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Equivalent to Freeze Transforms or Reset Transforms in after effects?
I created some 2D character art using shape layers in after effects, and in the process used a lot of positioning and rotation to achieve my desired results.
I am now trying to set up some simple Expression controls to make animation easier, but cannot find any way to “zero out” the position and rotation values of the shape layers I created.
I am primarily a 3D artist and both maya and 3ds max have tools that allow you to do this (freeze transformations (maya), reset transforms (max)). Is there anyway to do this in after effects?
I appreciate the help. thank you.
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7 Replies
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All animatable properties in AE have a reset option. However, if you already have one or more keyframes for a property, resetting it will create another keyframe with default values which may not be what you want considering that you’ve already applied keyframes.
HTH
RoRKIntensive mocha & AE Training in Singapore and Other Dangerous Locations
Imagineer Systems (mocha) Certified Instructor
& Adobe After Effects ACE/ACI (version 7) -
[Ashton Rosendahl] “I am primarily a 3D artist and both maya and 3ds max have tools that allow you to do this (freeze transformations (maya), reset transforms (max)). Is there anyway to do this in after effects?”
The only similar solution would be to:
1) Create a new Null object.
2) Hold shift and parent the null to the object you want to zero out.
3) Unparent the null.
4) Parent the object to the null.
It’s not a pretty solution but it will effectively ‘freeze’ your layer’s transforms. Generally this isn’t something you’d do on the tail end in After Effects seeing as it’s a bit of a pain. Most of the time I’d either start with a parent/child set up or write my expressions to take the layer’s transforms into account.
Darby Edelen
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Darby
I tried your way to free the transformation and liked it a lot.
But I am not able to understand that why after parenting the layer to Null in the last step will freeze the transform properties??
Vishesh Arora
3D and Motion Graphics Artist
Films RajendraBlog:
https://digieffects.wordpress.comDemo Reel(3D):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHPgIJU_BR8 -
[Vishesh Arora] “But I am not able to understand that why after parenting the layer to Null in the last step will freeze the transform properties??”
The Null resides at the origin (anchor point) of the layer at that point. Parenting the layer back to the Null will zero out the layer’s transforms (“freeze” them) because the Null and layer’s transforms are the same at that point in time and a child’s (the layer) transformations are relative to the parent’s (the Null) transformations.
Darby Edelen
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Thanks a lot Darby !!
Vishesh Arora
3D and Motion Graphics Artist
Films RajendraBlog:
https://digieffects.wordpress.comDemo Reel(3D):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHPgIJU_BR8 -
Darby This worked perfectly! Thank you so much.
I really appreciate your help!
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That’s quite brilliant Darby!
Cheers
RoRKIntensive mocha & AE Training in Singapore and Other Dangerous Locations
Imagineer Systems (mocha) Certified Instructor
& Adobe After Effects ACE/ACI (version 7)
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