Layer Position Relative to Text Length

[Andrew Musselman]

I know this is an old thread, and I’m not that great with expressions. This should do exactly what I need it to, but how do I use it? Where on which layer does this get pasted?

Thanks for the help!

L = thisComp.layer("text");
rect = L.sourceRectAtTime(time,false);
x = L.toComp([rect.left+rect.width,0])[0];

So something like this would position a layer 10 pixels to the right of the text:

gap = 10;
L = thisComp.layer("text");
rect = L.sourceRectAtTime(time,false);
x = L.toComp([rect.left+rect.width,0])[0];
[x+gap+width/2,value[1]]

Never Stop Learning.

[Dan Ebberts]

That would be a Position expression for a layer that you want to line up to the right of the text layer.

Dan

[Andrew Musselman]

Awesome!!! And what if I wanted to use it for text on the left side of the layer?

Never Stop Learning.

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

Although I didn’t read that very carefully, I expect it should work by changing the last line to

[x-gap-width/2,value[1]]

Kalleheikki Kannisto
Senior Graphic Designer

[Nikola Morin]

I Guys!
I Wrote This Expression like Dan Suggest:

gap = 10;

L = thisComp.layer(“text”).text.sourceText;

rect = L.sourceRectAtTime(time,false);

x = L.toComp([rect.left,0])[0];

[x-gap-width/2,value[1]]

and the answer of After effect is L.sourceRectAtTime is not a function….
don’t know what to do….
I Using After Effect CC 2020 V.17.5.1

Thank in Advance

[Dan Ebberts]

Try changing the 2nd line to:

L = thisComp.layer("text");

[Nikola Morin]

Thank you very much, that’s Working!
What will be the wordl without a Dan Ebbert??

[Tanja Burgin]

Hi there

I have a similar problem and unfortunately I can’t find a solution on the internet. Maybe someone can help me here?

I have a background area (white) whose size adjusts to the text-layer. Now I want to add a colored bar in front of the background area. The position of the bar must adapt to the size of the background area. Unfortunately I can’t find a solution for this. How could I do that?

Thanks a lot
Tanja

It should look like this (video) but with a colored bar in front of the white background (like the second row). There is also the Code I used (photo):

– Formebene 1 = White Background

– Name = Layer with Text

lower_third.mp4 533 KB MPEG-4 — Click to view

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Expression.png 101 KB Image File — Click to view

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