Inverse Magnetism

[Colin Braley]

This is definetly possible, and is a very neat idea, I never thought of doing somehting like this. Assuming there is no parenting goign on, this expression should work for you:


//begin expression
maxDisplacement = 500;
maxDistance = 700;
//--
cameraPos = thisComp.activeCamera.position;
thisPos = position;
vec = cameraPos - thisPos;
distance = length( vec );
dispAmt = ease(distance , 0 , maxDistance, maxDisplacement , 0);
normalizedVec = normalize( vec );
position - (normalizedVec * dispAmt)
//end expression

What this does is as the camera moves closer to a layer, the layer moves away, in the direction from the camera to the center of the layer. If you want the layers to move away farther, adjust maxDisplacement, and if you want the layers to begin repelling at a closer distance to the camera, make maxDistance smaller. Enjoy.

~Colin

[Johnnyfix]

Thanks for your help!
This might be a stupid question

Do I apply this expression the position property of each layer to be influenced by the camera?

[Filip Vandueren]

Nice expression, Colin,

to Johnny:

yes, you’ll have to apply it to each layer’s position.

[Johnnyfix]

Okay, great! I just tested it and it looks awesome.

One last question:

Right now, the layers are influenced in all three dimensions. Is there a way to restrict the movement of the layers to just the X and Y axis?

Thanks again for your help.

[Colin Braley]

[Filip Vandueren] “Nice expression, Colin,”

Thanks Filip

[johnnyfix] “Is there a way to restrict the movement of the layers to just the X and Y axis?”

Sure, I think this expression below should do it, but I don’t have AE at the computer I’m at, so I cant test it to be sure. Apply this expression to the position property of every layer you want to be affected:

//begin expression
maxDisplacement = 500;
maxDistance = 700;
//–
cameraPos = thisComp.activeCamera.position;
thisPos = position;
vec = cameraPos – thisPos;
distance = length( vec );
dispAmt = ease(distance , 0 , maxDistance, maxDisplacement , 0);
normalizedVec = normalize( [vec[0] , vec[1]] );
position – (normalizedVec * dispAmt)
//end expression

If this dosen’t work, let me know.
~Colin

[Julian Sixx]

Hi

//begin expression
maxDisplacement = 500;
maxDistance = 700;
//–
cameraPos = thisComp.activeCamera.position;
thisPos = position;
vec = cameraPos – thisPos;
distance = length( vec );
dispAmt = ease(distance , 0 , maxDistance, maxDisplacement , 0);
normalizedVec = normalize( [vec[0] , vec[1]] );
position – (normalizedVec * dispAmt)//end expression

The above expression gives me a division error on line 11

[Colin Braley]

Sorry about that, it will give you an error if the camera is at the same position as a layer…try this revised version:


//begin expression
maxDisplacement = 500;
maxDistance = 700;
//--
cameraPos = thisComp.activeCamera.position;
thisPos = position;
vec = cameraPos - thisPos;
distance = length( vec );
dispAmt = ease(distance , 0 , maxDistance, maxDisplacement , 0);
normalizedVec = normalize( [vec[0] , vec[1]] );
try{
position - (normalizedVec * dispAmt)
}catch(e){
position
}
//end expression


~Colin

[Johnnyfix]

Thanks so much for all your help. These expressions work great!

You guys rock.