[Sebastian Melmott]

Sorry Filip – can I “back up ” a bit here..?
I am getting a little confused on how to calculate the angle of the circulating Null1 layer –
Would you be kind enough to walk me through the steps necessary to set up the required code with an expression “slider”..?
And should the expression not be slider control “Angle” as opposed to “Slider” ..?

thank you in advance,

Paul

Moooooooo….!

[Sebastian Melmott]

Question Filip:

Shouldn’t
a=((360*(thisPoint/pts))+rot+270)%360;
…really be:
a=((360*(thisPoint/pts))+rot+720)%360; …..?

Also in:
orbit=thisComp.layer(“orbit”).effect(“ANGLE”)(“Slider”);
// pickwhip this to your angle

…How do I pickwhip a part of an expression to the slider I inserted ..? I thought you could only pickwhip from and to complete values ..? ( Sorry for the silly question ..)

Paul

Moooooooo….!

[Sebastian Melmott]

thank you – I shall try it ..!!!!

Moooooooo….!

[Sebastian Melmott]

FIlip – sorry I meant to mention that I did modify the 3D Orbit expression (last 2 lines) to make it rotate in an X, Y orbit and not in Z space…

___________________________________________________________________
Radius = effect(“Radius”)(“Slider”);
Speed = effect(“Speed”)(“Slider”);
RotationOffset = effect(“Rotation Offset”)(“Angle”);

//

center = [this_comp.width/2,this_comp.height/2,0];
radius = 200;
angle = time * Speed RotationOffset;
x = Radius * Math.cos(degreesToRadians(angle));
y = Radius * Math.sin(degreesToRadians(angle));
add(center, [x,y,]);
___________________________________________________________________

Thanks,

Paul

Moooooooo….!

[Sebastian Melmott]

Thanks for the reply, FIlip..

(1) The Null layer is rotating using an expression, the 3D Orbit pre-set:

Radius = effect(“Radius”)(“Slider”);
Speed = effect(“Speed”)(“Slider”);
RotationOffset = effect(“Rotation Offset”)(“Angle”);

//

center = [this_comp.width/2,this_comp.height/2,0];
radius = 200;
angle = time * Speed RotationOffset;
x = Radius * Math.cos(degreesToRadians(angle));
z = Radius * Math.sin(degreesToRadians(angle));
add(center, [x,0,z]);

(2) The lights are supposed to be “activated ” by the passing of the null layer which “magically” turns them on on the first pass… then on the 2nd pass (i.e. the second time the Null passes each light point) it turns them off.

(3) Lights should flick on and stay on after first pass.
(4) upon 2nd pass, lights should be turned off.
(5) It would also be nice to vary the intensity of the lights….
(6) Fom the 3D expression above, you can see that the rotation is at the pace set by the slider

Noow if you can help here, I would definitely buy you a Belgian beer!
Thanks,

Paul

Moooooooo….!

[Sebastian Melmott]

Hi Filip –

Another interesting question:

Assuming I have a light at each external point on the polystar using the addressing algorithm you suggested…. Now I want to be able to turn off or on each light (e.g. by keyframing their individual opacity percentages to either 0% –> 100% or 100%–> 0%) when a circulating null layer passes.

In other words, assume also that I have a Null Layer which circles around the polystar points (at the same radius as the polystar points) and as it passes it can ither turn on or off the light at each polystar point….

Any ideas …?

Many thanks,

Paul

Moooooooo….!

[Sebastian Melmott]

Yup Filip – it works a dream …. Thanks for your genius ( how DO YOU KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT THE INTERNALS OF AE..!!)

I have another logical follow-up question – May I bother you with it …?

Moooooooo….!

[Sebastian Melmott]

Hi Filip –

I had to change my e-mail address – if it’s easier use that: sebmelm@gmail.com

many thanks,

Paul

Moooooooo….!