After Effects Snippets

_afterEffectsSnippets.md

After Effects Snippets

To embed these individually append ?file="FILENAME" to the embed src link.

<script src="https://gist.github.com/fartinmartin/f6fe63328817a6eff17a07e60b2a6eb1.js?file=lookAtLayer.jsx"></script>

Sources

• https://gist.github.com/animoplex
• https://github.com/zlovatt/zl_Scriptlets
• https://www.graymachine.com/expressions/

batchFFMPEGConversions.sh

# from the directory containing the source files
for x in *.webp; do ffmpeg -i "$x" "${x%.*}.jpg"; done
#          ^input file extention            ^output file extension

batchYouTubeDL.sh

# text file with links on new line
youtube-dl -a links.txt

# if video's are overwriten/skipped, use the id etc to allow all to download:
youtube-dl -a links.txt -o '%(id)s_%(title)s_%(url)s_%(autonumber)s'

blendBetweenExpressions.jsx

// blend between two expressions using a slider
blend = thisComp.layer("Control").effect("Blend")("Slider");

// two states, a & b, can be changed
a = transform.position;
b = thisComp.layer("Target").toWorld([0,0,0]);

linear(blend, 0, 100, a, b)

consistentStroke.jsx

// on scale property
l = thisLayer; // whatever is scaling (could be parent, or shape group, or thisLayer, etc)
value * (100 / l.transform.scale[0]);

cursorWhileTyping.jsx

// requires slider called "Text Reveal" and checkbox called "Toggle"
textReveal = effect("Slider Control")("Text Reveal");
toggle = effect("Checkbox Control")("Toggle");
blink = Math.round(time % 1);
pipe = " ";
if (((blink == 1) || (textReveal.speed > 0)) && (toggle == true)) {
  pipe = "|"
}
substr(0, textReveal) + pipe;

dashedCircleStroke.jsx

// apply to an elipse's dashes property
dashes = effect("Slider Control")("Slider");
radius = content("Ellipse").content("Ellipse Path").size[0] / 2;
gap = content("Ellipse").content("Stroke").dash.gap;
segments = dashes <= 0 ? 1 : dashes;

2 * Math.PI * radius / segments - gap;

// apply to the stroke's offset property
content("Ellipse").content("Stroke").dash.dash / 2;

dashedRectangleStroke.jsx

w = content("Rectangle").content("Rectangle Path").size[0];
h = content("Rectangle").content("Rectangle Path").size[1];

l = (w * 2) + (h * 2);

l / 60; // adjust as necessary

// adjust offset manually!

dynamicParent.jsx

// create null layer at same position (etc) of object (shift parent)
// unparent the null, and parent the object to the null
// for use in null layer name: ၑ // https://unicode-table.com/en/#1051 || https://unicode-table.com/en/#buginese

// TODO: okay, but what happens after you un-enable? it moves back to neurtral/starting values 🤔

// on position (for example) of null:

self = OBJECT_LAYER; // set layer here
enabled = self.effect("Parent — Enabled")("Checkbox") == true;
parent = self.effect("Parent — Layer")("Layer");

if (!enabled) {
  value + self.transform.position;
}
else {
  // TODO: check if parent hasParent, if so: parent.parent.rotation instead of parent.rotation (eg)
  parent.toComp(parent.anchorPoint);
}

fadeBasedOnDistance.jsx

// apply to opacity property

// requires two sliders to init the start and end point of fade (in z position)
startFade = effect("Start Fade")("Slider"); // 500
endFade = effect("End Fade")("Slider"); // 3000

try {
  // check if there is a camera
  camera = thisComp.activeCamera.toWorld([0,0,0]);
} catch(err) {
  // if no camera, assume 50mm
  compWidth = thisComp.width * thisComp.pixelAspect;
  zPosition = (compWidth / 2)/Math.tan(degreesToRadians(19.799));
  camera = [0,0,-zPosition];
}

position = toWorld(anchorPoint);
distance = length(camera, position);
linear(distance, startFade, endFade, 100, 0);

fadeLayerBasedOnInAndOutPoints.jsx

fade = 1; // fade duration in seconds

fadeIn = (time - inPoint) / fade;
fadeOut = (outPoint - time) / fade;

if (time < inPoint + fade) {
    ease(fadeIn, 0, 1) * value;
} else if (time > outPoint - fade) {
    ease(fadeOut, 0, 1) * value;
} else {
    value;
}

forLoopExample.jsx

// JavaScript For Loop Example - Created by Animoplex: www.animoplex.com
// The JavaScript For Loop and how it can be used in After Effects.
// Full Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG3NyHmfc0s&t=91s

myArray = [];
for (i = 0; i < thisComp.numLayers; i++) { 
    myArray[i] = thisComp.layer(i+1).name;
}
myArray.slice(0, thisComp.numLayers).join("\r")

goodGIF.sh

# from @marcusround via the MDA Slack
ffmpeg -i input.avi -filter_complex "split=2 [a][b]; [a] palettegen [pal]; [b] fifo [b]; [b] [pal] paletteuse" output.gif

length().jsx

// calculates the length (in pixels) of two positions or points in 2D or 3D space.

