Expression that don`t work

Question

Hello! I have this expression on my Opacity parameter var a = thisComp.layer("Shape Layer 1").xPosition;  
if(thisLayer.transform.xPosition == a){
	0
}else{100}

Its mean that if my second shape layer will be in the same X position as first shape layer it will disappear

But expression is doesnt work

I thought that AE can`t get number from layer, but I pickwheeped his xPosition to Source Text cuz I want to check it and its work

Mylenium · Accepted Answer

Such comparisons are always exact matches and your approach is simply unsuitable to solve a geometric issue, even more so in 3D. The slightest discrepancy in the numerical values, be that just a thousandth fraction will stop it from working. You need to filter this through a linear() expression or measure the distance with length or combine both methods. Something like this would work:

refPos=thisComp.layer("Shape Layer 1").xPosition;

myPos=thisLayer.transform.xPosition;

mDist=length(refPos;myPos);

linear(mDist,0,0.5,0,100);

Point in case: You need to give it some tolerance like in my example where it's half a pixel or else the conditions may never be met during animation.

Mylenium

Mylenium · Answer

It simply measures the absolute distance and if it's below 0.5 pixels, the opacity is lowered to 0 with only a tiny "slope" inbetween. This could be further refiend in any way you want, including making a true hard switch with a Math.floor() or including additional conditions.

Mylenium

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