> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.nosleepcreative.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.nosleepcreative.com/after-effects/expressions/shape-and-mask-paths.md).

# Shape & Mask

## General tips

### Maintain stroke width

```javascript
// from campkeyframe
sf = transform.scale[0]/100;
 ov = value;
nv = ov / sf

// for parented shapes 
value / length(toComp([0,0]), toComp([0.7071,0.7071])) || 0.001;


// https://battleaxe.tumblr.com/post/101945073972/maintain-stroke-weight-expression
```

### Looping paths (loopOut() doesn't work for paths)

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Pingpong" %}

```javascript
if (numKeys >1 && time > key(numKeys).time){
 t1 = key(1).time;
 t2 = key(numKeys).time;
 span = t2 - t1;
 delta = time - t2;
 seg = Math.floor(delta/span);
 t = delta%span;
 valueAtTime((seg%2) ? (t1 + t) : (t2 - t));
}else
 value
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="cycle" %}

```javascript
if (numKeys >1 && time > key(numKeys).time){
 t1 = key(1).time;
 t2 = key(numKeys).time;
 span = t2 - t1;
 delta = time - t2;
 t = delta%span;
 valueAtTime(t1 + t)
}else
 value
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## Accessing Shape parameters

Reference: <https://ae-expressions.docsforadobe.dev/group.html?highlight=shape%20property#group>

### Syntax & Usage

```javascript
thisProperty.propertyGroup(1).numProperties
thisProperty.propertyGroup(1).propertyIndex
```

### Shape Property Index

Let's say if you have multiple Ellipses or other shapes within a Shape Layer Contents, and you want to retrieve the index of each Shape:

```javascript
content("Ellipse 1").propertyIndex
```

```javascript
thisProperty.propertyGroup(3).propertyIndex
```

If you want to use parse the index via the property name:

```javascript
// using name as index eg. line_1
parseInt(thisProperty.propertyGroup(3).name.split("_")[1]); // method 1

parseInt(content(1).name.split("_")[1]) // method 2
```

### Shape Property Group and Index

```javascript
// shape group index
thisProperty.propertyGroup(2).propertyIndex // change num accordingly


```

### Examples

* [Property Group Index Expression + Free Preset](https://youtu.be/xgUNncvKXY8)

{% embed url="<https://youtu.be/xgUNncvKXY8>" %}


---

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