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François Lefebvre

@lachamade • 6,823 subscribers

Motion designer | Author of After Effects: The Power of Expression book

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Digging into this expression driven rig. Kinda fun. Characters auto scale to the path length, even when the path gets heavily distorted in After Effects.

Digging into this expression driven rig. Kinda fun. Characters auto scale to the path length, even when the path gets heavily distorted in After Effects.

78,810 views

Just found out that using only the 2D coordinates of a mask with fromCompToSurface() gives you a perfectly working effector for a 3D plane in After Effects.

Just found out that using only the 2D coordinates of a mask with fromCompToSurface() gives you a perfectly working effector for a 3D plane in After Effects.

21,303 views

fromCompToSurface() makes it easy to convert 2D effects into 3D space in After Effects without all the math.

fromCompToSurface() makes it easy to convert 2D effects into 3D space in After Effects without all the math.

12,956 views

Instead of pointing lookAt to a position, I tried driving it along a line. The control over distribution is kind of nice.

Instead of pointing lookAt to a position, I tried driving it along a line. The control over distribution is kind of nice.

25,082 views

using a mask to control Trim Paths start + end feels like a nice alternative to reveal a path in AE 🤔 not sure Merge Paths can do this

using a mask to control Trim Paths start + end feels like a nice alternative to reveal a path in AE 🤔 not sure Merge Paths can do this

14,464 views

“Snap” a layer to a line in After Effects. Only takes 3 positions to get that magnetic effect.

“Snap” a layer to a line in After Effects. Only takes 3 positions to get that magnetic effect.

41,911 views

Controlling text with distance + alignment = a smooth rove-across-path effect in After Effects ✨

Controlling text with distance + alignment = a smooth rove-across-path effect in After Effects ✨

17,991 views

Do you have any healthy tricks to handle exponential scaling in #AfterEffects without baking keyframes with the Exponential Scale feature? Always on the lookout for a smoother workflow. Here's the technique I've been using so far 👇 #MotionDesign #CreativeSolutions

Do you have any healthy tricks to handle exponential scaling in #AfterEffects without baking keyframes with the Exponential Scale feature? Always on the lookout for a smoother workflow. Here's the technique I've been using so far 👇 #MotionDesign #CreativeSolutions

39,121 views

Why do I always forget that After Effects has auto-orient along path?? I keep setting the rotation manually 🤦‍♂️

Why do I always forget that After Effects has auto-orient along path?? I keep setting the rotation manually 🤦‍♂️

13,900 views

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Playing with toComp() to offset anchor points. It makes the circle layers pack toward the mask center, kinda like the Apple Watch menu inside After Effects.
0:24
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Playing with toComp() to offset anchor points. It makes the circle layers pack toward the mask center, kinda like the Apple Watch menu inside After Effects.

François Lefebvre

141,157 views • 10 months ago

Sometimes it feels like you can solve even complex systems just by relying on interpolation in After Effects.
0:20
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Sometimes it feels like you can solve even complex systems just by relying on interpolation in After Effects.

François Lefebvre

84,764 views • 6 months ago

Manipulating a simple waveform with a mask in After Effects can be 🤩.
0:23
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Manipulating a simple waveform with a mask in After Effects can be 🤩.

François Lefebvre

202,472 views • 2 years ago

I thought it would be interesting to repost this one to show how a layer can be oriented to a path in After Effects (plus a little scale constraint within a mask).
0:50
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I thought it would be interesting to repost this one to show how a layer can be oriented to a path in After Effects (plus a little scale constraint within a mask).

François Lefebvre

127,441 views • 1 year ago

By simply offsetting the rotation along a path in After Effects, it gives this faux-3D look to the path. 👀👀👀
0:49
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By simply offsetting the rotation along a path in After Effects, it gives this faux-3D look to the path. 👀👀👀

François Lefebvre

108,741 views • 1 year ago

By constraining a path between two other animated paths, you can easily achieve intricate animations in #AfterEffects. Take a look at how I implemented this in my latest rig. #MotionGraphics
0:32
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By constraining a path between two other animated paths, you can easily achieve intricate animations in #AfterEffects. Take a look at how I implemented this in my latest rig. #MotionGraphics

François Lefebvre

197,557 views • 2 years ago

toComp() = the correct position value in After Effects, every time.
0:37
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toComp() = the correct position value in After Effects, every time.

