How Do I Change the Rotation Axis in After Effects?

You can change the rotation axis in After Effects by adjusting the anchor point of your layer. The anchor point acts as the pivot point for rotations, scales, and other transformations.

Here's how to change the rotation axis, step-by-step:

Steps to Adjust the Anchor Point

1. Select the Layer: In your composition panel, select the layer you want to rotate around a different point.

2. Reveal Transform Properties: Press A on your keyboard. This will open the Anchor Point property within the Transform properties of your selected layer in the Timeline panel. Alternatively, you can open all Transform properties by pressing P for Position, S for Scale, R for Rotation, T for Opacity and then find the Anchor Point option.

3. Adjust the Anchor Point Values: You can change the X and Y coordinates of the Anchor Point property in the Timeline panel. Drag the numbers, or click on them and enter new values manually. Positive values move the anchor point right (X) or down (Y). Negative values move it left (X) or up (Y). This shifts the rotation axis relative to the layer's content.

4. Move the Anchor Point Visually (Using the Pan Behind Tool):

   • Select the Pan Behind (Anchor Point) Tool from the toolbar at the top of the After Effects interface. It looks like a crosshair with a small square in the center. Alternatively, press Y to select this tool.
   • Click and drag the anchor point (the crosshair icon) directly within the Composition panel to the desired location. As you drag, the layer's content will shift to maintain its position relative to the new anchor point.

5. Test the Rotation: Press R on your keyboard to reveal the Rotation property. Adjust the rotation value to see if the layer now rotates around the new anchor point as expected. If not, repeat steps 3 and 4.

Tips and Considerations

• Precision: For precise anchor point placement, using numerical values in the Timeline panel is often best.
• Centering: To quickly center the anchor point, you can use a script or expression, or manually calculate the center based on the layer dimensions.
• Resetting: If you need to reset the anchor point to the center of the layer, you can use a script, expression, or manually calculate the center of the layer based on its dimensions and apply those values to the anchor point.

By adjusting the anchor point, you have complete control over the rotation axis of your layers in After Effects, enabling complex and precise animations.