Adobe After Effects

Shape Effects

Shape layers have their own suite of effects, which can only be applied to shape layers. They’re really fun. Let’s play with them.

Create a New Shape Layer

So far, we’ve been adding shapes to our preexisting shape layer because the shape layer was selected when we used either the Pen or Shape tools. This time, we want to create a brand-new shape layer. So, we have to make sure our preexisting shape layer is not selected.

• Deselect the Emoji layer by clicking in the timeline, or with ⌘-shift-A/Ctrl-Shift-A.
• Select the Pen tool.

I’m now going to ask you to do the most difficult task in this entire book.

• Using the Pen tool, write the word WOW in cursive.

Cruel, I know. But it’s great Bezier curve practice. If you give up, feel ...