Pen Tool & Paths in After Effects Ep15/48 [Adobe After Effects for Beginners]

In this tutorial, we are going to learn about the pen tool and paths in After Effects.
Enjoy!
*****************
For more exclusive content follow on:
Instagram: / garethdavidstudio
Twitter: / gareth_david
Facebook page: GarethDavidStudio
LinkedIn page: / gareth-david-studios
GDS.com: garethdavidstudio.com/tutorials/
Mailing List: sibforms.com/serve/MUIEACXano...
*****************
DOWNLOAD LINKS:
PROJECT FOLDER:
Download the project folder from the course overview video here:
• The Complete Beginner’...
TUTORIAL COURSE PDF WORKSHEET:
Download for FREE PDF from the course overview video here:
• The Complete Beginner’...
*****************
This video is part of a 48 part course:
COURSE OVERVIEW
The Complete Beginners Guide To Adobe After Effects
• The Complete Beginner’...
*****************
TOPICS COVERED
00:00:00 Start
00:02:38 What is the pen tool
00:08:08 Drawing with the pen tool
00:17:46 Modifying shapes with the pen tool
*****************
GD Studio
"I'm Gareth David, a freelance creative specialising in design for logo identity & branding. I am currently based in London UK with over 12 years experience in the design industry with a passion for sharing knowledge and teaching.
I have created this channel to share my experience and give some advice to aspiring designers at any level who wish to find out more about Graphic Design and the industry.
So have fun guys and be creative!"
#AfterEffects #AfterEffectsBeginners #DesignCourse

[@GarethDavidStudio]

To get the full learning experience and follow along: Get the FREE PDF course index and the downloadable project folder from the course overview video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4PHl6mmhpqlmbM Enjoy!

[@walidaslam1072]

The foundation of my whole design career were your videos, 9 years later I am here learning Aftereffects again :)

[@mojieoutputs]

For others who are fond of using shortcut keys, here's one: - To convert a vertex point from pointed to curved (or vice versa), press the Alt key while Pen Tool is selected. Hover on a vertex, your cursor will change into *Convert Vertex Tool* temporarily, and click on the vertex point. And voila, you can now change a vertex point from pointed to curved (or vice versa). 😁 - Make sure that your shape path is converted to bezier path.

[@mpix2000]

while using the pen tool, you can hold alt to convert the pen tool to the selection tool (temporarily), click on the shape you want to modify to select it. Once you let the alt key go, you return to the pen tool and are able to click on the vertex. Notice: once the vertex is selected or you are hovering over a shape or path, the alt key will convert your cursor to the "convert vertex tool" as described by @Joe Villeanueva

[@shraddhakakade3940]

after effects 2022 does not showing the vertex tool..so thanks for the keyboard shortcut

[@onthatilesibanda4508]

I've been trying to trace out a car for 3 days before I saw your video. You are a life saver!

[@adelkl5711]

you helped me to solve a very frustrating problem i had with the pen tool, so thank you so much.

[@AlvaroALorite]

The pen tool in after effects is one of the most un intuitive tools in video editing period

[@O2-studios]

VERY helpful. WIth all due respect Gareth, this is NOT a lesson to "skip" if you know the pen tool in Illustrator or Photoshop. I know both very well and had a heck of a time trying to figure out how to select individual points in AE (for instance). This lesson cleared that up quickly and simply. Thank you.

[@Stoy-boy]

0:57 The plant in the background is trembling with excitement to learn about the pen tool. 🤭 Thank you, thank you, thank you for the fantastic course! I've tried so many After Effects tutorials and yours is the only one that is giving me the knowledge and confidence I need to use the software. Outstanding work. I'm hugely grateful.

[@i-am-rashid]

Really loving the course so far. I took your PS, Illustrator & InDesign courses as well. I love the way how everything is so comprehensive, well organized and easy to understand. A request: If time permits, please also put together a course for adobe premiere. To my fellow learners: Guys do take the Project Folder. The price is very minimal and least we can do for Sir Gareth David is to pay for the hard work he has done in putting this great course together. Its just like offering him a cup of coffee, thats all.

[@anjummohammed2498]

just on the course now and its brilliant! especially with the project folder. Helps understanding alot

[@i-am-rashid]

@@anjummohammed2498 Agreed, Practice makes men perfect ;) (women too in this case :D)

[@anjummohammed2498]

@@i-am-rashid haha true! Iv been using after effects today only 15 lessons in and I'm literally flying! I'm using it without any hesitation and flying through it like a pro! All this time iv been using it by guessing and not really knowing what to do! But I got to a point where I was like I haw to understand what is going on order to progress! And this course does not disappoint! Very good. Thank you

[@SunilKumar-hs6xn]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4CUlaesirmEq6s

[@match9953]

8:25 I don't have those options up at the top. I select the pen tool but nothing shows up for fill or solid.

[@natrupi]

Thank you for sharing all your knowledge!

[@elmira6995]

I'm from Russia. Thank you very much for the lesson.

