Quick question about After Effects animation?

[kite88]

For anyone AE (preferably CS5) users out there, I have a noob question for you.

Is there any way to create a sort of "custom motion" on animations...I know about the clock you see beside animations and how you could change values and set anchors, etc, i'm just curious how you create a custom path.

For example, shaking text back and forth (without setting anchors going left and right) or, if possible, drag my mouse with an object and have it go through that path.

I know it's a silly, perhaps stupid question but I just wanted to ask, thanks

[poisondeathray]

For anyone AE (preferably CS5) users out there, I have a noob question for you.

Is there any way to create a sort of "custom motion" on animations...I know about the clock you see beside animations and how you could change values and set anchors, etc, i'm just curious how you create a custom path.

For example, shaking text back and forth (without setting anchors going left and right) or, if possible, drag my mouse with an object and have it go through that path.

I know it's a silly, perhaps stupid question but I just wanted to ask, thanks

you have to describe more clearly what you want, but by "clock" and "anchors" I'm going to assume you mean the "stopwach" and setting keyframes, so that you're asking how to animate without using keyframes?

You could use motion sketch , but this sets keyframes "in the background" basically you draw a motion path dragging your mouse. There's some info in the manual, and here is a basic tutorial
http://www.motionworks.com.au/2009/10/after-effects-motion-sketch/

Another option is to use expressions, this might be a bit duanting for beginners. For example you can use wiggle expressions to control the position properties of a layer for random motion. You can use custom expressions for different types of motion

[guns1inger]

The best on-line tutorials for AE are at videocopilot.net. Go. Watch. Learn.

[poisondeathray]

yes videocopilot is an awesome site, there is a basic tutorial series there as well, it's a good place to start

AETuts+ has some nice tutorials as well , they range from beginner to advanced
http://ae.tutsplus.com/category/tutorials/

[kite88]

you have to describe more clearly what you want, but by "clock" and "anchors" I'm going to assume you mean the "stopwach" and setting keyframes, so that you're asking how to animate without using keyframes?

You could use motion sketch , but this sets keyframes "in the background" basically you draw a motion path dragging your mouse. There's some info in the manual, and here is a basic tutorial
http://www.motionworks.com.au/2009/10/after-effects-motion-sketch/

Another option is to use expressions, this might be a bit duanting for beginners. For example you can use wiggle expressions to control the position properties of a layer for random motion. You can use custom expressions for different types of motion

awesome, thanks

That link is exactly what I was looking for

The best on-line tutorials for AE are at videocopilot.net. Go. Watch. Learn.

Why do you have to respond like some condescending douchebag? You don't have to be a moron who roams these forums and respond to every thread like some kind of frantic idiot.

You certainly have the ability to come across as constructive, but apparently it comes across like having a dick in your ass.

[kite88]

yes videocopilot is an awesome site, there is a basic tutorial series there as well, it's a good place to start

AETuts+ has some nice tutorials as well , they range from beginner to advanced
http://ae.tutsplus.com/category/tutorials/

I heard about videocopilot (it's awesome), thanks for the second link.

I actually started off with some lynda.com tutorials (it's the CS5 one with Chap Perkins), it's not bad as it makes you comfortable with the program.

[guns1inger]

you have to describe more clearly what you want, but by "clock" and "anchors" I'm going to assume you mean the "stopwach" and setting keyframes, so that you're asking how to animate without using keyframes?

You could use motion sketch , but this sets keyframes "in the background" basically you draw a motion path dragging your mouse. There's some info in the manual, and here is a basic tutorial
http://www.motionworks.com.au/2009/10/after-effects-motion-sketch/

Another option is to use expressions, this might be a bit duanting for beginners. For example you can use wiggle expressions to control the position properties of a layer for random motion. You can use custom expressions for different types of motion

awesome, thanks

That link is exactly what I was looking for

The best on-line tutorials for AE are at videocopilot.net. Go. Watch. Learn.

Why do you have to respond like some condescending douchebag? You don't have to be a moron who roams these forums and respond to every thread like some kind of frantic idiot.

You certainly have the ability to come across as constructive, but apparently it comes across like having a dick in your ass.

Why are you such a cotton wool covered, namby-pamby little paranoid sissy ? I answered succinctly because I am at work and don't have time to write long screeds all the time. It is your problem if you decide to be offended because of this, not mine.

(Now that's condescending )

[kite88]

lol....oh I'm not offended, perhaps I've overlooked the fact that you could just be -that- dumb as to not realize the way you come across in your posts (and I base this on my other thread as well, you know, when you tried to play web cop).

Anyways, I suppose you could just post less and use that effort to keep up a blog that no one reads

[Todd_Kopriva]

On the subject of tutorials and information for getting started with After Effects, I strongly recommend that you start here:
"Getting started with After Effects"

[fitch.j]

Gtting back to the OPS original question, The two suugestions poisondeathray gave are by far your best bet, i wouldhave instantly jumped to expressions eith over time or simply the wiggle(#,#) expresison to fulfill your example, "shaking text back and forth (without setting anchors going left and right)"

Another tip for you that i know some beginers find usefull is to give them more path freedom, simply set a start keyframe, move the time an dobject to the end, set your end keyframe, and then go back and at whatever time intervals seem appropriate for how frantic you want it to move, set a sequence of keyframes (not changing values, just add anothe rkeyfram every second or so) You can then view this line in the window with all these preset frames on it than can simply be dragged around with your mouse to create the path you desire. Important to remember that you've set them all at equal time intervals, so longer gaps will be faster and shorter ones slower etc etc.

Any more info you need and there are those of us on the board willing to help and won't just link you to somewhere else (which youve probably already been to)