Painting Animated Strokes in Adobe After Effects - Tech Guest Posts

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.