Expression to point a layer Rotation towards null

[Walter Soyka]

Use this expression on the rotation properties of your shadow layers. Change the word CONTROL here to match the name of your shadow-caster layer.

lookAtLayer = "CONTROL";
L = thisComp.layer(lookAtLayer);
p = L.toComp(L.anchorPoint);
d = thisLayer.toComp(anchorPoint) - p;
d[0] = (d[0]==0)?1:d[0];
rotation + radians_to_degrees(Math.atan(d[1]/d[0])) - 90*d[0]/ Math.abs(d[0]);

Walter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive   |   RenderBreak [blog]   |   Profile [LinkedIn]

[Mac Lad]

That really works man !! Awesome, thanks for the help.
I did try with dan’s shadow expression but that didn’t help me for the separate layers

[Mac Lad]

Is it possible to change the scale of the shadow layers depending upon the distance from the null?
for instance:
if my Control layer is at the top left corner then the scale of shadow layer at bottom right corner will be zero but the scale of the closest layer to the source is 100%. Just like a ramping

[Walter Soyka]

[Mac Lad] “Is it possible to change the scale of the shadow layers depending upon the distance from the null?”

Sure.

Add four Slider Control effects to your CONTROL layer, and name them and set their values as follows:
minDistance 0
minDistanceScale 100
maxDistance 1000
maxDistanceScale 0

The put this expression on the scale property of your shadow layers:
L = thisComp.layer("CONTROL");
maxDistance = L.effect("maxDistance")("Slider");
maxDistanceScale = L.effect("maxDistanceScale")("Slider");
minDistance = L.effect("minDistance")("Slider");
minDistanceScale = L.effect("minDistanceScale")("Slider");

distance = length(L.toComp(L.anchorPoint), thisLayer.toComp(thisLayer.anchorPoint));
scaleFactor = linear(distance, minDistance, maxDistance, minDistanceScale, maxDistanceScale) / 100;
[value[0] * scaleFactor, value[1] * scaleFactor]

Again, update the name CONTROL as necessary for your comp. You can adjust the values of the slider controls to tune the effect to your liking.

Walter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive   |   RenderBreak [blog]   |   Profile [LinkedIn]

[Mac Lad]

Its working awesome!!
thank you so much for the help… Ur genius 🙂