To curve a keyframe path in After Effects, you primarily use Bezier handles associated with the keyframes. These handles allow you to control the shape of the path segment leading into and out of a keyframe, creating smooth or angular curves instead of straight lines.
Understanding Keyframe Types
By default, After Effects often creates linear keyframes, which result in straight lines connecting them. To achieve curves, you need to work with Bezier keyframes. As noted in the reference, "left click once creates linear (regular) keyframe".
Bezier keyframes have control points, or "handles," that extend from the keyframe. Dragging these handles adjusts the curvature of the path segment connected to that keyframe.
Methods to Create Curved Paths Using Keyframes
There are a few ways to introduce and manipulate these Bezier handles to curve your keyframe paths:
Method 1: Creating Bezier Keyframes Directly
The most direct way to start with curves is during keyframe creation.
- Instead of just clicking to set a keyframe, click and drag while setting the keyframe.
- According to the reference, "click&drag creates keyframe with bezier handles for curved lines".
- Dragging will immediately produce Bezier handles that you can manipulate to define the initial curve shape.
Method 2: Converting Existing Keyframes
You can convert linear keyframes into Bezier keyframes to add curves after they've been created.
- Select the linear keyframe(s) you want to make curved.
- Hold down the Option (Mac) or Alt (Windows) key.
- Click once on the selected linear keyframe.
- The reference states, "option/alt + click on regular keyframe to enable/disable bezier keyframe handles." Doing this will add Bezier handles to the keyframe, allowing you to curve the path segments connected to it.
- Repeating this action on a Bezier keyframe will toggle it back to a linear keyframe (removing the handles).
Method 3: Adjusting Bezier Handle Angles (Breaking Handles)
By default, the Bezier handles on a keyframe are linked, meaning they move together and are always parallel. This creates smooth, continuous curves through the keyframe. To create sharper points or angles while still using curves, you can "break" the handles.
- Select the keyframe with Bezier handles you wish to adjust independently.
- Hold down the Option (Mac) or Alt (Windows) key.
- Click and drag on one of the Bezier handle ends.
- The reference explains that "option/alt + click on a keyframe bezier handle end to 'break' it so both handles aren't parallel, but angled instead."
- Once broken, you can drag each handle independently to create sharp changes in direction for the incoming and outgoing path segments.
By using these methods, you can transform straight linear paths into dynamic curves to create smoother or more complex motion graphics and animations in After Effects.
