Random speed for position of multiple layers. Is it possible?

[Kevin Camp]

you can use an expression to create a random ‘start’ position for each layer and then have the expression interpolate from that random point to the final position….

if that sounds like what you are after, give this a try:

range = [200,200,200];
seedRandom(index,true);
start = random(value-range,value+range);
if (numKeys >0){
linear(time,inPoint,key(numKeys).time,start,value);
}else{
value;
}

the expression requires a single key frame that should be the final position and is used for timing of the animation.

the range value is just xyz coordinates that define a volume that will be the range for the random dispersal. the volume is based on the current position, so [200,200,200] is a volume that is 200 pixels greater in all directions and 200 pixels less in all directions than the current position. change the range value as needed.

Kevin Camp
Senior Designer
KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW

[Robert Hoisan]

YES! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I appreciate your help, it is exactly what i needed.

Robert Hoisan
Motion Graphics Artist

[Kevin Camp]

here’s a slight modification… just incase the random start position of a layer doesn’t give you the quite the position you want, this version should allow you to add an initial key frame to modify it’s start position:

range = [200,200,200];
seedRandom(index,true);
start = random(valueAtTime(inPoint)-range,valueAtTime(inPoint)+range);
if (numKeys > 0){
   linear(time,inPoint,key(numKeys).time,start,value);
}else{
   value;
}

also, if you wanted the layers to ease into position, you would change linear() to ease(), like this:

ease(time,inPoint,key(numKeys).time,start,value);

Kevin Camp
Senior Designer
KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW

[Robert Hoisan]

Yes, i was looking for the ease feature. Thanks a lot 🙂

Robert Hoisan
Motion Graphics Artist

[Robert Hoisan]

What about rotation? What to change in the expression so i can apply it to x,y,z values of rotation also so that the layers start moving with random rotation values and when they reach that last position keyframe the x,y,z rotation values are set to 0?

Thanks!

Robert Hoisan
Motion Graphics Artist

[Kevin Camp]

i think you could use the same expression for a 3d layer’s orientation. the range values would then be in x,y,z degrees, something like:

range = [360,360,360];

if you wanted to modify it to be for single axis rotation, just set the range to a single value (rather than an array):

range = 360;

i can’t test it right now, but i’m pretty sure the rest of the expression should work fine either way.

Kevin Camp
Senior Designer
KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW

[Robert Hoisan]

Yes, it worked just fine on rotation too. Great advices 🙂

Cheers!

Robert Hoisan
Motion Graphics Artist

[Jake Grogan]

I am not to sure if you can do it with all layers together but you could do it to the layers separately.

random(60,100) you can actually use whatever numbers you want. random*250 you can also use whatever number you want