mimicking AppleDock with expressions

[Mylenium]

Well, multiply the X position by the scale factor. Dunno your specific setup, but if you already are using a Null and one of the keyframe methods like ease(), it could be something as simple as this:

pos_offset=100; //maximum maximum offset
pos_factor=thisLayer.scale[0]/100; //X scale of same layer

//decide whether the current icon is before or after the largest icon and move in the right direction

if (scale[0] < thisComp.layer(index+1).scale[0] {pos_direction = -1} else {pos_directrion = 1}; pos_new=position[0]+pos_factor*pos_offset*pos_direction; [pos_new,position[1]]

The only condition for the code to work is that your layers are stacked neatly in the right order because it uses the index to determine the direction in which to move.

Mylenium

[Pour Myl

[Mylenium]

Well, multiply the X position by the scale factor. Dunno your specific setup, but if you already are using a Null and one of the keyframe methods like ease(), it could be something as simple as this:

pos_offset=100; //maximum maximum offset
pos_factor=thisLayer.scale[0]/100; //X scale of same layer

//decide whether the current icon is before or after the largest icon and move in the right direction

if (scale[0] < thisComp.layer(index+1).scale[0]) {pos_direction = -1} else {pos_direction = 1}; pos_new=position[0]+pos_factor*pos_offset*pos_direction; [pos_new,position[1]]

The only condition for the code to work is that your layers are stacked neatly in the right order because it uses the index to determine the direction in which to move.

Mylenium

[Pour Myl

[Jetcityj]

Thanks Mylenium,

That is definitely on the right track but the icons seem to jump to their new positions instead of “sliding”. Any ideas on how to get the sliding factor?
I am still very new to the expression coding so I will see if I can build off yours to get what I need. Off to Motionscript to start the learning process…

Thanks again,
JetcityJ

[Mylenium]

May be due to the way the scale is calculated in the first place. The range that triggers the icon to scale may be to small. In that case you’d simply have re-use the code you are using there and modify the trigger distance. You might even have to use a second Null object.

Mylenium

[Pour Myl

[Colin Braley]

If you post the expression you are using for scale people will probably be able to help you out more.
~Colin

[Jetcityj]

this is a Frankenstein version of another expression I found on this forum.

BaseSize = thisComp.layer(“Scale #s”).effect(“Base size”)(“Slider”)
maxScale = thisComp.layer(“Scale #s”).effect(“Enlarge size”)(“Slider”)
MaxDist = thisComp.layer(“Scale #s”).effect(“MaxDist”)(“Slider”)
d = toWorld(anchorPoint) – thisComp.layer(“scaling Null”).toWorld([0,0]);
distance=length(d);
linear(distance, 0, MaxDist, [maxScale, maxScale], [BaseSize, BaseSize]);

so the top 3 lines are just Expression Sliders so I quickly fine-tune certain variable amounts

MaxDist=distance in pixels to begin scaling
maxScale=largest percentage to scale item
BaseSize=starting out size

https://headsquared.com/temp/AppleDock_v01.mov

I was working on a hi-bred of this expression and the one Mylenium offered up but nothing concrete yet…

Thanks,
JCJ

[Mylenium]

Just use the

d = toWorld(anchorPoint) – thisComp.layer(“scaling Null”).toWorld([0,0]);
distance=length(d);
linear(distance, 0, MaxDist, [maxScale, maxScale], [BaseSize, BaseSize]);

to determine a offset factor. modify it to fit in the other stuff and you’re good to go:

MaxDist=200;

d = toWorld(anchorPoint) – thisComp.layer(“scaling Null”).toWorld([0,0]);
distance=length(d);
pos_offset=linear(distance, 0, MaxDist, 0, 100]);

//decide whether the current icon is before or after the largest icon and move in the right direction

if (scale[0] < thisComp.layer(index+1).scale[0]) {pos_direction = -1} else {pos_direction = 1}; pos_new=position[0]+pos_offset*pos_direction; [pos_new,position[1]]

Mylenium

[Pour Myl