Rotation expression

[Mathew Fuller]

This generates perfect circular motion centered around the original position of the layer. I recommend that you map the radius and
cycle inputs to Expression Control sliders, and the phase input to an Expression Control angle.
Apply this expression to the position of the layer.

radius = 75; // the radius of the circle
cycle = 1; // number of seconds to complete a circle; higher value = slower
if(cycle ==0){cycle = 0.001;} //avoids a “divide by zero” error
phase = 27; // initial angle in degrees from bottom
reverse = 1; // 1 for ccw, -1 for cw
x = Math.sin( reverse * degrees_to_radians(time * 360 / cycle + phase));
y = Math.cos(degrees_to_radians(time * 360 / cycle + phase));
add(mul(radius, [x, y]), position)

My Work:
https://www.morecompletefx.com

[Mathew Fuller]

Apply this Expression to the Rotation channel of any layer you wish to control,
Set LookAt, below, to the name of the layer you wish the layer to look at.
If the controlled layer is not initially pointing straight up, enter an offset amount in degrees, below, to adjust the direction it is
looking.

LookAt = “ball”
offset = 0
diffx = position[0] – this_comp.layer(LookAt).position[0];
diffy = position[1] – this_comp.layer(LookAt).position[1];
if (diffx == 0) {
diffx = 1 }
sign = 1 + (-1 * (diffx / Math.abs(diffx))) * 90;
radians_to_degrees(Math.atan(diffy/diffx)) + sign + offset

My Work:
https://www.morecompletefx.com

[Walter Soyka]

This will need a semicolon at the end of the “offset = 0” line.

The super-simple way to offset rotation when one object is parented to another is to alt-click the child object’s rotation property, type a minus, then drag the pickwhip to the parent object’s rotation property.

You’ll end up with something like this:

-thisComp.layer("Parent").transform.rotation

Not as robust as Matt’s solutions, but works well for keeping children level while their parent rotates.

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
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[Gavin Edwards]

Thankyou Walter, your super simple solution works good.

Thanks also Mathew, i’ll check out those expressions too.