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jamesd61834545
Participant
October 10, 2025
Question

3D orientation parenting

  • October 10, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 78 views

I have a collection of images all precomped individually (so I can replace the images in the future) and I want them to rotate around a central null in 3D space while keeping the images facing forwards. I have tried using 'value - parent.transform.orientation' on the images(child) which works but only when I use orientation on the y axis. As soon as I try and rotate it around x or z the image also follows this and faces away from the screen/world. 

 

Any ideas? 

2 replies

ShiveringCactus
Community Expert
ShiveringCactusCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 12, 2025

So, if I'm understanding this correctly, you have images arranged in a circle in 3D space, all parented to a central null object and you want them to always face the camera no matter where they are in the rotation.  Is that correct?

 

There's two different options that sprint to mind:

  1.  O each precomp, go to Layer > Transform > Auto-orient and choose "OrientFace Camera".  No expressions needed!
  2.  On each precomp's Y rotation add the following expression:
value+thisComp.layer("Null 1").transform.yRotation*-1

This sets the rotation value to be the opposite of the null's rotation and value lets you adjust the rotation accordingly.

 

Personally, I think option 1 is quicker and requires less work, but either should work for you.

nishu_kush
nishu_kush
Legend
October 10, 2025

Thanks for reaching out.

 

I am not an expert with expressions but here's a tutorial that shows how you can make use of the rotation and orientation properties manually. Hope it helps: https://adobe.ly/4pYFnEx

 


Thanks,
Nishu

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