After Effects Halp!
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- CygnusZero4
I created a new shape layer, and within that I created a circle and a rectangle shape path.
My goal is to have 2 shape layers grouped, and from a google search found out that this is how you group shape layers in AE, except that I'm unable to move the 2 layers individually without using the position feature in the twirly down.
Is there a tool that will allow me to select these 2 layers individually? For some reason the normal selection arrow tool insists on selecting both of these layers, but there's no hollow white arrow like there is in Photoshop and AI.
- uan0
In your shape layer open contents and click on either Ellipse or Rectangle first, then you can use the selection tool to select them individually.
- CygnusZero4-1
Doesnt work. No matter what I do it insists on selecting both layers.
- it works here :) deselect everything first. then select rectangle or ellipse. from then on AE knows you want to address the content and not the layer.uan
- CygnusZero4-1
Just not working here man. I'm in CC 2014.
- CygnusZero4-1
Lol are we talking about the same program? None of that is working for me, and the selection tool doesnt turn white.
- uan1
- CygnusZero4-1
^ Mine looks exactly like that.... minus the individual selection lol.
- CygnusZero4-1
What something is different, My ellipse and rectangle have the word path in their names. Like Ellipse Path 1. Yours doesnt have that.
- CygnusZero4-1
Let me ask you this, how did you get the ellipse and rectangle as part of a shape layer?
- CygnusZero4-1
Figured it out! When I created them within the shape layer, I used the ADD tool thats next to the contents label. You just drew the layers using the ellipse and rectangle tools. I just did that and I can now select them individually. So something is up with this ADD feature.
- never used this ADD feature...looks like it only adds paths and not shapes.uan
- wtf is the difference between them? lolCygnusZero4
- shapes have a path, a stroke and a fill.uan
- no, shapes are primitives with no path, but properties like radius, size, etc, and paths are any given form traced by a pathfeel
- @feel I know you know more than me in AE, but my answer is correct. 1st is a shape, 2nd is a path http://i.imgur.com/P…uan
- feel1
Dude, don't group shape layers on the same shape layer, there's no reason to do that, unless you're applying some effects to both shapes, or combining them.
If you want to move both shapes around, but have them do their thing separatedly, you're better off by parenting both layers on a null master, then animating them as layers.
You can access the "transform" of each separate shape within the shape layer, but you don't have shortcuts for it, and selecting them is a hassle.
The shortcuts I'm talking about is like pressing P for position, R for rotation and so on. The only work around is by keyframing and then pressing U to show all keyframed properties. But then again, is a hassle.
Just keep them separated in different layers and parent them to a master mover null and you'll be good
- feel1
oh, one more tip, that I've learned recently and kicks asses
if you're having trouble with the layer anchor point of a shape layer, you can use the move anchor point tool and after draggin the center, just hold Ctrl (or cmd on mac i guess) to snap to its center or sides.
This saves major times every time, I'm using it like crazy
- CygnusZero4-1
Ok so if I build this object Im trying to create as separate layers, and then parent them to a null object, how do I then take ALL of those layers and have them be a mask for another object, or is that even possible?
Basically what Im trying to build is a chart like this, where the colors animate up from the bottom, but you can see theres some funky shapes going on at the bottom of the bars.
- Would it work if I pre-compose all of the layers, and then use that as a mask? Not sure if thats possible.CygnusZero4
- just make one mask for each layer, precomposing will make it harder to change the animation.feel
- lmao ill have like 100s of layers if i try and do that. EACH object is 15 layers.CygnusZero4
- each object needs its own mask, and im going to end up with about 20 of these objects total.CygnusZero4
- well, thats how you do it man, you eventually will end up with a bunch of layers, theres even a toggle to "shy" layers you don't need to see all the timefeel
- the button with a dude behind a wall, that will hide layers with that turned on, just hide from sight, not from renderingfeel
- fyoucher11
Can't you just animate the points on the top of the bars up? Like select those points on the top curve and move the up over time? Not sure why you need two separate shapes. Draw shapes with pen freehand?
- CygnusZero4-1
^ How would you animate points in after effects?
- As a mask layer on solid, mask interpolation or using this > http://aescripts.com…fyoucher1
- zarkonite1
If you have one layer with the background of the bar then you can duplicate that layer and use it as an alpha matte for the color.
The color can be another shape layer with the rounded top or a bitmap asset, doesn't matter, it'll be used as fill for the inside of the matte.
You can just animate the color moving up from the bottom. If you want that percentage to follow then use a null object to move things up and have the color and the number parented to the null.
Each can be its own separate comp if you want to keep your main movie timeline with fewer layers.
Did that make sense? am I missing something? Why is each bar 15 layers?
- uan1
make a new solid full screen with the color you need.
apply a mask to it (cmd-shift-n)draw the thing in illustrator, then copy the first bar to the clipboard.
in ae, select the Mask (it's under Masks->Mask 1, 2 arrows down the layer) and paste the ai vector from the clipboard.
open the mask (1 arrow down), keyframe Mask Path, move in time. select the top 3 anchor points with the selection tool, move them to the point you need them.
repeat for every bar
- feel1
man, if i were to animate these growing bars and such, i'd just import eveything in separated layers, freakin duplicate each grey space and use it as mask for each bar, parent the % number to the bars, keyframe each one on its end position, go back a few frames and keyframe it at 0% and work it from there.
choose parenting to a null instead of precomposing it, that way you keep all your keyframes on the same timeline and makes it easier to do timing and cadence on these many keyframes and many layers...
if you're new to AE, don't worry about getting messy with your layers, it will look messed up anyways, just name it or know what layer is what.
and if you don't know, heres a tip: pressing the key u you show everything that is keyframed on a layer, and if nothing is selected it will show for every layer.
keep it up!
- Hayoth0
I have a question if anyone is interested. Can someone point me to a tutorial on masking text in AE. It's been awhile since I have done it and I am not sure how to make the mask flow super fluid.
Something like this
https://instagram.com/p/vEXV9azH…
- Hayoth0
Does anyone know where I find tutorials on some of the animation presents used in these logo animations?
Where should I start on learning to animate logos? I have beginner skills in AE.