Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
If you want to scale or resize a shape in only one direction in Adobe After Effects, for example left, up, right, down, this is how you can do that.
First, you want to open your Shape layer, go to “Contents”, “Rectangle”, “Rectangle Path” (or “Ellipse” and “Ellipse Path” if it is a circle) and then unselect “Constrain proportions” next to “Size” to resize the height and width individually.
If you go to “Transform” and “Scale”, it will resize the whole shape, including the stroke, and that is why we are using the “Size” property instead.
Now, to resize the shape in only one direction, hold down “option/alt” while clicking on the stopwatch next to “Anchor Point” (under Transform).
Here you want to paste the expression that you can find in the video description underneath this video, just make sure to put the name of your shape in the first parentheses and the name of your shape path in the second parentheses.
Now, when you resize the the width and height with the “Size”-property, it will only resize in one direction.
To do this in the opposite direction, just do the same thing but instead of dividing the width and height in “2” in your expression, divide it in “-2” and now it will grow in the opposite direction.
And if you want to move the stroke of this shape to the outside or inside of the shape, check the tutorial that I will link here at the end and don’t forget to subscribe.
💻 EXPRESSION:
box_width = content ("Rectangle 1") .content("Rectangle Path 1") .size[0];
box_height = content ("Rectangle 1") .content("Rectangle Path 1") .size[1];
[box_ width/2, box_height/2]
(Rename "Rectangle 1" and "Rectangle Path 1" if needed, based on your shape name and path name)
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🧠 Learn more about Adobe Premiere Pro:
youtube.com/watch?v=ExOzQ6uCso0&list=PLgJlbAYg0mEkXrbeSUcXFU8ax-y-21Ndb
🧠 Learn more about Adobe After Effects:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgJlbAYg0mEnZDvh9LUAz-t0rAjCgH8IQ
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**********
DISCLAIMER: This video and description might contain affiliate links, meaning if you click any of the product links, I'll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows me to continue making videos like this. Thank You for your support! 🙏
(All links are my genuine recommendations.)
#AdobeAfterEffects #AfterEffects #aftereffectstutorials #HowToAfterEffects
If you want to scale or resize a shape in only one direction in Adobe After Effects, for example left, up, right, down, this is how you can do that.
First, you want to open your Shape layer, go to “Contents”, “Rectangle”, “Rectangle Path” (or “Ellipse” and “Ellipse Path” if it is a circle) and then unselect “Constrain proportions” next to “Size” to resize the height and width individually.
If you go to “Transform” and “Scale”, it will resize the whole shape, including the stroke, and that is why we are using the “Size” property instead.
Now, to resize the shape in only one direction, hold down “option/alt” while clicking on the stopwatch next to “Anchor Point” (under Transform).
Here you want to paste the expression that you can find in the video description underneath this video, just make sure to put the name of your shape in the first parentheses and the name of your shape path in the second parentheses.
Now, when you resize the the width and height with the “Size”-property, it will only resize in one direction.
To do this in the opposite direction, just do the same thing but instead of dividing the width and height in “2” in your expression, divide it in “-2” and now it will grow in the opposite direction.
And if you want to move the stroke of this shape to the outside or inside of the shape, check the tutorial that I will link here at the end and don’t forget to subscribe.
💻 EXPRESSION:
box_width = content ("Rectangle 1") .content("Rectangle Path 1") .size[0];
box_height = content ("Rectangle 1") .content("Rectangle Path 1") .size[1];
[box_ width/2, box_height/2]
(Rename "Rectangle 1" and "Rectangle Path 1" if needed, based on your shape name and path name)
**********
EXCLUSIVE RESOURCES FOR VIDEO CREATORS:
🎞 FREE (and paid) digital products for video creators:
davidlindgren89.gumroad.com
🎁 FREE browser extension for YouTube Growth:
tubebuddy.com/davidlindgren1989&x=homepage
🎵 2 extra months of music library "Artlist" for FREE:
artlist.io/David-121249
🧠 Learn more about Adobe Premiere Pro:
youtube.com/watch?v=ExOzQ6uCso0&list=PLgJlbAYg0mEkXrbeSUcXFU8ax-y-21Ndb
🧠 Learn more about Adobe After Effects:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgJlbAYg0mEnZDvh9LUAz-t0rAjCgH8IQ
**********
📲 CONNECT WITH ME HERE:
► youtube.com/davidlindgren89
► facebook.com/davidlindgren89
► instagram.com/davidlindgren89
► twitter.com/davidlindgren89
► medium.com/@davidlindgren89
**********
DISCLAIMER: This video and description might contain affiliate links, meaning if you click any of the product links, I'll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows me to continue making videos like this. Thank You for your support! 🙏
(All links are my genuine recommendations.)
#AdobeAfterEffects #AfterEffects #aftereffectstutorials #HowToAfterEffects
