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Activity Forums Adobe After Effects live connection to shape path as motion path?

  • live connection to shape path as motion path?

    Posted by Andy Engelkemier on July 25, 2011 at 12:04 pm

    Is there a decent way to have a live connection to a shape? I’m guessing that’d be done as an expression of some sort?

    I’ve got a circle animating along a line I drew (with a couple corners), which reveals the line using write-on.
    If I change the line later, I want to keep my timing, but have the circle adjust to the new path.

    Vojtěch Palme replied 10 years, 11 months ago 3 Members · 4 Replies
  • 4 Replies
  • Angie Taylor

    July 25, 2011 at 2:30 pm

    Hi there,

    Yes, you are correct. You can do this using a simple expression. Open up the Position property of the Circle shape layer. Also open up the “Brush Position” property of the Write On effect. To link the Circle Shape layer to the Write on effect, Alt-click on the stopwatch for the Position property and then pick up the Expression pickwhip and drag it till it “connects” to the Brush Position property, then release. An expression will be written for you, then activate it by hitting the Enter key on the number pad (or by simply clicking elsewhere in the UI).

    Now the circle position value will always follow the Write on line. To get the Write on effect to follow the circle, just use the same process but add the expression to the Write on Brush position and pickwhip to the Position property of the circle.

    Hope this helps.

    cheers,

    Angie

    Angie Taylor animation & illustration for television, film, web and devices

    https://www.angietaylor.co.uk
    Twitter: theangietaylor
    Linkedin: theangietaylor
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  • Andy Engelkemier

    July 25, 2011 at 2:46 pm

    I wasn’t clear. I actually wanted it to animate to a shape, not the write-on effect.
    Although….Why didn’t I just Draw that line with write-on!?!

    I already have the expression for the circle to follow the write on. I’ll just put that on a null object and change it to draw instead of reveal and I’m set.

    It’s always one of those “duh” moments.

    Thanks

  • Angie Taylor

    July 25, 2011 at 2:51 pm

    Hi Andy,

    Glad you got what you wanted. BTW, I also have those “duh” moments every day! 🙂

    cheers,

    Angie

    Angie Taylor animation & illustration for television, film, web and devices

    https://www.angietaylor.co.uk
    Twitter: theangietaylor
    Linkedin: theangietaylor
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Angie-Taylor/118378194869002

  • Vojtěch Palme

    June 17, 2015 at 5:27 pm

    Ok but what if I actually wanted to do it the way Andy asked about in first place?
    Im trying to make a growing vein kind of animation and by combining theese two effects I can make the vein thick at the base and thin at the end (write-on) but get thicker over time by revealing it with stroke effect to add realism (otherwise it just starts thick right away).
    Being able to animate the path and having it updated live in both effects would be even better.

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