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studui307342332lau
Participant
June 28, 2023
Question

Show images at random for a random time between 1 an 3 seconds

  • June 28, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 403 views

hey community (sorry in advance i am fairly newisch to after effects)

 

here is my problem: 

I have 12 images (pngs with transperancies) in composition, and I want them to be shown randomly. When one image is displayed, no other of the 11 images should be shown. A image should be displayed for a random duration between 1 second and 3 seconds. There should always be one image displayed in the composition, and this functionality should continue for the duration of the composition.

 

i guess it could work if you have some coding knowlege (i dont have any) 

i hope some of you can help me (did try chatGPT this sucker makes me crazy)

 

all the best.

 

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

Dan Ebberts
Community Expert
Dan EbbertsCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 28, 2023

You could set it up so that your image layers are at the top of the layer stack (layers 1 through 12) and below that you would add a null named "Control", add a Slider Control and add this expression to the slider:

minDur = 1;
maxDur = 3;
numImages = 12;
seedRandom(index,true);
image = Math.floor(random(numImages));
tNext =0;
while (tNext <= time){
  tPrev = tNext;
  tNext += random(minDur,maxDur);
  image = (image + Math.floor(random(numImages-1)))%numImages
}
image+1

Then you would add this expression to the Opacity of each of your image layers:

idx = thisComp.layer("Control").effect("Slider Control")("Slider");
idx == index ? 100 : 0

Something like that.

    Dan Ebberts
    Community Expert
    Dan EbbertsCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 28, 2023

    Sorry, there's a bug in the slider expression. This should work better:

    minDur = 1;
maxDur = 3;
numImages = 12;
seedRandom(index,true);
image = Math.floor(random(numImages));
tNext =0;
while (tNext <= time){
  tPrev = tNext;
  tNext += random(minDur,maxDur);
  image = (image + Math.floor(random(1,numImages)))%numImages
}
image+1
    S
    studui307342332lauAuthor
    Participant
    June 29, 2023

    Wow! first of all thanks for the super fast response time!! 

     

    and second it works like a charme! you are one (or more idk) awesome person(s)!!

    thanks for your awesomeness!! 

    all the best. 

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