Joysticks 'n Sliders animated stacking order without switch templates.

Animate your stacking order of layers with Joysticks and Sliders, but without the use of switch templates. Just a few expressions.

[@groenpaardje]

Thanks Mike, this was super helpful :)
Here is some extra info:
Recently I needed this for a project where I needed this to happen on the x and y axis since the ears where on top of the head and when the character looks up the ears also need to go "behind" the head. For this you can add an OR (you can write that as ||) statement to the expression.
Like this:
x = thisComp.layer("joystick").transform.position[0];
y = thisComp.layer("joystick").transform.position[1]
;
if ((x > 0) || (y < 0)) {
value = 0;
} else {
value = 100;
}

[@mikeoverbeck9136]

Yes, that'll work!

[@coryjamescooper]

ok so get this, I forgot this technique and found this resolution AGAIN!
Went to comment a ty and I had already thanked you.. so uh... thanks again!

[@kfblackheart]

Thank you, so sooo much!... I was trying to use Switch Templates along with the RubberHose2 plugin to build a rotating character rig, but man... I couldn't make it work without making a lot of precomposing, you've just saved me hours of work, THANKS AGAIN!!

[@simontibbs3117]

Mike, this saved my day! For some reason I just couldn't wrap my head around switch templates. This method is so much cleaner and easier to implement. Huge thanks!

[@inventsable]

Very cool to see a new tutorial! Love this extension, I try to use it for as many things as I can

[@mikeoverbeck9136]

Thanks! I've been off on other projects for a while, but I plan to keep coming back with more tutorials and updates when needed!

[@rowandegeus]

Beautiful, thanks!

[@tofutomatosauce3307]

Thanks Mike for the awesome tutorial.

[@gaston.]

thanks Mike, back to this tutorial a few times for reference!

[@beaumccombs3454]

Hey Mike! I'm loving Joysticks n Sliders so far. The only issue I'm having is that I've got a number of comps that I want to animate the character in, which would require multiple copies and unlinking/relinking expressions. I saw on a thread somewhere that you might make a tutorial for how to use the EGP for a master rig to use in multiple comps. I've managed to set it up with multiple point controls for the joystick layers, but can't quite figure out how to put them on joysticks with a visual representation on screen in my working comp. Any advice?

[@antoniomorales29]

HEY MAN!! you´re amazing!! Can you do a tutorial for hand rig??

[@shern92]

You are amazing

[@ColobaMusic]

Wow this is awesome, thanks! What about if I want the mouth to scale x:-100 when j goes >0? I tried using the same expression on the scale property with no luck. Thanks!

[@mikeoverbeck9136]

scale is a 2D property, so your expression on the scale property would look something like 'x > 0 ? [-100, 100] : [100, 100]'

[@zo3pH]

Having to deal with a character wearing a medical mask (in front of face but behind ears), was a tough one to solve but this my friend felt like cheating! Thank you so much for sharing.

[@coryjamescooper]

this... this feels so obvious. I'm kinda mad at myself for not realizing. Thanks again Mike!

[@millenniumdeathcult7807]

Mike you're brilliant! I love your product! I just wish there was a way to create pose libraries using sliders, and then be able to access each pose through a simple 'master slider', while maintaining smooth interpolation between each pose. This ability would save me so much time....and time is money...and if you made that happen I would give you more of that money I'll have...

[@davidschertz5539]

This is great! Wish there was a way to ramp up that switch so it was so snappy or dramatic. Almost a fade of one into the other.

[@ThorSarup]

You could add an expression that uses *linear* (or perhaps *ease* ) interpolation to the color of the *front part* (the layer on top):
j = thisComp.layer("head").transform.position[0];
thisColor = content("Shape 1").content("Fill 1").color;
backColor = thisComp.layer("earBack").content("Shape 1").content("Fill 1").color;
linear(j, -50, 0, thisColor, backColor)
*or the back layer:*
j = thisComp.layer("head").transform.position[0];
thisColor = content("Shape 1").content("Fill 1").color;
frontColor = thisComp.layer("earFront").content("Shape 1").content("Fill 1").color;
linear(j, 0, 50, frontColor, thisColor)
or perhaps easier: unbind the joystick and and just keyframe the *fill color* on the layers. Though you will have more control with the expression.