[@GarethDavidStudio]

Glad it was helpful!

[@esilabet]

3rd worksheet : The right click option to convert to a bezier path doesn't exist in CS6, after research, I found out you can do it at the moment you draw the shape by pressing shift+alt to have it as bezier path automaticaly. I will keep wrinting my findings on CS6 differences in the comments for anyone else that have the same problems.

[@ahmedali-bu8ms]

Great Work, i have not seen anyone explaining the PEN tools the way it is in your video, much appreciated !

[@John-hh8lq]

Enjoying the course very much and so easy to understand and follow and the course project files is amazing value (defo recommend buying it if you are considering taking up this course).... after this course has finished I will look to see what else you have on offer. God bless you Gareth.

[@oxanamotorina2171]

Thank you Gareth, you are super !

[@r1snn]

holy shit i just had like 45 mental breakdowns trying to figure out why my lines were wutomatically curving and it was because my rotobeizer thing was checked on this video is such a life saver thank you omg

[@JDMedia]

Excellent tutorial!! explanation is extreme level no doubt!!! Thanks lot...

[@TheLolita1012]

Amazing man keep doing it

[@prasanthgraphic9784]

Thanks for your teaching. am following your tutorials.

[@christianerudition]

This course is amazing, thanks for putting this together. It is professional, clear and so helpful, thank you!

[@noori1468]

You are a great teacher!! I am learning sooo much with your videos! I can never thank you enough :)

[@GarethDavidStudio]

I'm so glad!

[@sharonbh]

Amazing tutorial Thank you

[@ynohj.uchia10]

i don have the stroke bar as soon as i click on the pen tool and i dont have the whole right bar as well. My programm is new i havent clicked on anything and cant find where this will show. unfortunatly i just saw it when i was finished lining everything with the pen tool but now i find my self in a struggle having these ankers but no stroked lines that followed the entire process.

[@khaleesioftheeast]

How do you animate the lines you made from the pen tool? Like slowly appearing?

[@sonriendooo]

When I click on the pen tool, I don't have these Fill and Stroke size options at the top of the screen. How do I locate them? I don't seem to find the Vertex tool either. There are two options only: pen tool and feather. I'm using AE 2018.

[@LzeLlama]

At 19:00 I click right on the rectangle path 1 but I don't see the option to " convert bezier path". I'm on CS6 so I don't know if there is another way I need to do it.

[@heliagolestani4845]

me too

[@israelporras8306]

thank you for the video, very helpful.

[@PotatoSoup58]

I'm trying to animate morphing shapes that shrink and grow. Is there a way to remove vertex points without affecting the whole animation?

[@taniakhan5319]

TNice tutorials was so detailed! Great video for beginners. Thank you!

[@abdolhosseinghanbarii3481]

Your are great. Thabks man. God Bless You❤

[@christiebat]

Fantastic! Really enjoyed the attention to detail in this one :)

[@GarethDavidStudio]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@thehouseofrangolis]

How can we keep animated hand image on the path to resemble the hand drawing ?

[@shamirareddy754]

After right clicking on rectangle path it shows new, com setting etc, why?

[@Karimura]

finally best explanation i have seen for the pen tool thank you

[@roboboro]

I have an issue with my ae: when setting a mask or shape with the pen tool, all the vertex points puts on the same position as the first one. I can't draw a shape. I already restarted ae and the computer and all.

[@fishiii3678]

u saved my life ty

[@maryamzeeshan7545]

Awesome videos realy enjoy

[@himanshukanojiya8160]

Hey that's a great tutorial, but is there a way to open a closed/ complete shape? Or in other words can I delete the segment between two points in a path?

[@masslooo2003]

Thank u so much

[@minnothing7923]

how can u use the "convert vertex tool" to curve multiple points at the same time?

[@abolhunable]

Hi, I worked before on Adobe Flash long time ago and I am proffisional in CorelDraw. Currently, I am following your AE training sesions and found difficulty to convert the shapes to bezier in AE cs6. Could you please till me how? Thanks

[@anandaraj7863]

Thank you brother

[@panjimaulanai8343]

to convert a shape into bezier path in CS6 : use 1) Select the shape tool. 2) Press and Hold ALT and draw the shape. (one can even press and hold SHIFT + ALT for drawing a shape in proportion.) repost by @ Rinkesh Pingale

[@elgunrashidzada5275]

thankyou so much

[@christianmarriott2983]

Excellent course and a really nice way to make it available. Well worth paying for the downloads..

[@GarethDavidStudio]

Great to hear! Thank you!

[@9927086224]

really nice work..

[@mann_ii]

What are differences between a shape tool path and Bezier paths? I don t see any visible changes as we change the shape to Bezier paths

[@user-mk9xk8iq4w]

thank you

[@carloscolina5315]

sos un crack mi pana graciaaaaaaaaaaaaaas

[@ProjectSkrillexNL]

10:35 time stamp thank you very much kind sir

[@vincentsequeira3723]

Thanks sir.

