Editing the speed graph in After Effects allows you to control the acceleration and deceleration of your animation, creating smoother and more dynamic motion. The process involves accessing the Graph Editor and switching to the speed graph view.
Steps to Edit a Speed Graph
Here are the steps to access and edit the speed graph in After Effects, based on the standard workflow:
- Expand Keyframe Properties: In the Timeline panel, locate the layer and property with the keyframes you want to modify. Expand the outline for the specific property (like Position, Scale, Rotation, etc.) to reveal its keyframes.
- Access the Graph Editor: With the property expanded, select the Graph Editor button. This button toggles the timeline view between the standard layer bar view and the Graph Editor.
- Select the Speed Graph: Once inside the Graph Editor, you need to ensure you are viewing the Speed Graph. Select Edit Speed Graph from the Choose graph type and options menu within the Graph Editor interface.
Once in the Speed Graph view, you will see a graph where the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents the speed of the property's value changes. Keyframes appear as points on the graph, and handles extend from these points. By dragging these handles, you can shape the curve between keyframes, thereby adjusting the speed profile of your animation.
As the reference states, using the Edit Speed Graph allows you to "Use Edit Speed Graph to control the acceleration and deceleration of animations, resulting in smoother and more dynamic motion."
Understanding the Speed Graph
- Higher Points: Indicate faster movement.
- Lower Points: Indicate slower movement.
- Slopes: Represent acceleration (steep slope) or deceleration (gentle slope).
- Handles: Manipulate the shape of the curve between keyframes to control the rate of change in speed.
Editing the speed graph gives you fine-grained control over the timing and feel of your animations beyond simple linear keyframes. It's particularly useful for creating realistic motion or stylistic animation effects.
Tips for Using the Speed Graph
- Easing Keyframes: Applying Easy Ease (F9), Easy Ease In, or Easy Ease Out to your keyframes before entering the Graph Editor is a common practice. This automatically creates speed curves that you can then further refine.
- Selecting Keyframes: You must have keyframes selected within the Graph Editor or the timeline for their speed handles to appear.
- Zooming: Use the zoom and pan tools within the Graph Editor to navigate and focus on specific areas of the graph.
By mastering the Speed Graph, you can elevate the quality and impact of your After Effects animations.
