Animating with Create Nulls from Paths | After Effects Tutorial

Everything you need to create stunning videos! ► bit.ly/motion_array ► Get a 50$ discount on your annual subscription through this link!
In this after effects tutorial, I'll show you how to animate abstract shapes, using the Create Nulls from Paths script. ► Download the project file here: gumroad.com/manueldoesmotion
Content:
0:00 Intro
0:16 Points follow Nulls
3:20 Everything you need to create stunning videos
3:46 Nulls follow Points
6:00 Speed lines
7:58 Trace Path
8:50 Outro
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► Software: Adobe After Effects 22 (I use the "Default" Workspace in my tutorials)
If you have any further questions, let me know in the comments below. I do my best to answer all of them!
► Subscribe to my channel here:
/ @manueldoesmotion
I am very curious how this tutorial inspired your work!
Put the link in the comments below or even better: tag me on Instagram.
► @manueldoesmotion
► / manueldoesmotion
► my website: www.manueldoesmotion.com
► behance: www.behance.net/stein-hauser
#aftereffectstutorial #animation #motiondesign

[@salianart4624]

The ability to teach is a special art. Dear Manuel, you define and implement the educational plan with great care and patience. Thank you very much for your knowledge

[@ManueldoesMotion]

You are very welcome! Thanks! That’s great to hear!

[@dixieechann]

You are great at breaking things down and offering really useful case studies. Thanks Manuel!

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Hey that's great to hear! Thanks! You're very welcome!

[@poche999]

I had NO IDEA of the existence of that tool! This was so helpful, thank you Manuel!

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Awesome! You're welcome!

[@HMalem]

Wow ... I just had my mind blown...this tool opens up so many possibilities.... thanks mate ...this is soooo valuable

[@ManueldoesMotion]

That's awesome! Glad u like it!

[@AlfraEnglish]

Best video ever in among all After effects tutorials. Thanks👌👌

[@ManueldoesMotion]

That’s awesome! Glad u like it!

[@user-sy2bc6bk4k]

Manuel explanation is unique and understandable , even as a beginner, Thanks

[@ManueldoesMotion]

That's awesome! You're very welcome!

[@nicolearmas5123]

Your videos have saved my life thank youuuuu

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Awesome! You’re so welcome!

[@manolomaru]

Nice Manu like always! ✨👌😎🙂😉🙂😎👍✨

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Thanks very much! 😊

[@atokwamena803]

This is awesome!! Thank you!!

[@ManueldoesMotion]

You're so welcome!

[@alexfreedomroad]

Hi Manuel, awesome tutorial. I followed along and struggled at this part 4:48, because I was following you visually, but the position of the nulls in your case was different from mine, according to the first vertex. Also I created my rectangles in a different position and the generated nulls weren't where they should be, then I found out I had to zero the path position in the transform:path before applying the Create Nulls From Paths. Working with Shapes is tricky, there are a lot of issues that we only solve by practicing.

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Hi Alex! Thanks very much! You're right! It's tricky, but once you used it for a bit, u get used to it. I made always create new shapes by double-clicking on the shape tools and then resize the path. This makes sure everything is centred. For me that works well.

[@vanemotion]

This script is very powerful! Nice tutorial!👌

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Thanks!!

[@user-yk4se1un8y]

wow! great tutorial! thank you❤

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Awesome! You’re very welcome!

[@kalimakbar1718]

Now tNice tutorials was truly an aweso video. I love your thorough style

[@ManueldoesMotion]

That’s great to hear! Thanks very much!

[@paulooliveira2242]

Nice tutorial! Thanks!

[@ManueldoesMotion]

You’re so welcome!

[@iva_creative]

Nice! This is what I needed!

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Awesome!

[@iva_creative]

@@ManueldoesMotion it turns out that a similar script is already built into after effects, and I was thinking where to find a similar plugin that would allow you to control the points!

[@gamalelmasry1052]

I've seen that has actually explained it to in a concise way!

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Thanks very much!

[@flyingfishdesign62]

Awesome, thanks!

[@ManueldoesMotion]

You’re very welcome!

[@rezahasankhani2082]

thank you, Manuel.

[@ManueldoesMotion]

You’re very welcome!

[@jasminelillis5049]

Great tutorial!!!!!

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Thanks very much!

[@alejandroledesma1217]

Maan i wish i was that good, excellent channel!! thanks for sharing knowledge

[@ManueldoesMotion]

I’m sure you‘ll get there!

[@imagerepairing]

Helpful tutorial

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Awesome thanks!

[@bibekanandachatterjee1339]

Nice man ty

[@ManueldoesMotion]

You're welcome!

[@stefanopanfili8613]

Hi Manuel, I love your tuts!!! Just a question for the TRACE PATH script: if I want to change the direction? Is it possible? Thank you!

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Hi Stefano! Awesome thanks! Which direction do you mean?

[@aaronrodrigues9194]

Thank you sir

[@ManueldoesMotion]

You’re welcome!

[@ahmadfahry4039]

You are lucky my favourite nice tuto is nice tuto

[@rizkgerges9286]

Please i was searching every video how to make a rectangle move as arc way .... thank you

[@abdeljawad]

great

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Thanks very much!

[@vungan2208]

i hope your successful as well

[@davidd5386]

Nice tutorial, i just cracked soft soft ;)

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Why?

