[Trent Armstrong]

This is a really fun implementation of the expression that converts 3D coordinates into 2D coordinates.

There is one issue with using a Beam Effect. The layer must be 2D and therefore can easily pass in front of 3D layers and break the illusion. If you can figure out the relationship between those layers, you should be fine.

You would place your layers in 3D space with a 2D solid layer over them. Put a Beam Effect on the Solid and use this expression for the Starting Point:

target = thisComp.layer(“YOUR FIRST LAYER”);
fromComp(target.toComp(target.anchorPoint));

Ending Point:

target = thisComp.layer(“YOUR SECOND LAYER”);
fromComp(target.toComp(target.anchorPoint));

This works especially well with layers to which you are able to match the beam color.

See the Network Section of the promo video here: https://www.mindbenderacademy.com

Trent

Trent Armstrong – Creative Cow Leader
https://www.dallasaeug.com

[Trent Armstrong]

Hey! I modified what you had just a little to get an X parameter. You’ll see the //–NEW section in the code.

Trent

xAmp = 3; //height of undulations (pixels)
xFreq = .3; //undulations per second
xSpeed = 150; //speed of wave (pixels per second)

wl = xSpeed/xFreq; //wavelength (pixels)
phaseOffset = ((position[0]%wl)/wl)*2*Math.PI;
y = xAmp*Math.sin(2*Math.PI*xFreq*time + phaseOffset);

//–NEW

swayAmp = 100; //amplitude of sway
swayFreq = .25; //frequency of sway
x = swayAmp * Math.sin(time * swayFreq);

//—–
value + [x,y]

Trent Armstrong – Creative Cow Leader
https://www.dallasaeug.com

[Trent Armstrong]

I have recently completed a project where I used some simple expression tricks to animate a mouth.

The setup is to create the different consonant and vowel representations in Photoshop each on a separate and appropriately labeled layer. (Rest, K, O, U, A, T/D, EE, W, etc.) I used about 8 of them.

In after effects, import your mouth positions and line them up. Then create a Null and call it something like “Mouth Control”.

Put an expression slider on Mouth Control and apply the following expression:
Math.floor(value)

Then for each of your mouth positions, apply the following expression to Opacity:
i = index;
s = thisComp.layer(“Mouth Control”).effect(“Slider Control”)(“Slider”);

if (s == i) 100 else 0

What this does is turn your layers off and on depending on the layer number returned by the slider.

Any layers you add to this comp should be added to the bottom of the layer stack, but now you can bring in your vocal track and easily set up keyframes. It’s best to use HOLD KEYFRAMES with this technique, though.

Cheers,
Trent

Trent Armstrong – Creative Cow Leader
https://www.dallasaeug.com

[Trent Armstrong]

Precomp your text and put an Offset effect on it.

Then set an expression for “Shift Center to”:

t = time * 30;
x = value[0];
y = value[1] – t;

[x, y]

That will cause your text layer to scroll up and the Offset effect will cause it to loop. To add blank space in the scroll, just add space below the text and make sure your comp is big enough to not cut the text off. I think you’ll get it once you see what it’s doing.

Trent

Trent Armstrong – Creative Cow Leader
https://www.dallasaeug.com

[Trent Armstrong]

To easily make the Cube, put a 200×200 Solid in the comp and apply these expressions:

TO Y ROTATION:
i = index – 1;
i * 90

TO ANCHOR POINT:
w = width / 2;
x = value[0];
y = value[1];
z = w;
[x, y, z]

*Duplicate that layer until you have the four sides of the cube. Add a camera, put it on the bottom of the layer stack, and move the camera so you can see that the layers make the cube.

Then make two more duplicates of your Solid, remove the Y ROTATION expressions and put these two expressions in for X ROTATION respectively:

LAYER 5:
i = index;
i * 270

LAYER 6:
i = index – 1;
i * 90

That’s your cube. You can change the size of your solid and it will effect the whole cube.

As for the transparency issue …

apply this expression to the Opacity of each of the solid layers

delta = toCompVec([0, 0, 1])[2];
linear(delta, 600, 1500, 10, 65)

This whole thing obviously works best if you are using squares to build the object.

Cheers,
Trent

Trent Armstrong – Creative Cow Leader
https://www.dallasaeug.com

[Trent Armstrong]

Try opening your comp with the control and selecting the layer that has the control on it.

Then LOCK the effects pane and switch to the comp that needs the expression. You can then use the pick whip to choose the point control. When you’re done, click the Lock again.

Post back if that’s not enough info.

Trent

Trent Armstrong – Creative Cow Leader
https://www.dallasaeug.com

[Trent Armstrong]

I’m not sure if an expression would be what you are looking for but the Card Dance effect might do what you are trying to do. You might even be able to use the image as the offset gradient.

Trent

Trent Armstrong – Creative Cow Leader
https://www.dallasaeug.com

[Trent Armstrong]

Hi!

I’m not sure I completely understand what your problem is. Can you elaborate a little? Or post a clip of the issue online somewhere?

Thanks,
Trent

Trent Armstrong – Creative Cow Leader
https://www.dallasaeug.com

[Trent Armstrong]

Hey, there!

When you are applying the wiggle() expression to something, all you need is wiggle(freq, amp).

That is the basic wiggle() where freq is something like 3 and amp is something like 10 for your glow intensity. The wiggle knows the parameter to which it is being applied so you don’t need the effect reference.

So the only think in your expression field would be: wiggle(3, 10)

That should get you going.

Trent

Trent Armstrong – Creative Cow Leader
https://www.dallasaeug.com

[Trent Armstrong]

If you have a Firewire camera (also iLink), you can use AE to output the video through the FireWire to the camera and then from the camera out to the TV.

S-Video is better than composite so you’ll be getting a pretty good representation of the image.

Trent

Trent Armstrong – Creative Cow Leader
https://www.dallasaeug.com