Tutorial - How to use Super Morphings After Effects Script

Summary

In this tutorial, Motion Design School introduces the 'Super Morphings' script, developed by Michael Ugliffe and Yaroslav Kononov, designed to create stunning morphing animations with ease. The video walks users through the script’s interface, its main features like morphing two layers, adjusting animation parameters (amplitude, frequency, and decay), and applying trails to animated layers. It also demonstrates how to morph multiple objects, manipulate text pairs, and use the slicer tool for complex animations. Finally, the tutorial showcases how to morph images and text, encouraging users to share their creations on social media for potential reposting by Motion Design School.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 'Super Morphings' script allows users to easily create morphing animations with just a few clicks.
• 😀 The script interface is simple and can be docked in any preferred position on the screen.
• 😀 Users can select two layers in the desired order for the morph and click the 'Morph It' button to create the animation.
• 😀 The script offers a controller (SAM controller) with three sliders: amplitude, frequency, and decay, to adjust the follow-through animation.
• 😀 The amplitude slider controls the power of the fading animation, frequency adjusts the number of oscillations per second, and decay manages the fading time.
• 😀 The trajectory of the animation can be customized by modifying the keyframes, including the anticipation and outcome tangents.
• 😀 Users can also morph multiple objects into one by selecting the layers and clicking the 'Morph It' button.
• 😀 The 'Trails' feature allows users to add motion trails to the animation with adjustable settings such as color, width, and randomization.
• 😀 The script supports morphing of various types of objects, such as images, shapes, and text, and can morph in either direction.
• 😀 The slicer function divides layers into slices, with an option to specify the number of slices and apply them to multiple layers at once.
• 😀 The script allows morphing of complex compositions, such as text with images, and facilitates the animation of various objects together.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the Super Morphings script in After Effects?

The Super Morphings script is designed to help users create smooth and dynamic morphing animations between layers with just a few clicks, allowing for flexible customization of movement, timing, and visual effects.

How does the 'Morph It' button work in the Super Morphings script?

The 'Morph It' button initiates the morphing animation between two selected layers, transitioning them into one another based on the settings applied by the user.

What are the three main sliders in the Sam Controller, and what do they control?

The three main sliders in the Sam Controller are: Amplitude (controls the power of the fading animation), Frequency (controls the number of oscillations per second), and Decay (controls the timing of the animation's fading out).

What is the significance of the keyframe tangents in the morphing animation?

Keyframe tangents control the smoothness of the animation’s transitions. Adjusting them ensures that the morphing movement flows naturally, especially when modifying the anticipation and outcome keyframes.

How can users modify the layer's position to change the morphing trajectory?

Users can modify the layer's position by selecting the first layer and pressing 'B' on the keyboard, which opens the position property. From there, they can adjust keyframes and tangents to change the animation trajectory.

What is the function of the 'Trails' feature in the Super Morphings script?

The 'Trails' feature generates motion trails that follow the animated layer’s movement, with customizable settings for color, width, dashes, and randomization, adding visual depth to the animation.

Can trails be applied to any animated layer, not just morphed ones?

Yes, trails can be applied to any animated layer, whether it has been morphed or not, giving users the flexibility to enhance various animation types.

What does the 'Multiple Morphing' function do in the Super Morphings script?

The 'Multiple Morphing' function allows users to morph several objects into one, simplifying the process of combining multiple layers into a single animation sequence.

How can users morph text elements or individual letters using the Super Morphings script?

Users can morph individual letters or text elements by selecting pairs of letters and holding the Shift key to adjust the timing offset. This allows for more detailed control over the animation of text-based layers.

What should users be cautious about when using the Slicer function with layers containing masks?

Users should avoid using the Slicer function on layers that contain masks, as the results may be distorted. It’s recommended to pre-compose such layers before using the slicer to achieve the desired outcome.