How to limit a layer’s position to a circular zone

[Andrei Popa]

center = [960,540]
maxDistance =100;
if (length(center,position)>maxDistance) center + maxDistance*(position-center)/length(center,position) else value

However, if you go too far outside, the layer will act a bit strange before you get its position back inside the circle. The code was taken from here and altered a bit to fit your situation.

Andrei
My Envato portfolio.

[Dan Ebberts]

Here’s a way to do it with vectors:

center = [500,400];
radius = 200;
v = position – center;
length(v) > radius ? center + normalize(v)*radius : value

Dan

[Romain Charles]

Thank you very much, I spent my entire day trying to find a solution !
You’re the best !

[Romain Charles]

Thank you too Dan, that gives me the occasion to work my javascript 😉

[Romain Charles]

Hello, this is how I used your expression to work better on duik rigging.
I lock the controller on the members.
The expression is applied to the controller position.
Thanks to the both of you !

// layers relationships : member C parented to memberB parented to memberA parented to control

memberA=thisComp.layer("cuisse droite");
memberB=thisComp.layer("patte arrière droite");
memberC=thisComp.layer("mollet arrière droite");
control=thisComp.layer("corps");

function getWorldPos(L){
return L.toWorld(L.anchorPoint);
}

distA = length(getWorldPos(memberA),getWorldPos(memberB));
distB = length(getWorldPos(memberB),getWorldPos(memberC));
radius = distA+distB;

// if the anchorPoint of the control layer is no [0,0]
center = memberA.transform.position
-corps.transform.anchorPoint;

position = transform.position;
v = position - center;
length(v) > radius ? center + normalize(v)*radius : value

[Romain Charles]

Update

memberA=thisComp.layer("épaule droite");
memberB=thisComp.layer("patte avant droite");
memberC=thisComp.layer("mollet avant droite");

function getWorldPos(L){
return L.toWorld(L.anchorPoint);
}

distA = length(getWorldPos(memberA),getWorldPos(memberB));
distB = length(getWorldPos(memberB),getWorldPos(memberC));
radius = distA+distB;

center = getWorldPos(memberA);
pos = getWorldPos(thisLayer);

v = pos - center;
length(v) > radius ? center + normalize(v)*radius : value