[Chris Arnold]

timeToStart = 2; 
  timeToStop = 4; 
    
  if ((time > timeToStart) && (time < timeToStop)){ 
      wiggle(3,25); 
  }else{ 
      value; 
  }

Also, you can tell expressions when to start or stop via time or frame numbers.

Here’s a link to adobe docs where they have info on how to stop and start a wiggle by just typing in the time you want it to stop and start. Same as code I placed in here.

https://livedocs.adobe.com/en_US/AfterEffects/8.0/help.html?content=WS22BD9B45-A813-4b13-996D-A4561D108A8C.html

[Chris Arnold]

Yes, that does work really now. Thanks Dan and Filip for the help.

Is this expression often used in the animator’s world? I can see so many uses for it, not only in my current project.

[Chris Arnold]

pickuptime = 2.5;
dropofftime = 6.0;
layertofollow = "parent_layer_name";

ticker = Math.min(Math.max(pickuptime, time), dropofftime);
this_comp.layer(layertofollow).rotation.value_at_time(ticker)

I found some expression on this website: https://dev.xscriptorium.com/node/149

this is pretty much what I am trying to achieve, although I can’t get this expression to work.

[Chris Arnold]

Hi Dan,

The object doesn’t have a wiggle to it. The girl in the water has a wiggle expression though. When I parent the split layer at the point I want it to move with the girl the object moves far out of the scene.

I have the split layer (object floating in the water) parented to the position and rotation values of the first object so that I have control in my scene in case I want to adjust the animation, both object will be positioned correctly, although when I now parent the entire object to the girls body layer, it at this point jumps to a different part in the scene. Which confuses me.

[Chris Arnold]

That’s the issue when you are multi-tasking projects and working on 3 different camera animation approaches in AE, the head gets fuzzy.

Thanks for clearing that one up for me.

[Chris Arnold]

Yes, collapse transformations did it. Which is great! But why does it happen when “collapse transformation” is not selected?

Thanks

[Chris Arnold]

Ok thank you,

I am running Final Cut Studio 2 at the studio I work at, but I personally own the the prior version that I use on my intel. Probably should make the change over myself soon.

[Chris Arnold]

Yes, that was one step I forgot to mention, and quite the important one.

Good Luck!

Chris

[Chris Arnold]

Hi Graham,

In order to cast shadows you do need to have a plane, or some object where ever you want your shadows to be. These would be called “shadow casters”. ie. if just shadows on the floor, then create a floor plane, if shadows rise on a building or lamp post, use a cube where the building is, and a cylinder where the pole is.

THEN, apply a compositing tag to the shadow casters (the plane receiving shadows). In the compositing tag check off “composite background” and uncheck “cast shadows”.

Finally, set up a light, turn on shadow maps and render.

Hope this helps,

Chris

[Chris Arnold]

I appreciate the help, the plugins you have on that sit look really useful!

Cheers,