Together, these vertices and segments create paths.
To understand a shape layer, you first need to learn a few of the fundamentals.Īt the most basic level, an After Effects shape is a vector graphic made up of vertices and segments. By the end of this article, you will feel comfortable creating and manipulating shapes inside of After Effects, allowing you to focus on the creative side of your project. Maybe you use shapes from time to time, but you just can’t seem to figure out how to apply a stroke or customize a path. This tutorial is targeted at folks who have little to no experience with shape layers. You can even harness the power of the Adobe CC family and import Illustrator layers as shapes. Turn masks and text layers into editable shapes for some versatile and dynamic options in post. You can create a lot with these colorful little vectors, including dynamic transitions, colorfully animated backgrounds, and motion graphics elements for a lower third. Understanding how these layers work will help you master how to use them. You can easily lose track of a shape in the sea of groups, paths, attributes, and transform properties.
The layout of a shape layer isn’t exactly intuitive. If you’ve ever worked with a shape inside of Adobe After Effects then you’ve no doubt had some confusing moments. Cut through the confusion and take control of your shape layers.
