This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Positioning layers with snapping
Now you’ll create the rim of the flowerpot and position it atop the base using the snapping feature in After Effects.
Creating a shape with rounded corners
You’ll use the Rounded Rectangle tool to create the rim of the flowerpot.
Go to 1:10.
Select the Rounded Rectangle tool (
), hidden beneath the Star tool (
) in the Tools panel.In the Composition panel, drag a shape a little wider than the top of the flowerpot. Draw the shape a little bit above the base of the pot.
Select Shape Layer 1, press Enter or Return, and change the layer’s name to Rim of Flowerpot. Press Enter or Return to accept the new name.
With the Rim of Flowerpot layer selected, click the Fill Color box in the Tools panel, and select the same color as the base of the flowerpot. (Ours is R=62, G=40, B=22.) Then click OK.
In the Timeline panel, expand the Rim of Flowerpot layer, and then expand the Contents, Rectangle 1, and Fill 1 properties.
Click the stopwatch (
) next to the Color property to create an initial keyframe.Go to 4:01, and change the fill color to match the lighter brown in the flowerpot base. (We used R=153, G=102, B=59.)
Hide all layer properties. Press F2 or click an empty area in the Timeline panel to deselect all layers.
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Snapping layers into position
The flowerpot layers currently have no relationship to each other in the composition. You’ll use the Snapping option in After Effects to quickly align the layers. When the Snapping option is enabled, the layer feature that is closest to your pointer when you click becomes the snapping feature. As you drag the layer near other layers, features on other layers are highlighted, showing you where the snapping feature would snap if you released the mouse button.
Select the Selection tool (
) in the Tools panel.Select Snapping in the options section of the Tools panel, if it’s not already selected.
Select the Rim of Flowerpot layer in the Composition panel.
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When you select a layer in the Composition panel, After Effects displays the layer handles and anchor point. You can use any of these points as the snapping feature for a layer.
Click near the bottom of the rim, and drag it near the upper edge of the Base of Flowerpot layer until it snaps into place. Be careful not to drag the corner itself, or you’ll resize the layer.
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As you drag the layer, a box appears around the handle you selected, indicating that it is the snapping feature.
Use the Selection tool to adjust the size of the rim or base of the flowerpot if you need to.
Press F2 or click an empty area in the Timeline panel to deselect all layers.
Choose File > Save to save your work.