[@nshutinobel]

I feel ya. I've tried Ableton, Reaper, even shelled out for Cubase and I am no closer to understanding any of tNice tutorials than I was before. I don't

[@jobz9150]

When you were choosing a fill color for your shape layer, why were the color choices limited? Mine has the entire color range. Is there a setting that can let us choose a range of colors to make a color palette?

[@TheCryptoRealm]

If you notice it enough, you can see he's using red channel to generate colours while yours is probably on H or Hue for short. There are some clickable points on the left of the values click on them and you will see it. Idk if I made it harder to understand or not but theres that xD youre welcome!

[@jobz9150]

@@TheCryptoRealm understood! Thanks!

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Yes exactly! Thanks for the explanation!

[@jaysonfontela5761]

💖💖🔥🔥

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Thanks! 😊

[@danieljamesmead]

The Nulls form in the right pattern (at 4 points around a square) but they're not connected to the square shape. They're off-set despite the anchor point being centered to the shape. It's really odd as my colleague sat next to me can do it straight away on another machine. Is it something in my settings/preferences?

[@ManueldoesMotion]

The position of the shape inside the layer might be the issue. It has to be 0.

[@user-ju6bh5kf7w]

Great tutorial. What was the very last thing you did? It was moving too fast for me to catch it and you didn't explain it at all. Thanks.

[@ManueldoesMotion]

I duplicated the cyan solid and moved it above the big centre circle. Increased its mask and used it as inverted luma matte for the centre solid to create negative space between the two shapes.

[@user-ju6bh5kf7w]

@@ManueldoesMotion Awesome, thank you! I am learning so much from your channel. Do you have any advice on creating a reel for a portfolio? I would love to hear any suggestions you may have!

[@HanSong_or]

You speak so funny hahaha, I especially like your accent!

[@kittuvisal9710]

When I use follow null, the null position changes from its original position. I mean, it's a moving target for the object can u help me out this

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Can you reset the position to 0? Is it the correct position then?

[@jasonk9770]

I'm trying to make a logo reveal using a modified version of the "cube" at 2:18. I cannot find a method to get a text layer to adhere to the null controls so that the proper perspective is maintained. Any ideas?

[@ManueldoesMotion]

I think that’s tough because the perspective is just fake 3D. If you want to add a text layer I would probably create a real 3D cube with 3D layers and attach the text layer to one side of it.

[@jasonk9770]

I figured it out. Precomp text layer, crop the new comp to the size of the text layer, add CC Powerpin to precomped text layer, parent powerpin points to the nulls. It's a little clumsy, but it works!

[@ManueldoesMotion]

@@jasonk9770 That’s awesome ! I didn’t think of that.

[@memekachoda]

Do you have a video showing how to edit softs????

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Unfortunately not yet…

[@rtpzd4854]

wow, understandable even to a beginner Thank you!!

[@ManueldoesMotion]

You’re welcome! That’s great to hear!

[@rizkgerges9286]

why when i create null from path and i choose points follow nulls , the rectangle of the nulls is big and away from the point or the vertex ? how to fix that ? thank you

[@ManueldoesMotion]

All position values (from the layer and the shape) have to be 0.

[@michaelgarske662]

I have a shape path. When I right click on the path in the layer panel "convert to Bezier path" is greyed out. Any ideas on how to get around this?

[@ManueldoesMotion]

If there is no size property it is already a bezier path. If you used the pen tool to create a path for example.

[@michaelgarske662]

@@ManueldoesMotion Always something simple. Thanks for your fast reply. This video was really easy to find and helpful.

[@cyklzycia8814]

how to To move that object but not using nulls but using corners ? and deferent archon points positions ?

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Why don’t you want to use nulls?

[@nikyabodigital]

Shit. This exist in AE? GOD DAMN IT. I can already imagine making jawline move with the mouth rig just by pinning points of jawline to null. Damn

[@smh4391]

😃😃😃

[@MohanaKumar-xy5xm]

Hello sir, how can i download the script.

[@ManueldoesMotion]

It comes with After effects since version 18

[@MohanaKumar-xy5xm]

@@ManueldoesMotion okay thanks I thought it was a custom script...

[@seanhannity5196]

soft soft or won't touch it. It is different...

[@captainru_media]

Hmm. The created nulls are not positioned in the corners.

[@ManueldoesMotion]

The position of your shape inside the shape layer has to be 0,0

[@layknee1247]

Are you live?

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Not yet.

[@jasonk9770]

So this has been around for 5 years? Dang.

[@ManueldoesMotion]

Yep.

[@talha_boy]

yaar zabardest, chummi😘

[@ManueldoesMotion]

😊

[@TrEndFeVeR22]

rigging without needing to use expressions right?

[@TrEndFeVeR22]

so this is like rigging right? rigging?

[@ManueldoesMotion]

I do t think it is specifically made for rigging but you can use it therefore.

[@TrEndFeVeR22]

I don't get it when you showed me the null follow points part... Why are my nulls not automatically putting right on the points after i convert to beizer? WHAT THE HELL.... it suppose to be place right on path points but its located in the bottom. wtf.

[@ManueldoesMotion]

That happens when your anchor point isn't in the centre of your shape. Before converting the path into a bezier path you should centre your anchor point. That's why I double-click on the rectangle tool. It automatically centres the anchor point. In the After Effect settings in "General" you can also activate: "Centre Anchor point in new shape layers"

[@darklight2542]

@@ManueldoesMotion it is but still that's not wok! how can I fix that?! T_T