Moving An Anchor Point; To Move The Anchor Point By Dragging In The Layer Panel; To Move A Layer’s Anchor Point Using The Pan Behind Tool - Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 7.0 Manual

Moving an anchor point

Move an anchor point in the Layer panel. As you do so, the selected layer moves in the Composition panel, so you
can view its position in relation to other layers. If Snap To Guides or Snap To Grids is enabled, the anchor point will
snap to them.
You can also use the Pan Behind tool to move a layer's anchor point without moving the layer's relative position in
the Composition panel. When you select a layer in either the Composition or Timeline panel and then select the Pan
Behind tool, that layer's anchor point becomes active and adjustable. The Pan Behind tool saves you steps, because
moving the layer's anchor point with the Selection tool would shift its resulting position in the Composition panel;
the Pan Behind tool changes the layer's position in order to compensate for your anchor point adjustment. As a result,
you can move the anchor point without disturbing the Composition panel.
When you use the Pan Behind tool to move the anchor point in the Composition panel (left), After Effects automatically compensates for the
move so that the layer maintains its position relative to the Composition panel (right).
Note: Because a layer's Anchor Point and Position properties change when you drag the anchor point using the Pan
Behind tool, using the Pan Behind tool to change the anchor point of a moving layer alters the motion path. If your layer
contains a motion path, move the anchor point in the Layer panel, and then select the motion path and adjust it accord-
ingly. For more information on this, see "About anchor points" on page 206.

To move the anchor point by dragging in the Layer panel

In the Composition or Timeline panel, double-click the layer you want to modify or select the layer and choose
1
Layer > Open Layer.
Choose Anchor Point Path from the View menu at the bottom right of the Layer panel. The anchor point appears
2
as a circle with an X through it.
3 Use the Selection tool to drag the anchor point to a new location.
To move a layer anchor point by nudging it 1 pixel at the current magnification
In the Timeline panel, double-click the layer.
1
2 Choose Anchor Point Path from the View menu at the bottom right of the Layer panel.
Press the Left, Right, Up, or Down Arrow key.
3
To move a layer anchor point by nudging it 10 pixels at the current magnification
1 In the Timeline panel, double-click the layer.
Choose Anchor Point Path from the View menu at the bottom right of the Layer panel.
2
Hold down Shift as you press the Left, Right, Up, or Down Arrow key.
3
To move a layer's anchor point using the Pan Behind tool
Select a layer in either the Composition or Timeline panel.
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