Random motion

This video is part of the official comprehensive video course about Duik Ángela

You can use this tool to generate an animated random value for some properties.

To the contrary of the Wiggle, this random motion is not interpolated: each value is completely random and does not evolve from the previous value. This makes the value jump from one value to the other without interpolation*; this is very useful for faking traditional animation for example, to make cels jump around a bit like if they weren’t perfectly aligned when scanned, or to generate very nervous random movements.

1. Select the properties
2. Click the Random motion button

Effect

The Random motion can be adjusted in the effects of the first selected layer.

You can check the link dimensions option to use the same values on the X and Y axis; this is useful for scale properties for example.

The details section contains more advanced properties.

The Natural (gaussian distribution) mode feels more realistic and natural; when used in a position for example, the layer will jump around the center of the original position, in a circular area. But with this mode, the values may jump further away than the exact amplitude.
The Strict mode feels less natural, but the values are strictly bounded by the given amplitude.

The random seed is used to generate the pseudo-randomness of the random motion. It is set to the index of the layer by default.

Other options

Before adding the random motion to the selected properties, you can set some options in the additional panel.

• Dimensions
  • Collapse dimensions: use a single amplitude and frequency for all dimensions (or channels for colors).
  • Split values: separate amplitude and frequency values for each dimension or color channel.
• Controls
  • Unified control: create a single effect for all selected properties.
  • Individual controls: create an effect for each selected property.