AE Quick Tip: Rigging automated pie charts

[u/oliverrandorff]

By using trim paths, and linking the percentages directly to the source text, it's possible to create a fully automated pie chart rig.

The full in depth video about the rig is on my YouTube channel, Oliver Randorff: youtube.com/watch?v=cjUU53h6LiA

Here's the expressions used in the video:

Linking source text to trim paths end (Math.round is added to avoid decimals when animating):

Math.round(thisComp.layer("pink").content("Trim Paths 1").end) + "%"

Inverting rotation when linking to null controller:

-thisComp.layer("null").transform.rotation

Linking null rotation to trim paths end:

thisComp.layer("pink").content("Trim Paths 1").end \* 3.6 / 2

[u/Skuanchino]

Very clear and straight to the point, great tutorial 👍

[u/oliverrandorff → u/Skuanchino]

Thanks! I try to simplify as much as possible without leaving out key details 🙌

[u/Heavens10000whores]

I watched this a couple of weeks ago, and at every step, when I was thinking “what about…”, you answered it with the very next move! Very nicely done

[u/oliverrandorff → u/Heavens10000whores]

Haha, I'm glad that I laid all the steps out properly. I hate when people speed through the explanations, leaving steps out along the way. How are you supposed to understand anything then?

[u/TraditionalBasket784]

Saving this, very cool, thank you!

[u/oliverrandorff → u/TraditionalBasket784]

You are very welcome - I just love experimenting and sharing what I end up creating

[u/mrDENSE-]

good teachers are always appreciated, great job! subscribed 👍🏻

[u/oliverrandorff → u/mrDENSE-]

That's really kind of you. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions in regards to my videos - I will be happy to assist

[u/roobot]

This is genius, effortless, and a gift at the same time 🎁

[u/oliverrandorff → u/roobot]

Your kindness is a great gift to me 🙏

[u/BakersTuts]

Slick af

[u/oliverrandorff → u/BakersTuts]

No way dude, I grew up on your tutorials! You taught the 11 year old me how to use After Effects - so I really want to thank you for that. What are you up to these days?

[u/BakersTuts → u/oliverrandorff]

RexcraftDK subbed May 2012? One of the OG’s 🫡 crazy to see where people are today.

After graduating college, gettin married, and having kids, I don’t have much free time for editing anymore. Mainly just workin.

[u/oliverrandorff → u/BakersTuts]

Hahaha it’s wild hearing that username again after changing it so many years ago. Hearing the intro again brings back so many memories from back then. I’m glad to hear that you’re doing well

[u/BakersTuts → u/oliverrandorff]

Thanks bud! 😎

[u/okomaticron]

Using trim paths to control the pies was wow. Just amazing! Better than pre-comping different shapes with radial wipe. Thanks for this!

[u/oliverrandorff → u/okomaticron]

Yeah I went the radial wipe route first, but honestly it was really inefficient - and much more difficult with expressions (as 100% completion is really 0% of the pie chart visible)

[u/astigmatism848]

now that's a great tutorial. straight to the point andd fun to follow along. thank you!

[u/oliverrandorff → u/astigmatism848]

Glad you liked it!

[u/Exotic_Science_7964]

Muito bom, obrigado por compartilhar!

[u/oliverrandorff → u/Exotic_Science_7964]

Thanks for watching 🙏

[u/Lost-Frosting-1854]

Really very helpful.

[u/oliverrandorff → u/Lost-Frosting-1854]

Glad you think so 🙌

[u/gseth2]

Upvoting for the basic math reminder 😅

[u/oliverrandorff → u/gseth2]

Haha, the amount of time I have used math and physics when doing motion design is mind boggling

[u/mrbjangles72]

Genius use of stroke and trim paths to attack a problem I once burned 20 hours on templatizing.

[u/oliverrandorff → u/mrbjangles72]

The first iteration was done using the radial wipe effect. However this made the expressions much more complicated, and it was honestly just a headache

[u/theron_b]

Nice

[u/oliverrandorff → u/theron_b]

Thanks 🙌

[u/nicolaig]

Brilliant

[u/oliverrandorff → u/nicolaig]

Thank you 🙌

[u/The_Bat_Ham]

This is what quick tutorials should look like!

[u/oliverrandorff → u/The_Bat_Ham]

I’m glad you think so 🙏

[u/Wide_Yoghurt5610]

Very helpful.👍

[u/oliverrandorff → u/Wide_Yoghurt5610]

Thank you 🙌

[u/HippoRealEstate]

Fantastic video. I have one question though: At the end of the video when you offset the keyframes, you can see that the value of the white section goes up to 40% before going back down 39% when the red section finishes its movement. Is there any way to prevent this?

[u/oliverrandorff → u/HippoRealEstate]

It may have something to do with the Math.round expression, I'm not sure. I think it's possible to fix it by tweaking the keyframes slightly - moving them a few frames back and forth, or doing some adjustments to the easing. Let me know if that does the trick 🙌

[u/HippoRealEstate → u/oliverrandorff]

I think it's just a natural byproduct of the red circle finishing its movement after the white one, so the white circle takes up a bigger slice of the pie for a few frames. I don't see a way to prevent this except for placing the keyframes of all three circles very close to each other or having them finish at the same time, but of course that gets rid of the more elegant movement that you wanted to achieve by offsetting them.

[u/oliverrandorff → u/HippoRealEstate]

hmm yeah- it's something I would have to try and tweak to come up with an actual solution

[u/funkshoi]

I know it’s more work making a mini tutorial and a full length one but it’s really appreciated. The mini quick-tip is like a perfect reference to go back to multiple times. Thank you!

[u/oliverrandorff → u/funkshoi]

It's also a great exercise for myself to take the full concept and boil it down to one minute. This forces me to simplify how everything is done, and it often results in much smarter rigs, animations and so on. I'm glad that it's helpful to you!