[Scott G]

thanks yikes mikes! that works pretty well. i haven’t come across that dan expression before, must have been a post without the keywords i was searching for…

my only comment with that would be that instead of controlling the random intervals with an expression is that if i want to change the animation, i have to move a million markers. perhaps i could change the expression to run off a random number rather than a marker? ie, if a random number > 5 then play the keyframes, if the random number < 5 then don't... i'm not sure how much control this would give me, but it may be worth a shot... thanks again! scott.

[Scott G]

thanks yikes mikes! that works pretty well. i haven’t come across that dan expression before, must have been a post without the keywords i was searching for…

my only comment with that would be that instead of controlling the random intervals with an expression is that if i want to change the animation, i have to move a million markers. perhaps i could change the expression to run off a random number rather than a marker? ie, if a random number > 5 then play the keyframes, if the random number < 5 then don't... i'm not sure how much control this would give me, but it may be worth a shot... thanks again! scott.

[Scott G]

alternatively tried this expression:

freq = thisComp.layer(“Null 1”).effect(“Slider Control”)(“Slider”);
amplitude = 50;
t = time
ff = amplitude*Math.sin(freq*t*2*Math.PI)
ease(ff, -50, 50, 17, 149)

which is essentially the pendulum expression with a wiggle on the frequency (speed) of the swinging pendulum.

again, i feel the lack of control. not sure how to achieve what i’m after, realistic “random” flapping of butterfly wings.

i think the problem is that there is no pause between flaps… flaps are either slow or fast, but are continuous, whereas a butterfly the flap motion is always the same speed, it just occurs spasmodically.

is there a way to time remap a layer so it will play a certain section of time (the flap) at random?

[Scott G]

alternatively tried this expression:

freq = thisComp.layer(“Null 1”).effect(“Slider Control”)(“Slider”);
amplitude = 50;
t = time
ff = amplitude*Math.sin(freq*t*2*Math.PI)
ease(ff, -50, 50, 17, 149)

which is essentially the pendulum expression with a wiggle on the frequency (speed) of the swinging pendulum.

again, i feel the lack of control. not sure how to achieve what i’m after, realistic “random” flapping of butterfly wings.

i think the problem is that there is no pause between flaps… flaps are either slow or fast, but are continuous, whereas a butterfly the flap motion is always the same speed, it just occurs spasmodically.

is there a way to time remap a layer so it will play a certain section of time (the flap) at random?

[Scott G]

thanks mylenium…

but argh! i forgot to collect my dvd from home last night too.
i googled for it and nothing came up… surely this plugin exists somewhere other than the DVD of the meyer’s book? such a useful tool could hardly be unknown.

is anyone willing to email it to me? yes yes i know piracy issues and such, i’m expecting you’ll all say “just wait till you get home and this time REMEMBER to get the dvd”. it would just be nice to have it now instead of tomorrow.

thanks,
scott.

[Scott G]

thanks for explaining that for me, yikesmikes.

[Scott G]

thanks for explaining that for me, yikesmikes.

[Scott G]

hang on… is this expression from dan

veloc = 35;
amplitude = 30;
decay = 1.0;
y = amplitude*Math.cos(veloc*time)/Math.exp(decay*time);
value + [0,y]

even work properly? it doesn’t for me. two keyframes, and… nothing. do the keyframes have to be at the start of the comp, ie, t=0?
i’ve been fiddling with veloc, amp, and decay, and i can’t seem to get it working. the decay time is always massive, the layer bounces and just keeps bouncing…and bouncing… and bouncing.

i can’t get it working.

[Scott G]

hang on… is this expression from dan

veloc = 35;
amplitude = 30;
decay = 1.0;
y = amplitude*Math.cos(veloc*time)/Math.exp(decay*time);
value + [0,y]

even work properly? it doesn’t for me. two keyframes, and… nothing. do the keyframes have to be at the start of the comp, ie, t=0?
i’ve been fiddling with veloc, amp, and decay, and i can’t seem to get it working. the decay time is always massive, the layer bounces and just keeps bouncing…and bouncing… and bouncing.

i can’t get it working.

[Scott G]

So the jackinabox pops up, and bounces with decay to a halt. but then imagine it went back into it’s box, it should have a small anticaptory bounce before going back down. i actually don’t think this is possible with the one expression on the one layer, as the beginning motion and the end motion are two different things, one a decaying spring, the other an anticipatory pseudo-squash-stretch motion. it’s not simply playing the first move in reverse…

any clues here guys? dan?