How Do You Add Movement in After Effects?

You can add movement in After Effects using the Animation panel, Keyframes, and Motion Blur.

Using the Animation Panel

1. Select the layer you want to animate. This could be text, a shape, an image, or a video clip.
2. Open the Animation Panel. You can find this by going to Window > Animation or by clicking the stopwatch icon next to the property you want to animate.
3. Add a keyframe. Click the stopwatch icon to add a keyframe at the current time marker.
4. Move the playhead to a different time.
5. Change the property value. For example, you can move the position of a layer, change its size, or adjust its opacity.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5. This will create multiple keyframes, allowing you to define the movement of the layer over time.

Using Keyframes

Keyframes are the foundation of animation in After Effects. They act as checkpoints that define the state of a property at a specific point in time.

• Adding Keyframes: You can add keyframes by clicking the stopwatch icon next to a property in the Animation panel.
• Editing Keyframes: You can adjust keyframes by dragging them, changing their values, or using the Graph Editor.
• Keyframe Interpolation: You can control how the values between keyframes are interpolated using different Easing Options.

Using Motion Blur

Motion blur adds a realistic blur effect to moving objects, making the animation smoother and more natural.

• Enabling Motion Blur: You can enable motion blur by selecting the Motion Blur option in the Effects & Presets panel.
• Adjusting Blur: You can adjust the blur level and other settings using the Motion Blur effect controls.

Examples

Here are some examples of how you can use movement in After Effects:

• Create a bouncing ball: Animate the ball's position using keyframes, adding a slight bounce to the movement.
• Make text appear on screen: Animate the text's opacity from 0% to 100% over time.
• Create a camera pan: Animate the camera's position to create a panning effect.
• Simulate wind blowing through leaves: Use the Turbulence effect to create a random movement effect on leaves.

By combining these techniques, you can create a wide range of animations in After Effects.