paths on a path object, like in a shape layer or on a mask. And since the expression can only effect the property it’s applied to, the path stays the same -
Hi Robert
thanks for your reply.
but i dont really get it. Even when you try to use it in the path expression (what I want, the text layer was only for print out the variable) it doesn´t work. Type this in the path property:
originalPath = thisProperty;
correctedPath = originalPath;
correctedPath.createPath([[-100,0] , [100,0]] , [] , [] , originalPath.isClosed());
midpoint = correctedPath.pointOnPath(.5,time);createPath([ midpoint , [100,0]] , [] , [] , originalPath.isClosed());
And you would expect the first vertex at [0,0] but it isn´t, it is in middle of what ever the originalPath was.
How can I create a path and use its attributes afterwards in the same expression?https://www.instagram.com/arnemuench/
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Okay it seems like the pointOnPath expression needs a drawn path to calculate. But since you are using expressions to draw your path there should be other ways to calculate the mid point.
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hi again
i actually found another solution for my expression, but the question is still interesting. i don‘t think its easily possible to calculate the point at a given percentage on a path without using pointOnPath. if it is possible at all, i guess its quite complicated beziercurve calculations.so i just want to be sure.
does nobody know if there is a method for creating a path with expressions and using methods like pointOnPath and normalsOnPath afterwards within the same expressions??seems strange for that this shouldn‘t be doable.
thanks for any hints..https://www.instagram.com/arnemuench/
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Not necessarily so strange:
The path you create in JavaScript is actually just an object that contains only the instructions a different piece of the AE-codeset needs to draw that bezier.
Similarly, using pointOnPath is probably querying the bezier-drawing part of AE to calculate the result. So I think the bezier-Math isn’t actually accessible directly within the expression.
Hope I’m making sense, and just speculating though. -
thank you Filip
Yes,makes sense.
Always good to hear if something is not possible to let go the ideas and stop thinking that I just missed something.https://www.instagram.com/arnemuench/
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