motion trail but with hold frames at the last frame before

[Dan Ebberts]

Maybe try this– animate one copy (I’m assuming it will be layer 1 in the stack). Add this Position expression:

valueAtTime(time – (index-1)*thisComp.frameDuration)

Then duplicate layer 1 enough times to get the look you want.

Dan

[Dan Ebberts]

If you the layers to hold their positions when the top layer reaches the last keyframe, it would be like this:

d = (index-1)*thisComp.frameDuration;
valueAtTime(clamp(time-d,0,key(numKeys).time-d))

Dan

[Roei Tzoref]

Thank you Dan. the second works perfectly.

I am trying to find a way to change the animation after the fact without deleting all the layers and start over. that’s is apply it to one property and not all the properties separately. I see the second expression works the same as the first when placed in the Time remapping property and does not hold the position when the layer reaches the last keyframe. the reason I tried TR is because I want to place my animation inside the precomp so I could change it once, and for it to affect in the master comp on all it’s duplicates.

any ideas there?

Roei Tzoref
After Effects Artist & Instructor
♫ Ae Blues Tutorials

[Dan Ebberts]

If you changed it to something like this:

d = (index-1)*thisComp.frameDuration;
thisComp.layer(1).position.valueAtTime(clamp(time-d,0,key(numKeys).time-d))

Then all the layers would reference the animation of Layer 1, so you’d only have to edit that one to change them all. Layers 2 through n wouldn’t even need their own keyframes.

Dan

[Roei Tzoref]

[Dan Ebberts] “so you’d only have to edit that one to change them all. Layers 2 through n wouldn’t even need their own keyframes.
“

thanks Dan. I am trying to achieve this but failing. changing just one layer, and have the others trail and hold. I am getting an expression error if I delete the keyframes of other layers.

Roei Tzoref
After Effects Artist & Instructor
♫ Ae Blues Tutorials

[Dan Ebberts]

Sorry-I messed that up. Try it this way:

d = (index-1)*thisComp.frameDuration;
p = thisComp.layer(1).position;
p.valueAtTime(clamp(time-d,0,p.key(p.numKeys).time-d))

Dan

[Roei Tzoref]

thank you Dan. it works. I can now animate only once, and have the change affect all the layers. exactly like the references.

I found that precomping the animation and using time remapping for the property gives me greater flexibility in recreating the effect. I don’t have to reference different parameters because TR will contain all of them.

here’s the project file for those who are interested: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5wyUt17-tu2VmRIWGRwVHFQTjA

Roei Tzoref
After Effects Artist & Instructor
♫ Ae Blues Tutorials