[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

Several copies of a Shape layer path with trim paths added is one idea. You could use a time*index expression to drive the trim paths end values. Expressions are a good way to distribute the shapes as well, but I don’t know how versed you are in writing them.

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

This should do it:

seedRandom(index,true);
rotationspeed = 100+random()*100;
rotationstart = 360 * random();
rotationstart+time*rotationspeed
You layers will now start each at a different initial rotation and have an individual rotation speed between 100 and 200 for every axis.

Note: Apply it to the x, y, and z rotation values of the 100×100 comp, not the shape inside the comp.

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

How about linear(Pick End parameter here, 25, 100, 0, 100)

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

If you pickwhip the effect, you get both as an array. To change one, you need to get the values separately then turn it back into an array. Basically:

x_val = pickwhipped_effect[0];
y_val = pickwhipped_effect[1];
//some math here with one value or the other
[x_val, y_val]

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

Use the “index” property of the layer in the expression to modify the values.

You could add a multiple of the index to the initial rotation if you just want a different rotation state.

If you want the layers to rotate at different speeds, you can either use index to multiply or add to the rotation speed. Or, better, use index as the randomseed for the layer, then use random values to modify the rotation speeds. A fixed randomseed should produce fixed sequence of random numbers for the different layers.

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

25 + time*10
or, if you want to just add to the existing manually set value of the effect

value + time*10
which allows you to change the beginning value from the effect controls.

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

Adobe Certified Expert program:

https://training.adobe.com/certification.html

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

I concur: Making the layers 3D will make depth sorting easy. Even the slightest change along the z axis would cause layers to be sorted correctly. Hence, using an expression that slightly shifts the separate layers along z axis based on altitude should do it.

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

This tutorial looks pretty decent:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZeeQRyHJU8

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

In case you haven’t done so, precompose moving all attributes. The mask needs to be on the layer inside the precomp, not on the precomp.