After effects workshop three.

Keyframe interpolation using illustrator paths.

- Interpolate; to insert between fixed points.

To change from a smooth point to a corner point the convert vertex tool is used.

To work with interpolation you have to select a keyframe and click animation > keyframe interpolation.

If you click linear and OK it turns the curved line into a straight path with a point. 

If you click the diamond you can add another keyframe wherever needed. 

Select all keyframes and go back to keyframe interpolation > Hold (no change). The line goes straight and there is no dots.

The diamonds take on a different shape depending on what properties they are given.

Each layer remains at its position until the next keyframe. 

Create a shape in illustrator, copy this, go back into after effects, enable position keyframing and click paste. The shape used will create a perfect path. 

Choosing the above options means that the shape orients along the path. 

Create a solid which is to the size of the workspace then choose a shape and drag it into the work area, this creates a mask and vector shape which gives different options to change. 

You can manipulate the mask by moving anchor points. This change can also occur with keyframes so it is animated. 

To make something reveal, create a mask over the artwork then create a start and end keyframe, go back to the start and drag one side of the mask across the artwork. 

Toggle switches that there is no room for are found here. 

Choose alpha matte which specifices where the dots are seen. This is applied if there is a background and text layer seperately. Another possibility for transparency. 

To make the word blink have a second keyframe where the opacity goes right down and a third where it comes back up and then hold the keyframe interpolation. So the speed of the changes are the same, you can space the keyframes equally apart. Select all keyframes between the first and last, rove across time in keyframe interpolation and the keyframes space themselves out equally. They also change from a diamond to a circle.