// apply to camera's focus distance property
length(pointOfInterest, position)

// link two layers to obj1 and obj2 for their length
obj1 = thisComp.layer("OBJECT 1 LAYER NAME").transform.position;
obj2 = thisComp.layer("OBJECT 2 LAYER NAME").transform.position;
length(obj1, obj2)

lookAtLayer.jsx

// apply to the orientation property of a 3D layer
// this example looks at a layer called "Look At Me"
lookAt(thisComp.layer("Look At Me").position, position);

loopInAndLoopOut.jsx

// loopIn and loopOut
loopIn() + loopOut() - value;

// works with all loop types
loopIn("pingpong") + loopOut("pingpong") - value;
loopIn("offset") + loopOut("offset") - value;
loopIn("offset") + loopOut("continue") - value;

// and with modifiers
loopIn("pingpong") + loopOut("pingpong", 1) - value;

loopYourWiggle.jsx

freq = 1; // regular wiggle controls
amp = 110; // regular wiggle controls

octaves = 1; // default value (required for full wiggle expression: no need to edit)
ampMultiplier = 0.5; // default value (required for full wiggle expression: no need to edit)

layerLength = thisLayer.outPoint - thisLayer.inPoint; // length of layer in seconds
loopTime = layerLength; // loop for length of the layer: this can be changed!

t = time % loopTime; // loop reset: every `loopTime` t = 0

originalWiggle = wiggle(freq, amp, octaves, ampMultiplier, t);
wiggleWiggle = wiggle(freq, amp, octaves, ampMultiplier, t - loopTime);

linear(t, 0,  loopTime, originalWiggle, wiggleWiggle)

matchShapeToTextLayerSize.jsx

// shift + parent shape layer to text layer
// below is applied to the shape layer's size property
sourceLayer = thisLayer.parent; // change source
sourceLayerWidth = sourceLayer.sourceRectAtTime().width;
sourceLayerHeight = sourceLayer.sourceRectAtTime().height;
sourceLayerScaleX = sourceLayer.transform.scale[0] / 100;
sourceLayerScaleY = sourceLayer.transform.scale[1] / 100;

// requires slider called "Padding"
padding = effect("Padding")("Slider");

// just width
// x = (sourceLayerWidth + padding) * sourceLayerScaleX;
// y = value[1];

// just height
// x = value[0];
// y = (sourceLayerHeight + padding) * sourceLayerScaleY;

// both width and height
x = (sourceLayerWidth + padding) * sourceLayerScaleX;
y = (sourceLayerHeight + padding) * sourceLayerScaleY;

[x,y]

// below is applied to the shape layer's scale property
sourceLayer = thisLayer.parent; // change source

x = value[0] / (sourceLayer.transform.scale[0] / 100);
y = value[1] / (sourceLayer.transform.scale[1] / 100);

[x, y]

position3Dto2D.jsx

// give 2D effects or properties the ability to use 3D positioning
// toComp is a layer space transform method that transforms values from a layer space to a composition space.

src = thisComp.layer('Layer 1');
src.toComp([0,0,0]);

positionAnchorPoint.jsx

// requires a four checkbox controls (named "Top", "Right", "Bottom", "Left") on this layer

// below is applied to this layer's position property
// this keeps the layer in the same visual position
// note this breaks if you separate dimensions (in that case apply individually with no array syntax for `value`)
// additionally, if your layer is scaled from 100% it may not work as expected (todo: fix that)
x = value[0] + transform.anchorPoint[0];
y = value[1] + transform.anchorPoint[1];

[x, y]

// below is applied to this layer's anchor point property
sourceLayer = thisLayer.sourceRectAtTime();
sourceLayerHeight = sourceLayer.height;
sourceLayerWidth = sourceLayer.width; 
sourceLayerTop = sourceLayer.top; 
sourceLayerLeft = sourceLayer.left;

if ((effect("Top")("Checkbox") == true) && (effect("Left")("Checkbox") == true)) { // top left
  x = sourceLayerLeft;
  y = sourceLayerTop;
  [x,y];
} else if ((effect("Bottom")("Checkbox") == true) && (effect("Right")("Checkbox") == true)) { // bottom right
  x = sourceLayerLeft + sourceLayerWidth;
  y = sourceLayerTop + sourceLayerHeight;
  [x,y];
} else if ((effect("Top")("Checkbox") == true) && (effect("Right")("Checkbox") == true)) { // top right
  x = sourceLayerLeft + sourceLayerWidth;
  y = sourceLayerTop;
  [x,y];
} else if ((effect("Bottom")("Checkbox") == true) && (effect("Left")("Checkbox") == true)) { // bottom left
  x = sourceLayerLeft;
  y = sourceLayerTop + sourceLayerHeight;
  [x,y];
} else if (effect("Top")("Checkbox") == true) { // top center
  x = sourceLayerLeft + (sourceLayerWidth / 2);
  y = sourceLayerTop;
  [x,y];
}  else if (effect("Right")("Checkbox") == true) { // right center
  x = sourceLayerLeft + sourceLayerWidth;
  y = sourceLayerTop + (sourceLayerHeight / 2);
  [x,y];
} else if (effect("Bottom")("Checkbox") == true) { // bottom center
  x = sourceLayerLeft + (sourceLayerWidth / 2);
  y = sourceLayerTop + sourceLayerHeight;
  [x,y];
} else if (effect("Left")("Checkbox") == true) { // left center
  x = sourceLayerLeft;
  y = sourceLayerTop + (sourceLayerHeight / 2);
  [x,y];
} else [0, 0]

