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Placing an effect using effect points
Some effects require that you identify specific positions on a layer to determine how the
effect will be applied. Often, these effect points enable After Effects to properly position
the effect on the layer. A given effect may require as few as one or as many as four or more
effect points.
Note: The positions of these effect points are based on the coordinate system for the layer,
not for the composition. The coordinates shown in the Info palette are layer coordinates
when you're working in the Layer window.
To set an effect point:
Select the effect and then do one of the following:
Click the effect point icon ( ) in the Composition window and drag. The coordinates in
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the Effect Controls window change as you drag.
Click the effect point icon ( ) in the Effect Controls window; then, in the Composition
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or Layer window, position the cursor where you want the effect point, and click.
In the Effect Controls palette, drag the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis (if available) position
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coordinates (located to the right of the effect point icon) or type over the highlighted
coordinates.
To view the effect point or path in the Layer or Composition window:
Select the effect name in the Layer window menu.
Changing effects over time
By default, when you apply an effect to a layer, the controls you specify do not change for
the duration of a layer. However, you can change an effect over time by assigning a
keyframe to one of the effect's properties at the time you want a change to happen, and
then changing the effect controls at that keyframe. For more information about setting
keyframes and creating changes over time, see "Setting keyframes" on page 98.
To set a keyframe for an effect:
In the Effect Controls window or the Timeline, click the stopwatch next to the effect
property for which you want to set a keyframe.
Positioning effects on layers
After Effects renders all effects using subpixel positioning, a highly accurate interpolation
that calculates a layer's position to thousandths of a pixel. Effects are calculated to a level
of precision higher than the resolution displayed on-screen, which results in smooth, high-
quality effects and animations. Positioning with subpixel accuracy may soften pixels when
used with blending or smoothing effects.
To position an effect exactly where you want it:
1 Select Effect Controls from the Composition window menu to make the effect points
visible.
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Applying Effects
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