Camera pan and zoom with Null object: After Effects Tutorial

[@RavenStone88]

I understood your tutorial better than most. You actually took the time to zoom in and/or highlight the things you were talking about as you were showing how to use the camera. Much appreciated. Only uneducated people would have had an issue understanding you. So ignore them.

[@aimantajuddin4451]

Thanks bro, its 12 years later, still a reference on how to pan camera in AAE. Respect..

[@knaptime363]

Still found this useful after more than a decade, thank you!

[@adi_ux]

Wow, this is a lifesaver!. It is still relevant in May 2021.

[@Me1black]

Thank you so much man.. for the camera tip(3D) i was strugling from 1hour to zoom in... Now it works!!

[@normalman1181]

OMG I was just doing a school project and i couldnt find that little cube thingi>_

[@clairevee09]

A new fan here. 😊 Thank you for this very clear, direct and easy tutorial.

[@mediyali]

you don't know how much this means for me! thank you so very much! you're a lifesaver!

[@KushBeats]

Thank you - 6 years later.

[@gokcanselem8021]

Like 3 years later

[@현준-q2p]

Like 3 month later

[@carlperl412]

Thank you 100 years later.

[@MikeTheDead]

9

[@ssj4113]

@@MikeTheDead 10

[@WardenmediaGames]

Appreciated. Just picked After Effects CC 2014 up recently after spending the longest time with Sony Vegas and CS3. I'm planning on learning a lot and this video helped lay down the foundations of a very long but enjoyable road.

[@SabaskaTheNoob]

@Dudeinadrama When I tried to make a tutorial my voice got abit like yours, (dont mean to offend) very salivating and sloppy, but I found that after much practice, my speaking techniques improved and now I am clear in speaking with a mic

[@and3rkob3r]

Wow that was nice, i was able to replicate the effect. Off the growing vine tut now to combine them effects as well. Many thanks.

[@GunGeek1000]

You are brilliant, thank you very much. I was crammed on time for a project I was doing and this was short and straight to the point. Thank you very much!

[@soyinus]

GENIUSSSS!!! I LOVE PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT TEACH WITH PATIENCE! THANKSSSSS FROM ARGENTINA!

[@sketchseven]

Cameras can get a bit funky in AE - by parenting it to the null object, you're giving yourself extra control over the camera without animating directly on the camera layer.

[@Weeklycap]

Hey dudeinadrama i would love your response cuz i have a problem! :( I used this, and it worked, i then did the same thing to another clip in the same video. Now my first camera is not working, i can see the red little box moving on the screen the way its supposed to but the video isnt moving :S but the second camera panning in my current IS working. Ive checked settings on both and they are the same but only one of em are working... yes i have linked camera & Null right on both.

[@vjoho]

I have you say, you are awesome. I've seem several of your tutorials and you've been a life saver with each and everyone of them. Thanks :)

[@Yceb0x]

The 'Zed' axis... XD I forgot he was Canadian. That's just plain awesome.

[@susan_addict]

Tyvm for taking your time to make us amateurs tutorials :), they're extremely helpful.

[@DjMedeK8]

Thanks so much you are saving my ass for class today! I've been searching for like a week to find out this very simple info.

[@PhilipGeorgeOnline]

Very helpful video for after effects, much appreciated

[@lovalaugh]

Great job, it was very informative.

[@TheDwadedwade]

Excellent Tutorial you have done great job explaining.

[@Drancler]

hey nice movie ;) but i have one question when i make something in illustrator or photoshop and i save it and dragg it in AE i cant add stroke to it :S how can i fix this problem ?

[@DJawa2011]

thanks men ! really clear and it work for me 10000x thanks !

[@beasthuntermohit567]

IDK why i am watching an 11 years ago video

[@coloradoing9172]

Now 14 years.

[@beasthuntermohit567]

@@coloradoing9172 been 2 years.

[@nicotangara]

Hi there, can I use the Camera pan on a composition? The problem is that I have around 20 compositions that moves on the same direction to the right. What I do right now is by using Null Object, but the effect is not smooth enough. Any idea? Thanks!

[@tunnis7us]

Finally explanation of why usin camera with null object cheers :)

[@Alex-pl8nj]

Thank you 9 years later!

[@warmandscratchy]

How do you set an end point of a null object after you've already set the start?

[@Timtalks_]

"Pick whip" it's funny they used that term and associated it with parenting in after effects! funny thing is in real life when parents pick whips that's when the children obeys! that's what it does in after effects as well- when you parent the null to the camera, the null obeys the parent through pick whip lol- good tutorial btw!

[@NixToP70]

all I understanded was lol... xD

[@mooganify]

NixToP70 kek

[@RDYS]

Nicely done, I understood what you were doing. Thanks !

[@Vernoinferno100]

You are a great man and just saved my life. Thank you!

[@kazadi83]

Straight to the point, Thank you for posting the video.

[@omer460]

thank you very much 10 years later

[@Geistsoul13]

How do you do that cool zoom on your mouse?

[@VaalbaraBand]

so it actually doesnt move at all. i dont know how you got that straight line to go from the begining to end. i have the null object box sitting there but when i move it it doesnt go from the start to end position. it doesnt do anything.

[@Dudeinadrama]

@LovelyDisast3r No problem! I learnt what I know from free tutorials and I like to take what I've learned and put it together into something more accessible :3

[@soulseeker0111]

thanks for clear and easy to understand tutorial :)

[@GeorgeDrumm]

thanks man! your a great teacher!

[@delareiflaventitus5966]

Lol before this, I was once a prehistoric caveman changing the position of every object in my composition to make a panning effect. Now I am civilized!

