after effects induction - 13/12/2011

Using the pen tool to curve a line.
Create a solid with at least 2 keyframes then use the pen tool to curve the lines.

You can also do a similar thing for altering the motion path using the keyframe interpolation option by selecting a keyframe and going to animation - keyframe interpolation. 

One of the options which will have the most significant change to the keyframes is the hold option, their will now be no more movement between the keyframes, changing the temporal interpretation specifying that they are hold keyframes and the layer remains in the same position until the next keyframe.  This is useful for animating things such as clocks or if you want to make something bling, flash on and off.

Another option i can do in the keyframe interpolation is change the roving setting, you select ever keyframe except the first and the last keyframe and by changing this to rove across time it will change the spacing between each keyframe to keep your animation moving at a smooth pace throughout the animation. 

Another way to create position keyframes, create a solid on after effects then open up illustrator and create a vector then copy the vector, go back to after effects press 'P' to enable the position option, click the clock to enable keyframes and paste the shape into after effects and the solid will follow the path.

When you animate something along a path the shape stays at the same orientation throughout the animation, to change this go to transform - auto orientate and then the shape should orientate along the path.

Using masks in after effects, create a new composition then whilst having the layer selected create a shape and place it over the object you want to hide, in this example we are using the word reveal and using masks to make the word reveal itself. Using keyframes to make the word slowly reveal itself, i then added a feather to the mask.