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Introduction
This is the result we will create, an arrow tracing a mountain ridge along a curved path, with its tip always facing the direction of motion thanks to auto-orient. Let's get started. Hello, welcome back to the complete Adobe After Effects series from Cerdas Inovasi Digital. Motion path or motion path is a line that shows the path of a layer in the composition panel. In this episode, we will learn to shape it into a beautiful curve and make the object face the direction of its motion. Create a composition from the mountain ridge footage.
Step 1: Create an Arrow
Press F2, select the pen tool, then click 7 points to draw an arrow shape pointing to the right, with a yellow fill. The arrow shape layer is formed. Center the anchor point in the middle of the arrow.
Step 2: Animate Position of Three Points
Press P. At frame 0, place the arrow at the bottom left and activate stop walk. At frame 2, place it at the top center, and at frame 4, place it at the bottom right. The motion path automatically curves smoothly because the default spatial interpolation in After Effects is auto-bezier.
Step 3: Dragging Path Handles
Click the keyframe in the middle of the composition panel. Two blue handles appear on the left and right. If you drag one handle away, the curve of the path becomes wider and the arrow swings further. Handles work like in the pen tool in design programs.
Step 4: Arrow Direction Issue
Drag the handle far away. The arrow indeed moves along the curve, but its tip remains facing right throughout the motion. Like an object sliding, not walking. We could manually animate the rotation, but there is an automatic way.
Step 5: Auto-Orient
Select the arrow layer, then open layer, transform, auto-orient, or press Ctrl Alt O. Select orient long pass then OK. After Effects rotates the arrow on every frame according to the direction of the motion path, so its tip always faces forward. Press space.
Step 6: Final Preview
The arrow is now bending to follow the slope. Go up, turn at the top of the curve, then go down. We can still change the path shape anytime, and the auto-orientation arrow adjusts accordingly.
Done!
Done. We have already drawn an arrow using the Pen Tool, created a motion path with three keyframes, Understanding auto-bezier interpolation, pulling handles to curve the path, and using auto-orient. In the next episode, we'll learn how to edit keyframes quickly. Need a promotional video, logo animation, motion graphics for social media, or visual effects for short films? Cerdas Inovasi Digital provides motion graphics and visual effects services, as well as opening the After Effects course from beginner to advanced level. Want to master all of these series? 104 episodes from interface to final project? All episodes, complete with step-by-step PDF guides, source footage, and project scripts, Available for premium tutorial subscribers. Subscribe starting at Rp69.000 per month, Save 28% with the 12-month package, or pay once Rp999.000 for lifetime access. Want a single class? Buy single class with lifetime access. Subscribe now on the premium page cerdasinovasidigital.com Contact our WhatsApp or visit cerdasinovasidigital.com Thank you for watching, See you in the next episode. Thank you for watching,
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Cerdas Inovasi Digital Team
Software developers, BIM & 3D engineers, and AI practitioners
52 video classes1,276 episodes
We build software, BIM models, games and AI automations for clients every day, and turn that hands-on work into step-by-step classes: every step is shown on screen and comes with a PDF guide you can keep.
