How To Use Auto-Orient In After Effects
November 16, 2023 · Mike Murphy
Adobe After Effects CC 2023: How To Use Auto-Orient
**Description:
**This tutorial will show you how to align layers along a Path using Auto-Orient in Adobe After Effects CC 2024.
**Keyboard Shortcuts:
**Auto Orient: Cmd/Ctrl + Alt/Option + O
Position Property: P
Scale Property: S
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**https://mikemurphy.co/adobe (affiliate link)
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**Chapters:
**00:00 Intro: About The Tutorial
00:28 How To Create Paths
00:46 Create Path Using Pen Tool
01:23 Center Anchor Point
01:34 Copy + Paste Path to Layer Position
02:09 Position Keyframes Generated
02:34 Enable Auto-Orient
03:15 How To Turn Off Auto-Orient
03:31 Adjust Position Keyframes
03:59 Troubleshooting Tip: Paths
**Software Used:
**Adobe After Effects CC 2023 (Click To Try or Buy)
How To Draw a Custom Path
- Grab the Pen Tool (g)
- Click to create a Point
- Click again and drag to get bezier handles to make nice curves
- Repeat the click and drag
How To Animate Shape Layer on Path (Copy Path)
- In After Effects timeline, click on ‘Shape Layer’
- Twirl open ‘Contents’
- Twirl open ‘Shape 1’
- Twirl open ‘Path 1’
- Click on ‘Path’ and copy (cmd + c)
How To Animate Shape Layer on Path (Paste Path)
- Click on object, text, shape you want to animate along the path
- Type ‘P’ keyboard shortcut for Position Property
- Click on ‘Position’
- Paste (cmd + v)
How To Auto-Orient Objects On A Path:
- Select the object in the Layers Panel
- Go to the Layers Menu at the top
- Select Transform
- Select ‘Auto-Orient’
- Tick ‘Orient Along Path’
- Click OK
- Object will now orient in the direction of the path