Move layer from exact position A to B and hold time X

[Dan Ebberts]

If you define your curved motion with 3 keyframes (A position, B positon, A position), something like this should work:

seedRandom(index,true);
holdDur = random(5,20);
moveDur1 = key(2).time – key(1).time;
moveDur2 = key(3).time – key(2).time;

t1 = holdDur;
t2 = t1+moveDur1;
t3 = t2+holdDur
t4 = t3+moveDur2;

t = time % t4;

if (t < t1){
tCur = key(1).time
}else if (t < t2){
tCur = linear(t,t1,t2,key(1).time,key(2).time)
}else if (t < t3){
tCur = key(2).time
}else{
tCur = linear(t,t3,t4,key(2).time,key(3).time)
}
valueAtTime(tCur)

Dan

[Michael Kampe]

Hi Dan,

you are the best. Thank you so much… that’s exactly what I need. ????

I made a mistake ???? in terms of keyframes. I need at least 4 and not 3. 6 would be even better.
The point is, I need an “in-between” keyframe, that hold the layer in position until it start to go back to position A. Right now (with only 3 keyframes) it moves from position A to B (as expected) and then straight back to point B. I need a “resting” moment for position B.

I tried to look into your script, but to insert an additional key(4) is above my knowledge.

Thank you again for your help
best
Michael

[Dan Ebberts]

For 4 keyframes, I think you just need to change this line:

tCur = linear(t,t3,t4,key(2).time,key(3).time)

to this:

tCur = linear(t,t3,t4,key(3).time,key(4).time)

Dan

[Rasmus Hansen]

Hi Dan,

Hope it’s okay I interrupt here. I used your code and managed to tweak it a bit to my liking. Now it looks like this, so I have a box going in and out of the frame repeatedly.

What I now want to do is to be able to change the size of the rectangles, to a random size, whenever the rectangle hits the posDown position. And then KEEP that same size until the next time it reaches posDown.

Is that even possible? I played around with using random() on the size property, but it’s changing the size at random at every frame – and if I use seedRandom, it always changes to the same size at every loop. Moreover, I can’t get it to stay at that size.

Just slowly getting the hang of expressions. Challenging, a bit frustrating, but very rewarding!

Thanks in advance.

seedRandom(index,true);
blobSize = content("Rectangle 1").content("Rectangle Path 1").size[0];
holdDur = random(3,4);
moveDur = linear(blobSize,100,500,1,50);
posUp = -blobSize*0.5;
posDown = thisComp.height+blobSize*0.5;

t1 = holdDur;
t2 = t1+moveDur;
t3 = t2+holdDur;
t4 = t3+moveDur;

t = time % t4;

if (t < t1){
posDown
}else if (t < t2){
easeOut(t,t1,t2,posDown,posUp)
}else if (t < t3){
posUp
}else{
ease(t,t3,t4,posUp,posDown)
}

[Michael Kampe]

Hi Dan,

thank you for your help. It worked, but its a little bit odd, that the

holdDur = random(5,20); always “waits” 5 sec.

And it doesn’t matter what value I’m using (.1,10) or (10,100)… still 5 sec. until it start again.
My keyframes are Position A —1sec—Position B—1sec—Position B —1sec—Position A.

Really strange.

Any idea? Thank you very much again for your help.
Best
Michael

[Michael Kampe]

Hi Rasmus,

I don‘t know how Dan sees it, but would it be better if you open a new thread to ask your problem there? I mean, this thread is about position and hold time and not about scaling etc. even if you use part of the same script.

I think it‘ll help
a) Dan to not get too confused and
b) help the others better in the forum if they have a similar problem

Don‘t you think?

Just sayin‘
Michael

[Rasmus Hansen]

Hi Michael,

You are so right. Didn’t mean to cause confusion or hi-jack the thread. My bad!

The new thread (about changing size / position at random) can be found here:
https : // forums . creativecow . net / thread / 227/42615