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olllieelmes
Inspiring
November 17, 2021
Question

Null disable at specific time?

  • November 17, 2021
  • 2 replies
  • 642 views

Sometimes when I use a Null to move layers, there comes a point when I don't want a specific layer to be controlled by the Null... 

 

Is there an expression you can add to that layer to stop it being commanded by the Null at a fixed time? 

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2 replies

Inspiring
November 18, 2021

Oops, looks like I wrote a response yesterday, then never posted it. Mylenium said the majority of it, but if you are looking to animate parenting, then there's a script called Good Parents that does exactly this, but it does cost $30: https://aescripts.com/good-parents/

 

olllieelmes
Inspiring
November 22, 2021

Oh cool, useful to know! Thanks for the link. 

 

For the moment, I'm just duplicating the layer (1 without a parent) and adjusting where it comes in on the timeline. Not that ideal though! 

Inspiring
November 22, 2021

In that case, the tried and true method is to split the layer when you want to break the connection using Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + D.

Mylenium
Legend
November 17, 2021

Unless the "parenting" is completely faked with expressions to begin with, then no, there is no way to control this. Not a problem, though. Nothing stops you from pre-composing the whoel shebang and splitting layers to unparent them or any number of these methods in any combination. Similarly, more complex hierarchies with multiple intermedate levels of parenting can easily work around this issue by creating virtual transform groups in a sensible fashion and then only moving those subsets of layers or applying compensatory motion even if they are parented further more upstream in the hierarchy. Realyl a lot of ways to do it before even resorting to expressions, which would require much more specific explanations of what you are trying to achieve, anyway. So start by structuring your project accordingly and try the things I mentioned. For anything more, proper details and screenshots will be required.

 

Mylenium