Grabbing Color from solid layer to tint value on another layer

[Barend Onneweer]

If you mean by expressions, expressions aren’t currently able to sample a layers pixel values.

But if you just want to use the solid as an ‘optical filter’ to tint the layers below, you could play around with ‘blend modes’. Most notably ‘color’, or ‘multiply’.

There are other ways of accessing a solid’s color by applying a ‘fill’ effect and using the color of the fill effect to drive another expression.

But what is it you’re trying to achieve?

Bar3nd

Raamw3rk – digital storytelling and visual effects

[Cwolfe]

actually I’m trying to get the expression working.

I need to simplify color picking for a complex graphics package that gets reused by the Video Editors on a regular basis. The color scheme needs to change weekly and I need to come up with a way to change multiple elements as easily as possible. Most of it is easily done keying elements through solids so changing the solid changes the elements in multiple comps. However some use the tint effect and I need to come up with a way to change that through multiple comps from one comp.

Is there a way anyone knows of to get the tint color box to return a numerical value?

thanks!

[Chris Forrester]

I would on my main composition have a null layer lets call it controls, and place different expression controls I think its got a different category on V7 its in the effects list. In your example I would use the colour control.

Easiest way to achieve the next part would be to drag this effects panel away from the others so its on its own, you’ll see why later. Find in your deeper compositions the parts you want to be able to change the colours to and add an expression to the tint white part of the tint effect colour (or fill). You want to pick whip it to the colour control on the main composition (the one we created on that nul). It ought to be easier now as this panel of effects on the main timeline is in its individual panel (from earlier) so you can easily drag the whip to the effect, normally it would be hidden behind the other effect tab that you were currently adding an expression to This will then take on the value of the colour control.(you could also dragged the timelines to individual panels and pick whip across them, which ever you prefer:-D )

Hopefully you’ll see that you can do the same with the tint black to part, and in fact any effect that has a colour picker next to it.

What I would do group the colours that are the same always and link them all to the same individual colour control. For each individual colour you want to be able to change just add another expression control.
Now its easy to fiddle with different colour combinations.

One side note, be sure to name your comps exactly how you want AND any layers and effects, especially the effects with the controls. naming before pick whipping is a MUST. Renaming anything that is linked via an expression afterwards is a pain in the butt as you expressions will need updating to reflect these name changes. So pick names wisely and from the outset.

hope this makes sense, and that I explained it okay.

incidently I only suggest placing all these controls on the main timeline and linking them as convienence as all options will be available from the outset. you could then lock and make shy all layers you know will never need adjusting so its idiot proof to who ever might tocuh it, plus maybe leave notes on a guide layer .

Just reread your post, I hope this kind of workflow is what you were after. It might mean that your solids will all need the fill effect on them so they can have there colour changed via this method but well worth it if it saves you time once setup.

Chris

[Cwolfe]

Thank you thank you thank you! Simple and elegant solution. Perfect mix of flexibility and simplicity. Simple enough for me to feel silly for not thinking of it.

Thanks again Chris!

-Chris

[Chris Forrester]

Im glad it`ll work for you 😀

…and woot another chris!!! lol there are loads of us 😛