In this video, you’ll learn 4 ways to add properties to layers in After Effects to change their appearance, or add new ways to animate them.

Methods covered include Layer Styles, Effects, Shape Operators, and Text Animators with bonus tips about coping and pasting styles, using Adjustment Layers, and attaching layers to the end of a line.

This video is a deep dive into step 4 of my simple 5 step process for creating any animation in After Effects.

There are 4 ways to add properties to layers to change their appearance, or add ways to animate layers.

1. Layer Styles

Where to find:

• Layer menu (very top of screen)
• Right click layer in Timeline > Layer Styles

Adjust or Animate:

• In the Timeline, under Layer Styles.

Include:

• Drop Shadow
• Inner Shadow
• Outer Glow
• Inner Glow
• Bevel and Emboss
• Satin
• Color Overlay
• Gradient Overlay
• Stroke

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2. Effects

Where to find:

• Effects & Presets panel
• Effect menu (very top of screen)
• Right click layer > Effects

How to apply:

• Select from menu
• Drag from Effects & Presets panel onto layer in Timeline OR with layer selected, double click the effect

Adjust or Animate:

• In the Effect Controls panel or in the Timeline, under Effects.

~200 effects, including effects to:

• Blur & Sharpen
• Color Correct
• Distort
• Generate (Gradients, Lighting, etc.)
• Simulate (Particles, Rain, etc.)
• Stylize (Glow, Drop Shadow, etc.)

Adjustment Layers

A see-through layer that allows you to apply effect/s to all the layers below it.

To create: Layer > New > Adjustment Layer

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Any property with a stopwatch icon can be keyframed (animated).

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3. Shape Operators

Only applicable to Shape Layers.

Where to find:

• In layer on Timeline, click Add: (with a little circle in a triangle in it)

Adjust or Animate:

• In the Timeline, under the Shape Operator.

Include:

• Merge Paths
• Offset Paths
• Pucker & Bloat
• Repeater
• Round Corners
• Trim Paths
• Twist
• Wiggle Paths
• Wiggle Transform
• Zig Zag

Tip:

Convert Vector Layers (from Adobe Illustrator) to Shape Layers by right clicking > Create > Create Shape from Vector Layer.

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4. Text Animators

Only applicable to Text Layers.

Where to find:‍

• In layer on Timeline, click Animate: (with a little circle in a triangle in it)

Adjust or Animate:

• In the Timeline, under Animator.
• Set the property’s value to what you want it to start at.
• Animate the Range Selector property/s to animate each letter.
• Further customize animation under Advanced.

Include:

• 3D properties
• Anchor Point
• Position
• Scale
• Skew
• Rotation
• Opacity
• Fill & Stroke Color
• Stroke Width
• Tracking
• Line Anchor & Spacing
• Character Offset & Value
• Blur

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