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Changing a single edge of a shape layer
This is kind of a basic question and frankly I can’t believe I haven’t been able to figure out how to do this yet, but…
Let’s say I have a rectangular shape layer in AE. I want to resize it, but I only want to change the top border. Right now, when I double click and resize the top border, it resizes the bottom border as well, because the anchor point is in the center of the rectangle. But I like the bottom border where it is! I just want to change that pesky top border.
Can this be done? It seems like this would be a pretty easy thing to do. In my 2+ years in AE I’ve resized the whole thing and tried to re-place it. There’s gotta be a better way.
Thanks,
Christian
—– Christian Wheel —–
Radio Host, 104.3 MyFM, Los Angeles
Audio Production & Imaging
MS Visual Studio Developer
After Effects Enthusiast -
5 Replies
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Just add a mask , double click the mask and drag the top border to where you want it … not really “re-sizing”, but sounds like what you want to accomplish.
That is if you don’t wanna change the anchor point which is what it sounds like.
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That works for shrinking it down, but won’t enlarge it.
Also won’t properly display if you have a stroke applied to the shape.
Thanks for the answer though…
—– Christian Wheel —–
Radio Host, 104.3 MyFM, Los Angeles
Audio Production & Imaging
MS Visual Studio Developer
After Effects Enthusiast -
That’s true … to increase the size, the only thing I can think of, besides using a larger solid, is to apply a distort filter like Corner Pin and basically stretch the layer.
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You have to change the way you do things with shape layers.
Your workflow should be as follow:
Create solid layer and apply rectangular mask to it.
Select Mask Path and copy that.
Go to Layer menu, New -> Shape Layer.
After you get new Shape Layer in your timeline click on “Add” and choose Path. You will get Content line and underneath Path 1 and under that Path with stopwatch. It’s what you need. Highlight Path and paste your mask in there. Now you will be able to work with shape path in the same way as you do with regular mask on regular solid layers.
Then again click on “Add” and add fill and stroke etc.
By the way, you can parent your shape layer’s path to your initial mask and work with this mask and all the changes you made will update in shape’s path. -
Quite a workflow adjustment but that is a good way… Thanks!
—– Christian Wheel —–
Radio Host, 104.3 MyFM, Los Angeles
Audio Production & Imaging
MS Visual Studio Developer
After Effects Enthusiast
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