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Using Help | Contents
2 Create the expression by doing one of the following:
Drag the pick whip ( ) to another property in the Timeline or Effect Controls window. If
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you want, modify the pick whip results. See "Creating expressions with the pick whip"
on page 246.
Type an expression directly over the existing text. See "Writing your own expressions"
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on page 248. If you want, use the language elements menu to enter properties,
functions, and constants. See "Using the expression language menu" on page 252.
3 Click outside of the expression field or press Enter on the numeric keypad to activate
the expression.
Note: If an expression cannot be processed, After Effects displays a message explaining
the error and automatically disables the expression. A yellow warning icon ( ) appears
next to the expression; click the warning icon to view the error message again.
A
A. On/Off switch B. Graph overlay icon C. Pick whip D. Language elements menu E. Expression
field
Turning an expression on or off
You can turn an expression on or off at any time.
To turn an expression on or off:
Click the On/Off switch ( ) next to the layer property on which the expression is written.
When an expression is off, a slash appears through the switch ( ).
Resizing the expression field
Expressions can use multiple lines. If you need to increase (or decrease) the size of the
expression field, position the cursor on the bottom edge of the expression field; when the
cursor turns into a double-pointing arrow ( ), drag up or down.
Viewing the expression graph
To see how an expression changes the value or velocity graph, click the graph overlay
icon ( ). The black graph displays the value or velocity before the expression, and the red
graph displays value or velocity after the expression.
Turning on the graph overlay for the Position property moves the motion path display into
the Composition window so that you can see the expression-affected path.
Viewing all expressions in a composition
To view all of the expressions on selected layers, press EE on the keyboard.
Using Help | Contents
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Creating Expressions
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