Flying though photos who all have different sizes

[Kevin Camp]

you could do it with card wipe/dance… you’d have to create a large image (or precomp) out of your 2000 images. each image would need to stay within a grid cell, but it could be any shape, size or orientation with that cell. you would just leave the negative space between the images transparent.

i seem to remember a script or expression that could position layers randomly…? if it worked in 3d space you could try that and then animate a camera thru them.

Kevin Camp
Designer – KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW

[Mike Clasby]

Random X Z but all same Y

Here’s a hack from a Colin expression, on the position of a 3D layer (Alt click the Position Stopwatch then Paste in the expression):

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

—————–

And here’s one from Dan with a range for the Y axsis:

Dan Ebberts – 12:43pm Aug 3, 06 PST (#1 of 1)

Something like this should get you started:

minX = 0;
maxX = thisComp.width;
minY = 0;
maxY = thisComp.height;
minZ = 0;
maxZ = 1000;

seedRandom(index,true);
random([minX,minY,minZ],[maxX,maxY,maxZ])

Dan

NOTE: YOu just need to Apply the expression to one 3D layer, select that property (Position)then Edit>Copy Expression Only…
Then select all the other layers you want distributed, and Paste.

[Rhett Robinson]

Ooooh… I love to see these here’s the problem, here’s the solution expressions. Admittedly, I don’t take the time to learn the math behind it to generate new ones, but love to adjust – you could even get fancier and set up some sliders for the values, I love that step, especially when I’m following a tutorial like Ayato’s that gives values as “trial and error”!

Digital Anarchy sells a 3D assistants package, which gives you a lot of control – the “lite” version used to come with AE, and it really has all you need. There are also a lot of ways to get all your photos the same size (or similar, which may even be better) if you want to do that. Depending on what your final product is going to be, the easy way is frequently also the best way.