I'm not sure this is possible, but hey, I can always ask, right? Is there a way to animate a shape that makes it feel more fluid? For example, I can move a shape from left to right on the screen using motion. However, I want it to feel more like I'm grabbing a corner and yank on it. The shape will distort as it gets yanked to the other end and then snaps back into shape when I stop moving it.
Think Flash! I can easily accomplish the same in flash and animate stuff around, but can it be done in AE?
Re: Fluid Moving Shape by david bogie on Jul 14, 2008 at 3:15:34 pm
Stretch and squish and overshoot and rebound are animation conventions. Might help to explore traditional animation text books for some good ideas on the use of these techniques and how they are designed into a film to promote characterization development or to enhance a stylistic direction. It's way too easy to add them with any of several tools in After Effects but it's the judicious application of conventions, and meeting the expectations of the viewing audience, that separate good animation from hack jobs.
bogiesan
This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: "For crying out loud, read the freakin' manual."
Re: Fluid Moving Shape by Ken Latman on Jul 14, 2008 at 4:13:30 pm
Are you making "shapes" in AE? If so, is it as specified layer sizes, with the new shape layers in CS3, masking a layer, etc? If your just using a layer and have a mask applied to it as a shape, you could just keyframe the mask and animate the points over time.
