Using an expression, how do I add a frame counter to a comp?

[Sam Young]

why not just use the Timecode effect instead?

[Lars Bunch]

Hi,

The timecode effect is probably the best way to do a “window burn” but a simple expression to place a frame counter on the window would be this:

Using the TEXT tool, put a “1” where you want your counter to be in the frame. Actually it can be any character, but 1 is sort of intuitive.

Twirl down the text’s options in the time line and then twirl down “text” Option click on the clock to create an expression for Sourcetext. add the following expression…

text.sourceText = timeToFrames(t = time + thisComp.displayStartTime, fps = 1.0 / thisComp.frameDuration, isDuration = false);

You don’t actually have to type all this in. Just add an = sign just after “text.sourceText” and then click on the arrow next to the pickwhip for that expression.

Select Global>timeToframes( etc…) You may need to add a ; after the expression.

Click outside the expression box to make the expression active and you should have a simple counter.

What is nice here is you can make it any size you care to by changing the text atributes and you can move it to any location etc.

Hope this helps,

Lars

[Thomas Rydberg]

Thanks Lars and ugg, I’ll try both methods. I need to display the frame numbers without seconds, so if I’m using 30pfs, at 2 seconds, I need to display the value 60 as the frame number.

I’ll play around with this later on today.

Thanks again,

– Tom

[Dan Ebberts]

Or, you can just use the Numbers effect with the expression

timeToFrames(time)

entered for Value/Offset. You’ll probably also want to set Decimal Places to zero.

Dan

[Thomas Rydberg]

Yeah, I ended up using the numbers effect with the expression: time*30

Very simple!

Thanks everyone,

– Tom