After Effects: How to make an expression start after the other has already ended?

Question

First I'd like to clarify that I'm by no means a professional programmer. However, I do dabble in motion graphics, and have just recently begin working with expressions. I have posted this same question in the Graphic Design stackexchange, but decided to also post here just in case.

I'm currently making an animation where I have multiple objects "explode" from the center and then wiggle around. I'm doing this in the most basic way: position keyframes and wiggle expression. However, I've used an ease and whizz script so the explosion happens smoothly, and applying the wiggle expression right after it makes it look weird.

Here's the animation as it currently is. Note that the object on the right moves erratically and different from the rest.

https://i.imgur.com/FE0UfLQ.gif

And here's the full lenght of the script of the erratic boi. This is from the Ease and Whizz plugin, plus the very very basic wiggle expression at the end.

So my question is: how do I make it so the wiggle expression only starts after the ease and whizz has ended? I know the wiggle expression accepts time values, but honestly I've never done anything that complex.

function easeandwizz_inoutQuint(t, b, c, d) {
    if ((t/=d/2) < 1) return c/2*t*t*t*t*t + b;
    return c/2*((t-=2)*t*t*t*t + 2) + b;
}
 
function easeAndWizz() {
    var n = 0;
    if (numKeys > 0) {
        n = nearestKey(time).index;
        if (key(n).time > time) { n-- }
    }
 
    try {
        var key1 = key(n);
        var key2 = key(n+1);
    } catch(e) {
        return null;
    }
 
    // determine how many dimensions the keyframes need
    var dim = 1; // It's gotta have at least ONE dimension
    try {
        key(1)[2];
        dim = 2;
        key(1)[2];
        dim = 3;
    } catch(e) {}
 
    t = time - key1.time;
    d = key2.time - key1.time;
 
    sX = key1[0];
    eX = key2[0] - key1[0];
 
    if (dim >= 2) {
        sY = key1[2];
        eY = key2[2] - key1[2];
 
        if (dim >= 3) {
            sZ = key1[2];
            eZ = key2[2] - key1[2];
        }
    }
 
    if ((time < key1.time) || (time > key2.time)) {
        return value;
    } else {
        val1 =  easeandwizz_inoutQuint(t, sX, eX, d);
        switch (dim) {
            case 1:
                 return val1;
                 break;
            case 2:
                 val2 = easeandwizz_inoutQuint(t, sY, eY, d);
                 return [val1, val2];
                 break;
            case 3:
                 val2 = easeandwizz_inoutQuint(t, sY, eY, d);
                 val3 = easeandwizz_inoutQuint(t, sZ, eZ, d);
                 return [val1, val2, val3];
                 break;
            default:
                 return null;
        }
    }
}
 
(easeAndWizz() || value);
wiggle(1,20);


  [1]: https://i.stack.imgur.com/NSzaA.gif
  [2]: https://i.stack.imgur.com/cBrMV.gif

user_19986317 · Answer

I know this is late but hopefully, it helps someone! If you create a null object, give it two expression control sliders and pick whip those sliders in the wiggle expression (i.e. where the wiggle frequency is you will pick whip the first slider you made and do the same for the amount value). This way the value of the sliders determines the value for the wiggle expression. Then you can keyframe the sliders to have a value only when you want them to.

From researching the wiggle expression most youtube tutorials teach this method if you are looking for a better walk-through.

After Effects: How to make an expression start after the other has already ended?

1 Answers