From Reddit: Shape layers were created to give a flexible means of vector graphics animation in After Effects, for motion graphics. Solid-color layers are raster (not vector) layers that are intended to be used as building blocks for just about everything in After Effects: being the receptacles for generated effects,…
Select the layer Press “U” to show just the transformed stuff! Press “UU” instead to show everything
Part A – Export a folder that will make a fresh “source” AE file with the comp, plus all assets Open the AE file that has the comp you want. Select the comp you want to export. Go to File > Dependencies > Collect Files. Under Collect Source Files, select…
To get rid of unused footage: Select the comp(s) you want to clean up Go to File > Dependencies > Reduce Project To get rid of duplicate footage: Go to File > Dependencies > Consolidate All Footage
Command-Double-click the Pan Behind (Anchor Point) tool.
If you’ve applied Effects > Glow to your object and you don’t see a good, hearty glow: Double-click the spot at the bottom of the Project window where it says “8 bpc”. Change it to 32 bpc. That increases the gradient levels so you see more glowy goodness.
Draw a path. In the path’s details, go to Contents > Shape 1 > Path 1 > Path. Copy Path. In your object, go to Transform > Position. Paste the Path. You can now delete the path shape you made in step 1.
By default, when you rotate a bitmap, etc. in After Effects that has a drop shadow, the drop shadow will “stick” to the object and cast its shadow in the same direction as the rotation of the object. This is dumb! (Shape layers don’t do this, fortunately.) Let’s give bitmaps,…
What we’re making: Make a new Shape layer on the timeline. Make it a donut (no fill, maybe 30px stroke). Under the Contents submenu for the shape, click the little button beside Add and select Trim Paths. Tinker with the Start and End variables to get a line that animates around in…
This is how to animate a ball shape so it eases in or out from point A to point B. Step 1 Make a new comp in AE and draw a ball (Shape Layer) on the stage. Tween it with Keyframe Assistant > Easy Ease. Step 2 Select both tween points…
