Unlock the power of automation and precision in your motion graphics with After Effects Expressions! This section is your guide to mastering the scripting language that allows you to create dynamic animations, link properties, and build complex effects without manual keyframing. Whether you’re looking to synchronize animations, create interactive controls, or add randomness to your designs, these tutorials will take you from the basics to advanced techniques. Elevate your workflow and unleash creative possibilities with Expressions in After Effects!
Exploring the Property Tree in Adobe After Effects Using ExtendScript
When working with Adobe After Effects, you may need to identify property names for specific elements within a layer. This can be a crucial step in scripting and automation. The following script provides a way to recursively walk through the property chain of selected layer(s) and outputs the match names and display names directly to…
Fade Opacity of a 3D Layer Based on Distance from Camera
Place a shape or an image on your composition. Convert it into 3D Layer. Click T to open its opacity property. Alt-Click on Stop-Watch icon to enable expressions. Delete and paste the following expression in this field. Now add two Expression Controls: Both should be Slider Control. You can add Expression Controls from: Effect –…
Creating Animating Organic Lines with Expressions
Create a New Shape Layer Add a Path to the Shape Layer Add Expression Controls for Custom ParametersYou’ll need to create several controls to tweak the organic line’s behavior with noise. Change the “Length” to increase or decrease the overall size of your line.Modify “Points” to add more or fewer vertices, which will affect how…
Parametric Ellipses or Ovals using Expressions
Step 1: Create a New Shape Layer Open your After Effects composition.Create a new Shape Layer by navigating to:Layer > New > Shape Layer. Step 2: Add a Path to the Shape Layer With your Shape Layer selected, click the “Add” button (next to Contents in the Timeline) and choose “Path”.This adds a default path…
Parametric Curves using Expressions
Step 1: Create a New Shape Layer In your After Effects composition, create a new shape layer (Layer > New > Shape Layer).In the shape layer, add a “Path” property (for example, by adding a “Shape” → “Path” under Contents). Step 2: Add Slider ControlsTo control the spiral, add the following slider effects to your…
Expression Driven Parametric Circles
Create any shape layer. Go to contents and expand. Delete the current shape (Ellipse and etc.) Click on the little right arrow icon next to Add. Click Path. Now expand path by clicking down arrow icon. Alt-Click on time-watch icon to create an expression. Copy and Paste the following code. Now we need to add…
Create an Expression Driven Arc
Today we’re going to build an expression-driven arc stroke. Start with creating any kind of shape. For example ellipse. Now go to your shape layer and expand the contents. You can delete the Ellipse 1 path. Right next to Contents, you should see an Add option with a right arrow next to it. Now click…
Adobe After Effects Expression Controls
Adobe After Effects Expression Controls Adobe After Effects is a powerful tool for creating motion graphics and visual effects. One of the advanced features of After Effects is the use of expressions, which allow you to create sophisticated animations and effects using code. Expression Controls are special effect controls that let you create custom user…
After Effects Expressions
After Effects expressions are snippets of JavaScript code that allow you to create dynamic animations and automate tasks within Adobe After Effects. They can be applied to properties like position, scale, rotation, and more, enabling you to achieve effects that would otherwise require extensive keyframing. Here are some popular expressions: