Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this lesson you will learn how to create basic animations and work with keyframes and the timeline.
Exercise Files:
https://dub.sh/aeugfiles
1. Introduction to Animation
1. Animation occurs when any property of a visible layer changes over time.
2. Two primary methods to animate: keyframes and expressions.
1. Keyframes: Markers that store property values at specific times.
2. Expressions: Advanced method using code snippets.
2. What is a Keyframe?
1. Keyframes remember the position (or property) of a layer at the current time
2. You must have at least 2 keyframes to create an animation
3. How To Add Keyframes?
1. Click on the Stopwatch next to Position to add a keyframe
4. How To Clear Keyframes
5. How To Jump From 1 Keyframe to another (J,K)
6. Reveal All Keyframes (UU)
3. What is the CTI?
1. This is the playhead to scrub through composition on the timeline.
2. Keyboard shortcut to move CTI (cmd + arrows)
4. Basics of Keyframes
1. Definition and function: A keyframe stores the value of a layer's property at a specific time.
2. Requirement for animation: At least two keyframes with different values.
3. Interpolation:
After Effects calculates the difference between keyframe values to create the animation.
5. Types of Keyframes
1. Linear Keyframes:
1. Basic type that results in straight, constant-speed animation.
2. Mention of other keyframe types that affect interpolation behavior.
6. Adding Keyframes
1. Dragging the CTI (Current Time Indicator) to the start of the timeline.
2. Confirming the CTI position using the time code.
3. Selecting the layer to animate and revealing its properties.
7. Transform Properties
1. Basic properties: Anchor Point, Position, Scale, Rotation, and Opacity.
2. Keyboard shortcuts for properties:
1. A for Anchor Point
2. P for Position
3. S for Scale
4. R for Rotation
5. T for Opacity
3. Using Shift + Shortcut to show multiple properties simultaneously.
8. Manipulating Keyframes
1. Adding keyframes by clicking the stopwatch next to a property.
2. Removing keyframes by clicking the stopwatch again or using the Delete key.
3. Selecting all keyframes on a property by clicking the property name.
9. Animating Opacity Property (Example)
1. Adding a keyframe at the start of the timeline (Opacity = 0%).
2. Moving the CTI to the end time (e.g., 1 second) and changing Opacity to 100%.
3. Automatic interpolation of values between keyframes.
10. Previewing Animations
1. Using the Spacebar to preview animations on the timeline.
11. Alternative Method to Create Animation
1. Adding the final keyframe first, then adjusting the starting keyframe value.
2. Demonstrating the same animation process with a different approach.
In this lesson you will learn how to create basic animations and work with keyframes and the timeline.
Exercise Files:
https://dub.sh/aeugfiles
1. Introduction to Animation
1. Animation occurs when any property of a visible layer changes over time.
2. Two primary methods to animate: keyframes and expressions.
1. Keyframes: Markers that store property values at specific times.
2. Expressions: Advanced method using code snippets.
2. What is a Keyframe?
1. Keyframes remember the position (or property) of a layer at the current time
2. You must have at least 2 keyframes to create an animation
3. How To Add Keyframes?
1. Click on the Stopwatch next to Position to add a keyframe
4. How To Clear Keyframes
5. How To Jump From 1 Keyframe to another (J,K)
6. Reveal All Keyframes (UU)
3. What is the CTI?
1. This is the playhead to scrub through composition on the timeline.
2. Keyboard shortcut to move CTI (cmd + arrows)
4. Basics of Keyframes
1. Definition and function: A keyframe stores the value of a layer's property at a specific time.
2. Requirement for animation: At least two keyframes with different values.
3. Interpolation:
After Effects calculates the difference between keyframe values to create the animation.
5. Types of Keyframes
1. Linear Keyframes:
1. Basic type that results in straight, constant-speed animation.
2. Mention of other keyframe types that affect interpolation behavior.
6. Adding Keyframes
1. Dragging the CTI (Current Time Indicator) to the start of the timeline.
2. Confirming the CTI position using the time code.
3. Selecting the layer to animate and revealing its properties.
7. Transform Properties
1. Basic properties: Anchor Point, Position, Scale, Rotation, and Opacity.
2. Keyboard shortcuts for properties:
1. A for Anchor Point
2. P for Position
3. S for Scale
4. R for Rotation
5. T for Opacity
3. Using Shift + Shortcut to show multiple properties simultaneously.
8. Manipulating Keyframes
1. Adding keyframes by clicking the stopwatch next to a property.
2. Removing keyframes by clicking the stopwatch again or using the Delete key.
3. Selecting all keyframes on a property by clicking the property name.
9. Animating Opacity Property (Example)
1. Adding a keyframe at the start of the timeline (Opacity = 0%).
2. Moving the CTI to the end time (e.g., 1 second) and changing Opacity to 100%.
3. Automatic interpolation of values between keyframes.
10. Previewing Animations
1. Using the Spacebar to preview animations on the timeline.
11. Alternative Method to Create Animation
1. Adding the final keyframe first, then adjusting the starting keyframe value.
2. Demonstrating the same animation process with a different approach.
