[Filip Vandueren]

Note that if you use the timewarp effect instead of timereampping, you can actually keyframe playback speed without any headaches

[Filip Vandueren]

You can also use the expression language menu (right next to the pickwhip, where you can find all the methods and properties) and via Text > Font… you’ll get a popup to select any font you have installed on your system complete with previews (very much like the character panel), and after selecting, the correct String with the system-name will be inserted into your expression.

[Filip Vandueren]

It can be scripted yes:

For example use

layer(1)(“Text”)(“Animators”)(1)(“Selectors”)(1)(“Advanced”)(“Based On”).setValue(3);

3 is the third option: “Words”

But – and I think that’s what you are asking ? – it cannot be changed with an expression since it cannot be keyframed.

If you want to do it with expressions, you’ll need 4 range selectors (for the 4 different options) and give their amount an expression so only one of the four is active.

But note that Shape is also not keyframeable (so not controllable via an expression) so if you want to control that too with your rig, then maybe it’s better to create a more complex expression selector that can mimic the Range Shapes you need

[Filip Vandueren]

Hi Frankie,

The main thing I suppose is that a point control is an effect, and effects get applied to continuously rasterized layers *after* they have been transformed and rendered, resulting in a composition sized “view” of the shapes.

For example, a lens flare on shapes or text will also not move with the layer as you transform it.

So the control-point of the effect will not move with the layer, but the mathematical operation toComp([0,0]) does do something different, as this looks at the transformations of the layer (which the effect cannot)

In this case, the result of the expression is not: “where on the screen is that point control located” (because it stays visibly stationary), but: “where in comp space is a point with the same numerical coordinates of this control point in layer space”

I hope that clears it up

[Filip Vandueren]

If you want to keep the easing you already have set up between your keyframes and don’t want it to default to the linear() or ease() functions:

(this example has 3 keyframes, and a slider controls how long the animation should last after key#2, disregarding the actual timing of keyframe#3

time_2 = key(2).time;
time_3 = time_2 + Math.max(0,effect("Slider Control")("Slider").value);
if (time < time_2) {
    value;
} else {
    t=linear(time,time_2, time_3, time_2, key(3).time);
    valueAtTime(t);
}

[Filip Vandueren]

Precomp Polar Coordinates, Rect To Polar;
whatever is at the bottom edge will be wrapped along the outside of the circle.

You will have to also stretch it vertically before the polarcoordinates.

There will be some distortion inevitable. if you want each figure to be undistorted, but along the circle, then we’ll need a different approach

[Filip Vandueren]

If you used keyframes, then the expression selector can’t help you, as soon as the value of the position property hits [0,0], all the expression selector can influence is by what amount that [0, 0] should be applied, and no matter if that’s 100% or -100%… it’ll remain at 0,0…

Workaround:

Copy the position-keyframes with the easing you like to a point control (or a Null object’s position could work too)

Set the position-animator to position 10.000, 10.000 and set the expression-selector – based on lines – to this expression:

t = time - framesToTime(2)*(textIndex-1);
effect("Point Control")("Point").valueAtTime(t)/100;

[Filip Vandueren]

Hi Andrei, Did you do the position with 2 keyframes, or with a range that effects 1 set property ?

[Filip Vandueren]

The shape you posted is a Lorenz-attractor.

After Effects isn’t really suited to drawing complex mathematical equations with shapes and such. Processing is a great alternative:

here’s a tutorial on this particular shape:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0lkz2gSsIk

Some contents or functionalities here are not available due to your cookie preferences!

This happens because the functionality/content marked as “Google Youtube” uses cookies that you choosed to keep disabled. In order to view this content or use this functionality, please enable cookies: click here to open your cookie preferences.

[Filip Vandueren]

Hi Nick, you’re correct the setup now only seems to catch 1 positive and 1 negative term.

I would approach it a bit differently:

• remove the separate red and green animators (but keep the expressions of the sourceText)
• make the text Black in the Character palette
• add a textanimator that colors the RGB Fill of the letters White.
• give this text animator an expressions selector, make sure to set it “based on words”
• here’s the expression, by “partially” selecting the amount the black letters become white, we can actually color it in. The resulting value of an expression selector can actually have up to three dimensions, and in this case that corresponds to RGB.

words=text.sourceText.trim().split(/\s+/);
i=textIndex-1;
if (words[i].match(/-[0-9\.]+%/)!==null) { 
	[100,0,0]; // red
} else if (words[i].match(/\+[0-9\.]+%/)!==null) { 
	[0,100,0]; // green
} else { 
	[100,100,100]; // white
}

This way you can set up even more regexp matches, for example:

… } else if (words[i].match(/[0-9\.,]+€/)!==null) { 
	[80,70,0]; // yellow
} else { …