Expression for Random placement of layers in z and x depth but all the same y ?

[Mike Clasby]

Here’s a hack from a Colin expression, on position of a 3D layer:

minX = -500;//Minimum x depth value
maxX = 1000;//Maximum x depth value
minZ = -500;//Minimum z depth value
maxZ = 2000;//Maximum z depth value
seedRandom(index, true);
x = random(minX,maxX);
z = random(minZ, maxZ);
[Math.round( x), position[1], Math.round( z )]

Change the numbers (pixels) to spread or narrow the field, you could set up a slider on a null and easily change the spread. The Z is -500 so it falls in front of the default camera.

Here’s Colin’s original post, it was for Random Z:

https://forums.creativecow.net/cgi-bin/new_read_post.cgi?forumid=2&postid=879394

[Mylenium]

Answered this at CGTalk. Please do not cross-post in the future. It’s simply inefficient to take away from two people’s free time when one could do the job just as well. ;O) Thanks.

Mylenium

[Pour Myl

[Mike Clasby]

To answer you second question (Mylenium’s other mentioned forum), you can apply expressions on a mass basis by selecting the expression (position here) then Edit>Copy Expression only, then select as many layers (100’s ?) as you want to have the expression, and Paste.

[Mylenium]

Thanks yikes, completely overlooked that. ;O)

Mylenium

[Pour Myl

[Jack Hilkewich]

Thanks for the answer guys!

As for cross posting, I tend to disagree with you on this one, Mylenium. If I am researching for an answer to a question and I only post to one forum and then wait until I get an answer from that one forum that would not be very efficient. A number of people that use Cgtalk may not utilize Creative Cow and vice versa. This allows me to get the most mileage out of a problem’s solution by getting a larger amount of different people responding. Especially if you are working on a contract with a client waiting for his ad , time is very important.

I do however try not to double post on the same forum.

I mean no disrespect with this post.

Thanks for all your help!