After Effects Tutorial: Animate Brushstrokes

 Animating brushstrokes can be a great way to add some creative flair to your videos. In this tutorial, we will learn how to use After Effects to create animated brushstrokes.

Step 1: Create a new composition

The first step is to create a new composition. To do this, go to File > New > Composition. In the New Composition window, set the Composition Name to something like “Brushstroke Animation” and set the Width and Height to the desired resolution of your video. Click OK to create the composition.

Step 2: Create a Brush Layer

Next, we will create a brush layer to represent the brushstroke. To do this, go to Layer > New > Solid. In the New Solid window, set the Solid Name to something like “Brush” and set the Color to the desired color of your brushstroke. Click OK to create the brush layer.

Step 3: Add the Mask Tool

Select the Brush layer and go to the Tools panel. Select the Mask Tool. In the Mask Tool panel, click on the Mask Feather button and set the Feather value to something like 10 pixels. This will give the brushstroke a soft edge.

Step 4: Create a Mask

Click and drag on the Composition window to create a mask shape. You can create a simple line, a circle, or a more complex shape.

Step 5: Duplicate the Mask

Right-click on the mask and select Duplicate. This will create a copy of the mask.

Step 6: Apply the Trim Paths Effect

Select the Brush layer and go to Effect > Matte & Keying > Trim Paths. In the Trim Paths effect controls, click on the Path property and select the mask layer.

Step 7: Create Keyframes

Click on the Stopwatch icon next to the Start and End properties of the trim path effect to create keyframes. This will set the start and end points of the trim path to the current position of the mask.

Step 8: Move the Mask

Move the mask to the end of the composition. Click on the Stopwatch icon next to the Start and End properties to create new keyframes. This will set the start and end points of the trim path to the new position of the mask.

Step 9: Preview the Animation

Now you can preview the animation by pressing the Spacebar. The brushstroke should now animate from one end of the composition to the other.

Step 10: Add Additional Brushstrokes

You can add additional brushstrokes by duplicating the brush layer and creating new masks. You can also experiment with different mask shapes and animation timings to create a variety of different brushstroke animations.

Conclusion

Animating brushstrokes is a great way to add some creativity and flair to your videos. With a little practice, you can create all sorts of different brushstroke animations.

I hope you found this tutorial helpful!

Additional Tips

• You can use the Shape Tool to create more complex mask shapes.
• You can use the Wiggle effect to add some randomness to your brushstrokes.
• You can use the Turbulence effect to make your brushstrokes look more like paint.
• You can use the Opacity property to fade your brushstrokes in and out.

With a little creativity, you can use After Effects to create all sorts of amazing brushstroke animations.

Thank you for reading!

I hope this article was helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.