Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this lesson, you will learn the basics of Anchor Points which is an invisible point on a layer that serves as the center of scaling, rotation and other transformations. Every layer has an Anchor Point.
Exercise Files:
https://dub.sh/aeugfiles
1. Introduction to Anchor Points
1. Definition: An anchor point is an invisible point around which a layer rotates, scales, or repositions itself.
2. Viewing the anchor point: Select the layer in the layers panel.
2. Basic Operations with Anchor Points
1. Rotation:
1. Shortcut: R to bring up the rotation property.
2. Example: Rotating a layer around its anchor point.
2. Scale:
1. Shortcut: S to bring up the scale property.
2. Zooming in and out of the composition window (period key to zoom in, comma key to zoom out).
3. Moving the Anchor Point
1. Selection Tool:
1. Default tool for moving layers (shortcut: V).
2. Moving the anchor point with the selection tool moves the entire layer.
2. Pan Behind Tool:
1. Purpose: Moves only the anchor point without moving the layer.
2. Shortcut: Y.
3. Example: Moving the anchor point to the bottom center of a layer.
4. Demonstrating the effects on rotation and scaling when the anchor point is moved.
4. Centering Layers and Anchor Points
1. Using the Align panel to center layers horizontally and vertically.
2. Shortcut for centering the anchor point: Command + double-click on the Pan Behind tool (Control + double-click on Windows).
5. Creating and Manipulating Shapes
1. Shape Tool:
1. Creating shapes without any layers selected to avoid creating masks.
2. Setting fill and stroke colors for shapes.
3. Example: Creating a star and observing the default anchor point placement.
2. Preferences:
1. Setting After Effects to automatically center the anchor point in new shape layers (After Effects menu ... Settings ... General).
6. Practical Examples with Anchor Points
1. Graphic Element:
1. Example: Dragging an Orange Tree graphic onto the composition and adjusting its scale and position.
2. Rotation and Natural Movement:
1. Adjusting the anchor point to the bottom center for natural rotation (e.g., simulating a tree blowing in the wind).
7. Understanding Transform Properties
1. Anchor Point Transform Property:
1. Shortcut: A to bring up the anchor point property.
2. Explanation: This property is less commonly used compared to other transform properties (position, scale, rotation, opacity).
3. Differences between changing anchor point transform values and using the Pan Behind tool.
4. Internal coordinate system of After Effects and its impact on transformations.
In this lesson, you will learn the basics of Anchor Points which is an invisible point on a layer that serves as the center of scaling, rotation and other transformations. Every layer has an Anchor Point.
Exercise Files:
https://dub.sh/aeugfiles
1. Introduction to Anchor Points
1. Definition: An anchor point is an invisible point around which a layer rotates, scales, or repositions itself.
2. Viewing the anchor point: Select the layer in the layers panel.
2. Basic Operations with Anchor Points
1. Rotation:
1. Shortcut: R to bring up the rotation property.
2. Example: Rotating a layer around its anchor point.
2. Scale:
1. Shortcut: S to bring up the scale property.
2. Zooming in and out of the composition window (period key to zoom in, comma key to zoom out).
3. Moving the Anchor Point
1. Selection Tool:
1. Default tool for moving layers (shortcut: V).
2. Moving the anchor point with the selection tool moves the entire layer.
2. Pan Behind Tool:
1. Purpose: Moves only the anchor point without moving the layer.
2. Shortcut: Y.
3. Example: Moving the anchor point to the bottom center of a layer.
4. Demonstrating the effects on rotation and scaling when the anchor point is moved.
4. Centering Layers and Anchor Points
1. Using the Align panel to center layers horizontally and vertically.
2. Shortcut for centering the anchor point: Command + double-click on the Pan Behind tool (Control + double-click on Windows).
5. Creating and Manipulating Shapes
1. Shape Tool:
1. Creating shapes without any layers selected to avoid creating masks.
2. Setting fill and stroke colors for shapes.
3. Example: Creating a star and observing the default anchor point placement.
2. Preferences:
1. Setting After Effects to automatically center the anchor point in new shape layers (After Effects menu ... Settings ... General).
6. Practical Examples with Anchor Points
1. Graphic Element:
1. Example: Dragging an Orange Tree graphic onto the composition and adjusting its scale and position.
2. Rotation and Natural Movement:
1. Adjusting the anchor point to the bottom center for natural rotation (e.g., simulating a tree blowing in the wind).
7. Understanding Transform Properties
1. Anchor Point Transform Property:
1. Shortcut: A to bring up the anchor point property.
2. Explanation: This property is less commonly used compared to other transform properties (position, scale, rotation, opacity).
3. Differences between changing anchor point transform values and using the Pan Behind tool.
4. Internal coordinate system of After Effects and its impact on transformations.
