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Activity Forums Adobe After Effects Moving Rotation Axis

  • Moving Rotation Axis

    Posted by Jim Ives on June 16, 2008 at 9:15 pm

    Hi is there an easy way to move the rotation axis from the center of an object then do the rotation I want then move it back to it’s EXACT original coordinates in the center of the object? I know it’s another basic question again!

    Thanks, Jim Ives

    Jim Ives replied 17 years, 10 months ago 3 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • Aharon Rabinowitz

    June 17, 2008 at 1:11 am

    Not without making the layer move in the process. To do it your way, you’d have to move/animate the anchor point which cuases the layer to appear as if it’s moving. The anchor point is the center of rotation, as well as position and scale, and moving it makes the layer appear to change position. probably not what you want.

    it might be easier to add a null (Layer > New > Null), place the null’s upper left corner (where it’s anchor point is located) right on the part from which you want your layer to rotate, and make the layer a child of that Null (use the parenting column). Then rotate the null, and it will rotate the child layer (your layer) from that pivot point. Then just continue to animate as you were.

    Aharon Rabinowitz
    Email: arabinowitz (AT) yahoo (DOT) com
    All Bets Are Off Productions, Inc.
    Creative Cow After Effect Podcast
    Internet Killed the Video Star: A Guide to Creating Video for the Web

  • Jim Ives

    June 17, 2008 at 1:17 am

    OMG Aharon thanks for answering this. I’ve watched some of your guys great tutorials but it just didn’t click I just started using the software last week so I’m still a super noob but it sure is a blast! This sounds like the “easy way” Thanks!

    Jim

  • Jim Ives

    June 17, 2008 at 2:40 am

    Ok the Null Object idea works! Is there a way to set key frames for the parent or should I use a 2nd Null Object if I want it to move in a different way later down the time line?

    Thanks,
    Jim

  • Jeremy Allen

    June 17, 2008 at 10:07 pm

    You can move the Parent null at anytime, the same as you would any other object: keyframe it’s position.

    But you can also move the child null at anytime, independent of the parent. That is one of the cool things about parenting. The child always follows the parent, but the parent doesn’t follow the child.

    hope that makes sense.

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  • Jim Ives

    June 18, 2008 at 1:38 am

    LOL yes it makes sense. I wish it were like that in real life! I did sort of figure that out by accident.

    Jim

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