posterizeTime.jsx

// apply to any property to limit its framerate
posterizeTime(5);  // 5 fps
valueAtTime(time);

randomColor.jsx

// compIndex = thisComp.layer("Comp Index").text.sourceText.value
// or just regular ol' layer index:
seedRandom(index,true);

h = random(); // mess with.. 
s = random(); // these values..
l = random(); // individually

hslToRgb([h,s,l,1]);

scaleRectangleFromSide.jsx

// similar to positionAnchorPoint.jsx, except meant for a rectangle shape on a shape layer...
// will require checkbox controls (named "Top", "Right", "Bottom", "Left") on this layer

// below goes on Layer > Contents > Rectangle 1 > Transform > Anchor Point
w = content("Rectangle 1").content("Rectangle Path 1").size[0];
h = content("Rectangle 1").content("Rectangle Path 1").size[1];

top = effect("Top")("Checkbox") == 1;
right = effect("Right")("Checkbox") == 1;;
bottom = effect("Bottom")("Checkbox") == 1;;
left = effect("Left")("Checkbox") == 1;;

x = 0;
y = 0;

if (top) y = h / -2;
if (right) x = w / 2;
if (bottom) y = h / 2;
if (left) x = w / -2;

[x, y];

// and this goes on Layer > Transform > Position
x = content("Rectangle 1").transform.anchorPoint[0];
y = content("Rectangle 1").transform.anchorPoint[1];

[x, y];

sourceText.jsx

// a few basic ways to manipulate and combine source text with other elements.

// concat strings to source
"(" + text.sourceText + ")"

// countdown example
"T minus " + effect("Controller")("Slider").value + " seconds"

splitVideoByNseconds.sh

# split video file by `n` seconds
# run in terminal
#
# https://unix.stackexchange.com/a/212518

                                                 # set length here
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c copy -map 0 -segment_time 00:20:00 -f segment -reset_timestamps 1 output%03d.mp4
                                                 # ^20 minutes!

splitVideoIntoQuadrants.sh

# https://superuser.com/questions/630124/dividing-a-video-clip-by-4-areas
# sub `-acodec copy` for `-an` for no audio!

ffmpeg -i in.mp4 -vf crop=iw/2:ih/2:0:0 -acodec copy v1.mp4
ffmpeg -i in.mp4 -vf crop=iw/2:ih/2:iw/2:0 -acodec copy v2.mp4
ffmpeg -i in.mp4 -vf crop=iw/2:ih/2:0:ih/2 -acodec copy v3.mp4
ffmpeg -i in.mp4 -vf crop=iw/2:ih/2:iw/2:ih/2 -acodec copy v4.mp4

viewPropertiesAndMethods.jsx

// find out info about another layer's properties and methods
// apply to the `source text` property of an empty text layer, used for debugging
// 
// https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/legacy-and-extend-script-engine.html#reflect-properties-reflect-methods

let obj = thisProperty;  // pickwhip property here
let props = [];

do {
  Object.getOwnPropertyNames(obj).forEach(prop => {
    if (props.indexOf(prop) === -1) {
      props.push(prop);
    }
  });
} while (obj = Object.getPrototypeOf(obj));

props.join("\n");

wiggleWithSliders.jsx

// requires two sliders ("Frequency", "Amplitude")..
freq = effect("Frequency")("Slider");
amp = effect("Amplitude")("Slider");

wiggle(freq, amp);


// ..or with checkbox named "Toggle"
toggle = src("Toggle")("Checkbox");
if (toggle == true) {
  freq = effect("Frequency")("Slider");
  amp = effect("Amplitude")("Slider");
  wiggleValue = wiggle(freq, amp);
} else {
  wiggleValue = value;
}


// include this if you can make a dropdown to select dimensions (pseudo effect maker/xml)
switch (src("Axis").value) {
  case 1:
    wiggleValue;
    break;
  case 2:
    [wiggleValue[0], value[1], value[2]];
    break;
  case 3:
    [value[0], wiggleValue[1], value[2]];
    break;
  case 4:
    [value[0], value[1], wiggleValue[2]];
}