using a layer’s visibility in an if/then expression on another layer

[Kevin Camp]

the attribute you are looking for is ‘active’.

try this:

target = thisComp.layer(“My Layer”) ;
p1 = [ 100, 100 ] ;
p2 = [100, 400 ] ;
if ( target.active == true ) p1 else p2 ;

Kevin Camp
Art Director
KCPQ, KZJO & KRCW

[Dan Ebberts]

Here’s a position expression that will move the layer 100 pixels to the right if Layer 1’s eyeball is on:


if (thisComp.layer("Layer 1").active)
value + [100,0]
else
value


Dan

[Mel Ruiz]

That is EXACTLY what I wanted. Thank you both!

[David Cabestany]

Any chance to do this with three different target layers?
So if the 1st one is active the position is A, is the 2nd is active the position is B and if the 3rd is active the position is C?

[Dan Ebberts]

Could be like this (depending on which one you want to have precedence.


posA = [100,100];
posB = [200,200];
posC = [300,300];

if (thisComp.layer("Layer 1").active)
posA
else if (thisComp.layer("Layer 2").active)
posB
else if (thisComp.layer("Layer 3").active)
posC
else
value


[Alex Printz]

Dan I thought else If statements didn’t work in After Effects? Are they available again with the new Javascript engine?

Alex Printz
Mograph Designer

[Dan Ebberts]

As far as I know, they’ve always worked. There’s an issue with single-line if else statements and the new engine, but I think that’s it.

Dan

[David Cabestany]

Yes, I ended up using something very close to it. The variables are not at the beginning of the expression.

I thought it would be more complex than it actually is.

Thanks Dan.

[Elizabeth Starr]

How would I write an expression to tell a text layer move 56 pixels to the left or right depending on whether or not a checkbox is checked on other layers? If any one of the checkboxes are checked, the text layer needs to move 56 pixels to the right to make room for a logo. If all of the checkboxes are off, then the text layer needs to move to the left to make up for the space that the absent logo leaves behind. I have 6 layers with a logo on each layer. The end user (this will become a MOGRT file) will have the option of choosing whether they want a logo next to the text line or no logo.

[David Cabestany]

Something like this maybe?
I have no idea about the MOGRT format, sorry.

Someone smarter, like Dan Ebberts can probably write it cleaner.

lay1 = thisComp.layer("1").effect("a")("Checkbox");
lay2 = thisComp.layer("2").effect("b")("Checkbox");
lay3= thisComp.layer("3").effect("c")("Checkbox");
lay4= thisComp.layer("4").effect("x")("Checkbox");
lay5= thisComp.layer("5").effect("y")("Checkbox");
lay6= thisComp.layer("6").effect("z")("Checkbox");
y=transform.position[1];
if
(lay1==1 || lay2==1 || lay3==1|| lay4==1|| lay5==1|| lay6==1)
{
x=(your value with the 56 pixels added to the left or right, for example 500);
}
;
else
x= 556;
[x,y];