Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 7.0 - Time Conversion Methods

ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS 7.0
User Guide
571
Some argument descriptions include a number in square brackets—this number indicates the dimension of the
expected property or Array. If a specific dimension is not included, any dimension will work.
Some return value descriptions include a number in square brackets—this number specifies the dimension of the
returned property or Array. If a specific dimension is not included, the dimension of the returned Array depends on
the dimension of the input.
Global objects
comp(name) Return type: Comp. Retrieves another composition by name.
Argument type: name is a String.
footage(name) Return type: Footage.
Argument type: name is a String.
Retrieves a footage item by name.
thisComp Return type: Comp.
Represents the composition containing the expression.
thisLayer Return type: Layer, Light, or Camera.
Represents the layer containing the expression. Because
thisLayer is the default object, its use is optional. For
example, you can start an expression with
thisLayer.width or width and get the same result.
thisProperty Return type: Property.
Represents the property containing the expression. For example, if you write an expression on the Rotation property,
you can start an expression with
thisProperty to refer to the Rotation property value.
time Return type: Number.
Represents the composition time, in seconds, at which the expression is being evaluated.
colorDepth Return type: Number.
Returns the project’s color depth value. For example,
colorDepth returns 16 when the project’s color depth is 16 bits
per channel.
posterizeTime(framesPerSecond) Return type: Number.
Argument type: framesPerSecond is a Number.
The framesPerSecond value becomes the frame rate from which the rest of the expression operates. This allows you
to set the expression to a frame rate lower than that of the composition. For example, the following expression
updates the property value with a random value once per second:
posterizeTime(1);
random
value Return type: Number or Array.
Represents the value at the current time for the property containing the expression.
Time conversion methods
timeToFrames(t = time + thisComp.displayStartTime, fps = 1.0 / thisComp.frameDuration, isDuration = false)
Return type: Number.