[@THALASSOSTOLISTOS]

Thanks for your helpfull video! Greetings from Greece!

[@Bajanstar005]

thank you so much. this is going to be really helpful

[@CAVERN1234]

Great tutorial no messing about right to the point thanks

[@zubairzahid4147]

This is exactly what I was searching for... Thank you soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much .......

[@milicaskiljevic5466]

thank you, 10 years later

[@carlperl412]

Thank you 100 years later.

[@ASingleMind]

The null object view doesn't move when I try drag the red arrow along the x-axis...help?

[@rolandsphotos]

That is what I was looking for - very easy and clear! Thank You!

[@AmuscariaMods]

Thanks for the tutorial. This is just what I needed for school. :D

[@ryanmulvaney]

This was exactly what I was looking for! Thanks!

[@LanIost]

My god... the first undestandable video I've seen on this. NO ONE ELSE MENTIONS THAT THE OTHER LAYERS NEED TO BE 3D AS WELL. Plus, none of them have the zooming and highlighting effects. They just mumble a lot and click shit.

[@Spitfireunleashed]

I'm wondering how you get that smooth 3D camera rotation? everytime I make a new camera and try to use it to orbit a subject the rotation doesn't take effect until I let go of the mouse button :(

[@Noonewilleverknow100]

Could you do the same thing with a large solid as the background that you're panning?

[@MultiSuperLMAO]

I wonder how to do this with video footage instead of a picture.

[@benisrael2277]

but what's the advantage of using null object rather than camera itself?

[@AmrBekhit]

Clear and simple, thanks!

[@tricksta066]

great tutorial .

[@burakcimenli]

Thanks ! finally i know what it is used for ! :)

[@01LoMXD]

thsi is exatly what I was looking for XD thank you soooo much!

[@maci75]

I've followed your steps and was enable to move the camera. But now I want to move the camera again, it's not letting me. The null object won't even move, and the layer isn't locked. Anyone got any help?

[@jitendarpal3704]

Thanks for the tutorial. This is just what I needed

[@helenbetter2915]

This didn't work for me, but you can pan and zoom by holding alt + scroll the mouse wheel. When the video is zoomed out (via scrolling down the mouse wheel), hover your mouse over the region you want to zoom into, hold alt + scroll mouse wheel up

[@NLnerdland]

@StandingWhy no the way of pronouncing 'z' in Canadian is 'zed'

[@chrisg0901]

This was really helpful! thanks!

[@Mrpunkrock9116]

hey tnkz man, this is very helpful for my proyect :D

[@baramundi93]

good and easy tutorial!

[@habiaut]

Hi, are you familiar with "PhotoSFXart" (just do a Google search for it...)? On their website you can watch a smart free video explaining how to create fantastic photos. This helped Matt to shoot pictures that have that wow-effect whenever you look at them. Perhaps it will help you out as well...

[@maheshposwal2428]

simple and effective. thanks.

[@smol_b0y]

Thanks so much for the great tutorial!

[@bldubl]

My camera WILL NOT zoom, I've set it up exactly how you have, can you help me out?

[@nerdyjoy4695]

How do you pan smoothly in a straight line?

[@zonh1]

شكرا اخي لقد استفت منك الكثير

[@wiknie12345]

Thank you very much, now I'll be able to create my own movie intros :)

[@Kenneth9268]

Thank you, this truly helped me for my presentation

[@IntoXxemo]

Thanks a lot ! Greetings from Belgium ! :)

[@DeathCon88]

How do I do multiple separate pans in a composition?

[@gettingblazedngeeky8202]

every time I click on the 3d box my null disappears and can't see the 3d cursor anyone know whats going on ?

[@saraelsadeq2819]

please i want to know how to apply zoom that u use in the tutorial, not that the tutorial for (i mean when u spotlight and zoom to show us a tip for ex: layer -New -Null object) plz respond and thank u soooo much

[@DrewAk49]

Dang 11 months and still no response?!

[@JeffVader1]

Drew Burton I have just looked at this and agree that there is no reasonable explanation on how this is done, but it looks like you can click the arrow on the selected camera and use the zoom tools there. Hope this helps.

[@lyth4082]

Thank you - 9 years later

[@YachtyBurner]

Thank you - (almost) 10 years later

[@tomiffydesign]

Thanks!!! Great tutorial!!!

[@noha9071]

Very helpful! Thanks

[@iamwarmrock]

thank you.. this will make my work easier. :)

[@syberkitten1]

why such low quality? I'm not able to see what is written on the screen

[@charmingtips]

because this is 14 years old ..

[@Christiankdeason]

zoom?

[@redii2klutch]

Many thanks!

[@drewconroy5938]

Thank you!

[@mostaddictivemusic]

my effects are not moving?

[@peerfilm]

Thank you so much! brilliant.

[@extemecomp]

thx a lot u are the best

[@Dudeinadrama]

@Cilemin Glad I could be of help! ^_^

[@marymo75]

Thankyou, great tutorial :)

[@tototnntnn]

Thank you, also you sound like chris martin of Coldplay haha :D

[@Scarr420]

Thank you sir. Great tutorial! liked, commented, and subscribed. ;)

[@luvo_studio]

Thank you!!!

[@hackhacker2430]

Thank You It's Help Full

[@gi880ngommit]

Nice photoshop brush! :)

[@anayellyrosas581]

Is there a way to make the panning happen in slow motion?????

[@HvNzSoul]

render in full then slow the video down later?

[@iain2k7]

how does scaling it up not make it pixelated?

[@javierortizVO]

vector images don't get pixelated