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Dynamic, Multi-Point, Marker-Triggered Timeline
Ok, this one has me stumped. I’m attempting to build a dynamic timeline animation that will allow me to move linearly through multiple points along the timeline using expressions. I’d like to trigger the animation from point 1 to 2, 2 to 3, etc. with layer or timeline markers, but the expression needs to reference the X position of the next point so that the animation smoothly starts and stops (hopefully with organic ease out/in) at the next position point. I’m hoping all of this could be dynamic so that I can move both the trigger markers AND the position points along the time. I’ve attached a visual diagram of what I’m trying to accomplish for reference. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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2 Replies
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– Make the timeline and all the event circles the child of a Null Layer.
– We will give the anchorPoint of this Null Layer this expression:
m=thisLayer.marker;
slideTime = 0.6;
if (m.numKeys>1) {
nk = m.nearestKey(time-slideTime);
nextKeyIndex = Math.min(m.numKeys, nk.index + (nk.time < time-slideTime));
prevKeyIndex = Math.max(1 , nextKeyIndex-1);
fromP = thisComp.layer(m.key(prevKeyIndex).comment).position;
toP = thisComp.layer(m.key(nextKeyIndex).comment).position;
animTime = m.key(nextKeyIndex).time;
ease(time, animTime, animTime+slideTime, fromP, toP);
} else {
value
}
The markers are supposed to go on the null layer, and have the same names as the (unique) layernames of the event circles.
By animating the anchorpoint, not the position of the null, you can still animate position and scale of the null.
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WOW. Just… W-O-W. My jaw is on the floor. I couldn’t even begin to wrap my head around this, and you’ve managed build exactly what I was looking to accomplish in a single, elegant Expression. I can’t even begin to thank you enough, Filip!
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