Painting Animated Strokes in Adobe After Effects

Creating animated strokes in Adobe After Effects involves using the Stroke effect to trace a path over time. This effect can be applied to text, shapes, or masks to simulate the appearance of drawing or revealing strokes in an animation. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to paint animated strokes in Adobe After Effects:

1. Open Adobe After Effects:

• Launch Adobe After Effects on your computer.

2. Create a New Composition:

• Click on "Composition" in the top menu.
• Select "New Composition" to create a new project.

3. Create or Import Your Artwork:

• Create the artwork you want to animate or import existing files (PNG, Illustrator files, etc.).
• Drag and drop the artwork into the Composition panel.

4. Select the Layer:

• Click on the layer containing your artwork in the Timeline panel.

5. Add a Stroke Effect:

• In the Effects & Presets panel, type "Stroke" in the search bar.
• Drag the "Stroke" effect to the layer in the Timeline.

6. Adjust Stroke Settings:

• In the Effects Control panel, you will find options for the Stroke effect.
• Adjust settings such as "Brush Size," "Brush Hardness," and "Paint Style" to customize the stroke appearance.

7. Set the Starting Point:

• Expand the "Paint Style" options and choose "On Transparent."
• Set the "Starting Point" to the location where you want the stroke to begin.

8. Add a Trim Paths Animator:

• In the Timeline panel, twirl down the layer properties.
• Twirl down the "Contents" and "Shape" options.
• Add a "Trim Paths" animator to the "Shape" layer.

9. Animate the End Property:

• Move the playhead to the starting frame where you want the animation to begin.
• Set the "End" property of the "Trim Paths" animator to 0%.

10. Set a Keyframe:

• Move to the frame where you want the stroke animation to end.
• Set a keyframe for the "End" property with a value of 100%.

11. Preview Your Animation:

• Press the spacebar or use the RAM Preview to see how your animated stroke looks.

12. Adjust Timing and Easing:

• Fine-tune the timing and easing of the stroke animation by adjusting keyframes.
• Use the Graph Editor for more control over the animation curve.

13. Add Additional Strokes (Optional):

• Duplicate the layer and adjust the starting and ending points for additional strokes.
• Customize each stroke's appearance using the Stroke effect settings.

14. Add Motion Blur (Optional):

• Enable motion blur for the layer to add realism to the animated strokes.
• Toggle the motion blur switch in the Timeline panel.

15. Export Your Animation:

• Once satisfied with your animated strokes, go to "Composition" > "Add to Render Queue."
• Adjust render settings and click "Render" to export your animation.

Tips:

• Use Masks: You can also use masks to reveal or draw strokes. Create a mask on your layer, animate its path, and use it as a track matte for the original layer.
• Experiment with Blend Modes: Try different blend modes for the strokes to achieve interesting visual effects.
• Combine with Other Effects: Experiment with additional effects like Glow or Roughen Edges to enhance the appearance of your animated strokes.

Note:

Adobe After Effects is a powerful tool with various features, and the steps above provide a basic guide for creating animated strokes. Depending on your specific project and creative goals, you may explore additional techniques and effects to enhance your animations.