37 Expressions

Expressions hold the key to animating repetitive tasks or complex relationships

Creating expressions – the ability to tell one parameter to follow another, stay at a constant value, or create new values as the result of ingenious calculations – is one of the most powerful features in After Effects. For many, it is also one of the most daunting: To get the most out of it, you have to deal with math and what looks suspiciously like computer programming. But it’s not that bad! In this chapter, we’ll show you how to make expressions work for you with minimal effort (and math); a bonus chapter on the DVD dives in deeper for those who want to move to the next level.

If you’re an artist with an aversion to math and technical issues, you ...

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