[Victor Nash]

Howdy!
I was researching some expressions and happened to come across your question as I sit here with an CoverFlow Expression I did awhile ago. Not sure if you still need something.. but I figured I’d pass it along! ????

Here’s how I set it up.
I created a Comp called “CoverFlow” and added a “Null 1” and an Expression Slider Effect on the Null 1 layer.
I created a 400 by 400 Solid, made it 3D, and Pasted this Expression into the Position Value:

x=thisComp.layer(“Null 1”).effect(“Slider Control”)(“Slider”);
range=300; //range when Z begins
center=thisComp.width*0.5; //center of comp on X axis
distance=x-center;
Zdist=400;

if (x <= center ){
Zpos=ease(center+distance,center-range,center,value[2],value[2]-Zdist);
}else{
Zpos=ease(center+distance,center,center+range,value[2]-Zdist,value[2]);
}

[x,value[1],Zpos]

Then I pasted this Expression on the Y Rotation:

range=180; //range when rotation begins
center=thisComp.width*0.5; //center of comp on X axis
distance=position[0]-center;
angle=ease(center+distance,center+range,center-range,-70,70);

[angle]

From there I duplicated the Solid and added a Modification to the Expression on the Position.

x=thisComp.layer(“Null 1”).effect(“Slider Control”)(“Slider”) + 250;
range=300; //range when Z begins
center=thisComp.width*0.5; //center of comp on X axis
distance=x-center;
Zdist=400;

if (x <= center ){
Zpos=ease(center+distance,center-range,center,value[2],value[2]-Zdist);
}else{
Zpos=ease(center+distance,center,center+range,value[2]-Zdist,value[2]);
}

[x,value[1],Zpos]

I know there is an easier way to index the value so each solid adjusts its the value by 250 every time you duplicate it. So, make sure to add in a +250, +500, +750 each time you duplicate your solid on the first line of the expression..

Hopefully this helps you in some way

[Victor Nash]

To Follow Up.. I’d love to Cap the Values to Randomize within (-20 and 180). Something like this:

seedRandom(index,true);
zVal = thisLayer.transform.position[2]+random(-20, 180);
[zVal]

[Victor Nash]

Thank You Dan,
I’ve learned so much over the years from you. Thanks for being such an asset to this community.

[Victor Nash]

Thank You Dan.

I noticed the original value I set the opacity to starts at the inpoint and outpoint but it wasn’t fading in or out?

[Victor Nash]

Yes! Thanks Dan.

[Victor Nash]

Nevermind.. figured it out 🙂

[Victor Nash]

One of my buddies did a preliminary Edit in SD.. but had to convert it in order to edit it on his timeline?? Now I need to Convert it to HD.. I wasn’t sure if there was anything to look out for in reguarding to the ReLink.. Do I change the SD Sequence Settings to from 480 to 720 then Relink?

[Victor Nash]

Nevermind I figured it out.. I created a disk with 2 segments and lifted the center path..

[Victor Nash]

https://www.motionscript.com/design-guide/auto-orient-y-only.html

🙂

[Victor Nash]

Radius = 100;
Speed = 200;
RotationOffset = 0;

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]);

Here you go.. Try this. Make sure to pick whip the XYZ rotations to the Nulls, as well as the XY Position, and Z Position from Particular. Then Apply this expression the the Null’s Position