Smooth expression

[Dan Ebberts]

smooth() is like wiggle in that its result includes the value of the property. To isolate the effect of smooth() you need to subtract value. Then you can add it to any other position -generating expression. So the isolation part looks like this:

s = smooth(.2,5)-value;

Then just add s to the position of the null.

Dan

[Jacek Skro]

There is possible to apply smooth to evaluated value instead of original?

My case:
After 3D camera tracking I have many 0<>360 jumps in Camera’s Orientation property.
So I apply expression to orientation:

([transform.orientation[0]-10, transform.orientation[1]-10, transform.orientation[2]-10]);

10 is a maximal degrees variation iny may Camera’a orientation, so now its values are between 350-360 degrees without jumps.
I want to apply additional smooth to orientation.
But after adding:

smooth(width = .2, samples = 5, t = time);

…Camera’s orientation again jumps 0<>360, and my earlier expression is ignored.

There is a way to solve this?

[Dan Ebberts]

smooth() only works on pre-expression property values. I think it’s just a simple box filter though, so you should be able to do what you’re trying to do by building your own smoother, like this:

(valueAtTime(time – .1) – [10,10,10] +
valueAtTime(time – .05) – [10,10,10] +
value – [10,10,10] +
valueAtTime(time + .05) – [10,10,10] +
valueAtTime(time + .1) – [10,10,10])/5;

Dan

[Jacek Skro]

It is better solution than my current [dirty] workaround by Converting Expression to Keyframes and apply smooth() afterwards.

Thanks!

[Marian-mina Mihai]

Hi. I know I’m 5 years late to the party, but maybe someone still has this issue. My solution was to:
1. offset the value so that it stays in the 0-360 range
2. convert expression to keyframes
3. apply the smooth() expression
4. convert expression to keyframes
5. offset the value back so you get the original range, but with the smooth expression applied ()
Hope it helps!

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

Encountered the same problem when trying to smooth 3D camera tracking orientation values, I used this expression to fix the issue. I’m guessing it breaks at the 180 degree rotation point, but at least the usual 0 to 360 flip is fixed by this.

n = 24;// number of frames to smooth in each direction
fps = 24;
xRot = 0;
yRot = 0;
zRot = 0;
for (i=-n; i < n+1; i++) { xRotT = (transform.orientation.valueAtTime(time+i/fps)[0]+180)%360; yRotT = (transform.orientation.valueAtTime(time+i/fps)[1]+180)%360; zRotT = (transform.orientation.valueAtTime(time+i/fps)[2]+180)%360; xRot += xRotT; yRot += yRotT; zRot += zRotT; } xRot = xRot/(n*2+1)-180; yRot = yRot/(n*2+1)-180; zRot = zRot/(n*2+1)-180; [xRot, yRot, zRot]

Kalleheikki Kannisto
Senior Graphic Designer

[Filip Vandueren]

Hi KK,

interesting problem to fix for both 360-0° and 180°.

I came up with this solution:

n = 15;// number of frames to smooth in each direction
fps = 25;
rotations = [0,0,0];
revolutions=[0,0,0]; // additional revolutions

for (var i=-n; i < n+1; i++) {
sample1 = valueAtTime(time+i/fps);
sample2 = valueAtTime(time+(i-1)/fps); // previous value
vel = sample1-sample2;

for (var j=0; j < 3; j++) {
// if the change since last frame is close to 360°, we're 1 revolution off
revolutions[j]+= Math.round(vel[j]/360)*360;
}
// adjust for revolutions and add to sum
rotations += (sample1-revolutions);
}
rotations/=(n*2+1);
xRot =(rotations[0])%360;
yRot =(rotations[1])%360;
zRot =(rotations[2])%360;
[xRot, yRot, zRot]


It’s not great with Motion Blur though, you’d have to convert to keyframes first if that’s an issue, or use CC Force Motion Blur on an adjustment layer.