spinning around a null stay oriented up

[Walter Soyka]

Use an expression to set their rotation to the inverse of the rotation of the null:

-thisComp.layer("Null 1").transform.rotation

This tells each of the children to rotate in the opposite direction the parent is rotating (at the exact same rate). The two rotations will counteract each other, and the children will remain upright.

You will want to make sure that the children’s anchor points are centered — otherwise you will get some bizarre but (possibly very cool) spirographic motion.

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
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events

[Jason Brown]

Thanks walter, but all this does is rotate the objects in the opposite direction that the null spins. If I parent the layers to the null they are expressed to, they just stay still…

not quite there…

[Jason Brown]

I forgot I had changed the anchor point…nevermind. THANK YOU for your help!

[Walter Soyka]

[Jason Brown] “I forgot I had changed the anchor point”

That’s critical — the idea is that the individual objects must rotate about their own centers contrary to the global rotation.

[Jason Brown] “THANK YOU for your help!”

You’re welcome!

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
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events

[Jason Brown]

I knew I had done this awhile ago…so I did a search

https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/2/988902#988902

You and Roland were both very helpful…I just don’t work in AFX enough…or with expressions, I only do it every once in awhile. That is why I love the COW!! And helpful people like yourself…

Thanks again!