Using a layer as a boundary for other layers

[Tom Morton]

well anything is possible… but you haven’t given much information. Do you have a database of which photos are part of which state? Are the photos names randomly or can the names be used to define where the photo goes. If you have a database, what format is it in? If you don’t have a database, what could the script use to determine which photo / layer goes on which state?

Also, just to be sure… how is this video related, ie why do you need After Effects? If it’s a static image, I would lean towards, Indesign or Illustrator, but you haven’t described whether there’s some animation involved or anything? Any animation or movement would also affect how the script operates.

Let us know!

[Shane Shornock]

I am attaching an example from last year’s video I created. Each state has people who represent it. I was able to use ChatGPT and get what I wanted. I don’t know if anyone wants to improve on it. I am also attaching the video of the script working and I will attach here the script

[Shane Shornock]

if (app.project.activeItem.selectedLayers.length < 2) {
alert(“Please select the boundary layer and at least one layer to adjust.”);
} else {
var comp = app.project.activeItem;

// Assuming the first selected layer is the boundary layer
var boundaryLayer = comp.selectedLayers[0];
var boundaryRect = boundaryLayer.sourceRectAtTime(comp.time, false);

// Calculate the number of rows and columns
var numLayers = comp.selectedLayers.length – 1; // subtract 1 for the boundary layer
var numRows = Math.ceil(Math.sqrt(numLayers));
var numCols = Math.ceil(numLayers / numRows);

var xOffset = boundaryRect.width / (numCols + 1);
var yOffset = boundaryRect.height / (numRows + 1);

var currentRow = 1;
var currentCol = 1;

// Loop through the other selected layers and position them in a grid
for (var i = 1; i <= numLayers; i++) {
var layerToAdjust = comp.selectedLayers[i];
var layerRect = layerToAdjust.sourceRectAtTime(comp.time, false);

// Calculate the scale factors for width and height
var scaleX = (xOffset / layerRect.width) * 100;
var scaleY = (yOffset / layerRect.height) * 100;

// Use the smaller scale factor to ensure the layer fits inside its grid cell
var newScale = Math.min(scaleX, scaleY);
layerToAdjust.scale.setValue([newScale, newScale]);

// Position layer in the grid
var newX = boundaryLayer.position.value[0] – (boundaryRect.width / 2) + (xOffset * currentCol);
var newY = boundaryLayer.position.value[1] – (boundaryRect.height / 2) + (yOffset * currentRow);
layerToAdjust.position.setValue([newX, newY]);

// Move to next position in the grid
currentCol++;
if (currentCol > numCols) {
currentCol = 1;
currentRow++;
}
}

alert(“Layers adjusted to grid successfully!”);

// Create an undo group for this action
app.beginUndoGroup(“Create Null and Parent Selected Layers”);

// Get the active composition and its selected layers
var comp = app.project.activeItem;
var selectedLayers = comp.selectedLayers;

// Create the null object
var nullLayer = comp.layers.addNull();
nullLayer.name = “Parent Null”;

// Parent the selected layers to the null
for (var i = 1; i < selectedLayers.length; i++) {
selectedLayers[i].parent = nullLayer;
}

// End the undo group
app.endUndoGroup();

}