[@tacatube]

Thank you for sharing all your knowledge and skills. You are a great teacher as well!

[@ueharafk]

Thank you!! save my day

[@GarethDavidStudio]

You're welcome!

[@maheshdwalker1904]

These days I'm following your lessons. I've a problem. Pls help me. ???? When I draw a shape as you said I set preferences of center. But I can draw only shape. When I'm going to create 2nd it doesn't fill colours or draw. What's the reason?

[@mohdafiq8149]

i used pen tool on AI but when i direct copy to AE it dont have color at all only line..

[@clocloclo8500]

thanks

[@SevastianNandez]

I keep trying to mask motion track it but the pen tool wont unselect and i cant select the mask and move it into position

[@GarethDavidStudio]

Are you trying to 'animate' a mask path? To move a mask path over time? If so it can be a bit fiddly. With the mask path applied, you have to click the contents drop-down on the layer. Locate the mask path, and carefully select the mask path. with the selection tool, you can then carefully click the mask path and move it.

[@steveloudon7491]

When I try to add a vertex point to the square with one click I get 8 vertex points created

[@vincentsequeira3723]

this is more better than UDEMY. thank you.

[@SJ77756]

Nice class

[@GarethDavidStudio]

Thanks

[@tanggzz12]

why i dont have fill and stroke selection

[@prasadwadekar805]

Helpfull

[@GarethDavidStudio]

Glad to hear that

[@luisvieira5144]

I like how the plant behind him moves when the speaks.

[@samratnahata6094]

Worth Spending time on the Video

[@TheLeoachu]

One thing that is really frustrating about adobe is they have pen tool across all the creative suite applications and they all work different. I am good with pen tools in photoshop and illustrator but I have a hard time here in after effects as modifier keys work differently here.

[@shklasith]

Thanks 😊

[@GarethDavidStudio]

No problem 😊

[@ClaraFrancken]

Thank you, but could you tell me where I could change the color of this line? :)

[@mariano4068]

And deleting a part of a shape?

[@shalomfeuer7165]

Whenever I make a shape with the pen tool and I try and tweak it it looks pixelated how do I make it not pixelated

[@GarethDavidStudio]

What is your current resolution factor set too? Remember this is the little switch you can toggle under the composition panel. You can set this to 'Full' 'Half' 'Third' or 'Quater'. If it's set to anything other than 'Full' things will look pixelated. It could be that.

[@SARDARru]

So much!

[@supremeahmad9726]

5:29 clicking once on a square shape is not making me edit the shape. Edit: found solution So anyone stuck like me, while making any shape, Bezier path should be checked then you can edit any shape. Btw great video, really taught me many new things.

[@btv4120]

When I select the Pen Tool, nothing else shows up (fill, stroke etc)

[@jamestorinus2326]

same

[@pigexpert1342]

You have to deselect all the layers in the timeline, sorry I'm 6 months late lmao

[@ksagafoor]

👍

[@seanmeredith6378]

2:40

[@scottkasper6378]

I don’t understand why adobe didn’t make all of the programs work the same across the board. For instance, in photoshop I can draw a path to a point, then Hold control and click the point and the next point won’t have a curve to it. If you do that in AE, the previous curve is removed.

[@ashwinipoojary2708]

How to convert a shape into bezier path in CS6 ?

[@toto931]

I had the same issue. A solution is to maintain alt (option on mac) while creating a new shape. You can then add/remove anchor points. Hope that helps

[@ashwinipoojary2708]

@@toto931 👍🏻

[@TheOneCreationsbyRinkesh]

1) Select the shape tool. 2) Press and Hold ALT and draw the shape. (one can even press and hold SHIFT + ALT for drawing a shape in proportion.)

[@franfinesim]

@@TheOneCreationsbyRinkesh thanks

[@TheOneCreationsbyRinkesh]

@@franfinesim welcome.

[@simplysurfing]

He missed out the most important part, if its even possible. Can any of the knowledgeable commenters below care to hint ? I know in 3ds max i do it when drawing splines, we make half the side and then mirror the spline. That is.....how do u make a perfect symmetrical image, say a vase, the curves on both sides have to be ditto mirror images, not free hand drawn. Also is it possible to open up a shape from a closed loop and do the opposite that is weld (join) two ends together to form a loop.

[@balakumaran1857]

Add vfx and green screen tutorial pls

[@elmurodmoydinjonov5564]

Hello teach me how to download after effect for free.I can not download.thank you in advance

[@nadamagdi5566]

starting min 10 when he started to explain...! video too long

[@GarethDavidStudio]

This is some really complex stuff, Gotta help people out with this. Dont forget that's the beauty of video, you can skip ahead 😉

[@DrMorkovka]

Shitty pen tool, after Figma ro any prototyping tool UX - very low at AE

[@vincentsequeira3723]

Thanks sir.

[@elmurodmoydinjonov5564]

Hello teach me how to download after effect for free.I can not download.thank you in advance