Complex shapes in After Effects - Merge Path tool

Finally found something I wanted to share! Ever wanted to know how to create boolean type shapes in After Effects? Tired of jumping between Illustrator and After Effects to get what you need? This is the tutorial for you. In this tutorial I cover how to create complex shapes with and without fill and also with and without strokes.
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✅ 5 Premiere Pro Starter Projects Included
✅ 20 Animated Presets
✅ 10 Overlay Video Elements
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✅ Full Tutorial
*No After Effects Skills Required*
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[@rednaughtstudios]

I'm a subscriber but I laughed at the ending so much I hit the button again twice.

[@NickKhoo]

Yes! I wondered if anyone would get to the end

[@WindowOfFantasy]

OoO you brought the secret of life !!! genius!!! thank you

[@marcsrel4mpn]

thank you Nick👍

[@OuterSpacesWales]

Brilliant!

[@ETEDOthman]

Nice tutorial, And Btw you can take it further by applying trim path below merge path, And enjoy it as a single path 👌

[@NickKhoo]

Ahhh yes!! I completely forgot to mention that. It was actually the whole reason why I was getting excited in the first place lol

[@SarimAshrafi]

Thanks, it solved my problem!

[@NickKhoo]

Awesome!

[@thekreatez]

Is it possibl to edit the path of multiple shape layers at the same time without groups in a single layer?

[@StoutPika]

Shape layers option are game changers and the moment you know this it is mind blowin, I was looking for how merge path works and you explained it very well, Thank you

[@hi_sayri]

Hey Nick! How would I go about having text follow and rotate along the combined merged path? I know I can set the text to follow each individual shape of the merged path, but I can't seem to figure out how to make the text follow the OVERALL merged path. Came here fro your AE beginner's tutorial btw. Great stuff!

[@NickKhoo]

Hmm that’s an interesting one. I have an idea! I’ll share it soon

[@mapograph]

Is it possible to keyframe the merge tool so that each shape is included with 1 second delay. My goal is to make the main shape grow over time.

[@NickKhoo]

There isn't a way to delay the operation of the merge but you can keyframe the individual shapes inside their own shape properties

[@mapograph]

@@NickKhoo Ok, thanks for the reply and the video. Looking forward to more content.

[@josephb1884]

Yes! This is very powerful! The great thing is that you can save the complex shape as a preset since it is all on the same layer too!

[@NickKhoo]

Super useful!

[@thomaswindfeld728]

What subbed;)

[@paulcristo]

Thanks! A caveat is that there can't be shapes with different fill colors. All the shapes' internal fills are disregarded with merge paths, unless I'm missing something.

[@NickKhoo]

Yeah my suggestion would be to create a seperate layer for the stroke and another for the fills.

[@artchu6168]

sub n watchedd n liked

[@NickKhoo]

Thank you!

[@joekunitz620]

Put the stroke in the contents layer, not the group. If you notice when you add merge paths it adds a stroke also. Merged paths is just that merging paths has nothing to do with the stroke.