François Lefebvre

68,953 views • 10 months ago

Anyone interested in testing out the updated mask effector expression in After Effects before I release the new version? Let me know! 🤓 #AfterEffects #MotionDesign
1:28
lachamade's profile picture

Anyone interested in testing out the updated mask effector expression in After Effects before I release the new version? Let me know! 🤓 #AfterEffects #MotionDesign

François Lefebvre

102,633 views • 2 years ago

Curl the path in After Effects. The first thing is to be able to set where the curl starts on the path. 0 = fully curled, 100 = no curl.
0:37
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Curl the path in After Effects. The first thing is to be able to set where the curl starts on the path. 0 = fully curled, 100 = no curl.

François Lefebvre

58,728 views • 1 year ago

New favorite: parametric spiral shapes in AE, rigged with expressions.
0:24
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New favorite: parametric spiral shapes in AE, rigged with expressions.

François Lefebvre

20,303 views • 4 months ago

Just stumbled on this fun little setup: linking three nulls to the position and size of an Ellipse shape layer in After Effects, and it can stretch a circle in multiple directions.
0:20
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Just stumbled on this fun little setup: linking three nulls to the position and size of an Ellipse shape layer in After Effects, and it can stretch a circle in multiple directions.

François Lefebvre

50,627 views • 1 year ago

Mask repeller in After Effects using distance + normal.
0:24
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Mask repeller in After Effects using distance + normal.

François Lefebvre

31,245 views • 10 months ago

Back to basics: distributing layers based on distance in After Effects. This smooth hovering effect only needs 3 positions to drive the whole animation. 🤯
1:17
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Back to basics: distributing layers based on distance in After Effects. This smooth hovering effect only needs 3 positions to drive the whole animation. 🤯

François Lefebvre

47,306 views • 1 year ago

Here's a little behind-the-scenes look at how the waveform rig works in After Effects: It simply subdivides a path, and the mask controls the amplitude of the points based on the distance.
1:07
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Here's a little behind-the-scenes look at how the waveform rig works in After Effects: It simply subdivides a path, and the mask controls the amplitude of the points based on the distance.

François Lefebvre

50,051 views • 2 years ago

Controlling the Text Range Selector with a Mask in After Effects is pretty fun to play with. 👀 Opens up some cool creative options! #AfterEffects #MotionDesign #CreativeExperiment
1:30
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Controlling the Text Range Selector with a Mask in After Effects is pretty fun to play with. 👀 Opens up some cool creative options! #AfterEffects #MotionDesign #CreativeExperiment

François Lefebvre

58,932 views • 2 years ago

Offset anchor point based on the mask distance: the layers respond as if the mask repels them, creating dynamic movement in After Effects.
1:04
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Offset anchor point based on the mask distance: the layers respond as if the mask repels them, creating dynamic movement in After Effects.

François Lefebvre

25,317 views • 10 months ago

This one’s about distance to a path in After Effects. Just visualizing how close it is at every point. 👀
0:39
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This one’s about distance to a path in After Effects. Just visualizing how close it is at every point. 👀

François Lefebvre

26,094 views • 1 year ago

Quick breakdown: path diffraction effect in AE.
0:41
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Quick breakdown: path diffraction effect in AE.

François Lefebvre

13,017 views • 5 months ago

Path + Shape Layer Repeater in AE. That’s it. A surprisingly powerful combo. 😮
0:25
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Path + Shape Layer Repeater in AE. That’s it. A surprisingly powerful combo. 😮

François Lefebvre

24,097 views • 1 year ago

Big thanks to all the testers who helped me refine the updated mask effector for After Effects. It was a great process and wonderful to connect with so many. Here's the updated version along with a project file for you to try out. 👇 #AfterEffects #Animation #MotionDesign
0:45
lachamade's profile picture

Big thanks to all the testers who helped me refine the updated mask effector for After Effects. It was a great process and wonderful to connect with so many. Here's the updated version along with a project file for you to try out. 👇 #AfterEffects #Animation #MotionDesign

François Lefebvre

42,803 views • 2 years ago