How AEsweets Flow v1.4.1 Can Help You Create Smooth and Natural Animations in After Effects
AEsweets Flow v1.4.1: The Ultimate Animation Curve Editor for After Effects
If you are an After Effects user, you probably know how important animation curves are for creating smooth and natural motion. Animation curves are graphical representations of how the speed and value of an animation change over time. They allow you to control the timing, easing, and interpolation of your animations.
AEsweets Flow v1.4.1
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However, you may also know how frustrating it can be to work with the graph editor in After Effects. The graph editor is a complex and confusing tool that requires a lot of tweaking and fine-tuning to get the desired results. It can be slow, cumbersome, and unintuitive, especially for beginners or web designers who are used to CSS transitions.
That's why you need AEsweets Flow v1.4.1, a plugin that brings an easy interface to After Effects for customizing animation curves without needing to touch the graph editor. With AEsweets Flow, you can create and apply beautiful animation curves with just a few clicks, using simple and familiar concepts like cubic-bezier functions, easing functions, and presets.
In this article, we will show you how to install and use AEsweets Flow, how to customize animation curves with it, and how to enhance your animations with it. By the end of this article, you will be able to create stunning animations with ease and flow.
How to install and use AEsweets Flow
How to download and activate AEsweets Flow
To get started with AEsweets Flow, you need to download it from aescripts.com/flow, where you can also find more information about the plugin, watch tutorials, and read reviews. You can either buy a full license for $30 or try a free trial version for 7 days.
After downloading the plugin, you need to unzip it and copy the folder named "Flow" into your After Effects Scripts folder. This folder is usually located at C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects CC\Support Files\Scripts on Windows or Applications/Adobe After Effects CC/Scripts on Mac OS.
To activate the plugin, you need to run After Effects as an administrator (right-click on the icon and select "Run as administrator" on Windows or enter your password on Mac OS) and go to Edit > Preferences > General. There, you need to check the box that says "Allow Scripts to Write Files and Access Network". This will enable the plugin to save your presets and access online resources.
Then, you need to restart After Effects and go to Window > Flow.jsxbin. This will open the plugin window, where you will see a button that says "Activate". Click on it and enter your license key that you received by email after purchasing or requesting a trial. You can also activate offline by following the instructions on the plugin website.
How to launch and access AEsweets Flow in After Effects
Once you have activated the plugin, you can launch it anytime by going to Window > Flow.jsxbin. You can also assign a keyboard shortcut to it by going to Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts and searching for "Flow". We recommend using F9 as the shortcut, as it is the default key for the graph editor.
The plugin window will appear as a floating panel that you can dock, resize, or minimize as you wish. You can also access it from the menu bar by clicking on the Flow icon, which looks like a curved arrow.
The plugin window has three main sections: the graph interface, the presets library, and the settings panel. We will explain each of these sections in detail in the next section.
How to apply animation curves to keyframes or expressions
To use AEsweets Flow, you need to have some keyframes or expressions in your After Effects timeline. You can create keyframes by setting the values of any property (such as position, scale, rotation, opacity, etc.) at different points in time. You can create expressions by using code to link or control the values of properties.
Once you have some keyframes or expressions, you can select them and click on the Apply button in the plugin window. This will apply the current animation curve to your selection. You can also drag and drop the presets from the library onto your selection to apply them.
You can preview the result of applying an animation curve by playing back your animation in the timeline or by using the Preview button in the plugin window. You can also see how the animation curve affects the speed and value graphs in the graph editor.
If you want to remove an animation curve from your selection, you can click on the Reset button in the plugin window. This will restore your selection to its original state.
How to customize animation curves with AEsweets Flow
How to use the graph interface and the handles
The graph interface is where you can create and edit your own animation curves. It consists of a grid with two axes: time (horizontal) and value (vertical). The time axis represents the duration of your animation, from 0% to 100%. The value axis represents the change in value of your property, from 0% to 100%.
An animation curve is represented by a line that connects two points: a start point and an end point. The start point corresponds to the first keyframe or expression in your selection, and the end point corresponds to the last keyframe or expression in your selection. The shape of the line determines how the value changes over time.
You can adjust the shape of the line by using two handles: an in handle and an out handle. The in handle controls how the line enters the start point, and the out handle controls how the line exits the end point. You can move these handles by clicking and dragging them with your mouse. You can also use your keyboard arrows to nudge them by 1 pixel or 10 pixels (by holding Shift).
By moving these handles, you can create different types of animation curves, such as linear, ease-in, ease-out, ease-in-out, bounce, elastic, etc. You can also create complex curves by using multiple segments and connecting them with smooth or sharp corners.
How to use the CSS animation-timing-functions and the cubic-bezier values
If you are familiar with web design, you may have used CSS transitions to create animations for your web pages. CSS transitions use a property called animation-timing-function to specify how an animation progresses over time. This property accepts several predefined values, such as linear, ease, ease-in, ease-out, ease-in-out, step-start, step-end, etc.
AEsweets Flow allows you to use these same values to create animation curves for your After Effects animations. You can select any of these values from a drop-down menu in the plugin window, and see how they affect your graph interface and your animation.
However, CSS transitions also allow you to use a custom value called cubic-bezier. This value lets you define your own animation curve using four numbers that represent two control points for a cubic Bézier curve. For example, cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.1, 0.25, 1) is equivalent to ease.
AEsweets Flow also allows you to use cubic-bezier values to create animation curves for your After Effects animations. You can enter any cubic-bezier value in a text box in the plugin window, and see how it affects your graph interface and your animation. You can also copy and paste any cubic-bezier value from the web or from other sources, and see how it matches your graph interface and your animation.
Cubic-bezier values are very useful for creating custom animation curves that suit your needs and preferences. You can also use them to replicate the animation curves of other applications or platforms, such as iOS, Android, Material Design, etc.
How to use the pre-defined motion curves based on Robert Penner's Easing Functions
If you are familiar with animation, you may have heard of Robert Penner's Easing Functions. These are a set of mathematical formulas that describe common types of motion, such as linear, quadratic, cubic, quartic, quintic, sine, circular, exponential, elastic, back, bounce, etc. These functions can be used to create realistic and natural animations that mimic the behavior of physical objects.
AEsweets Flow includes a library of pre-defined motion curves based on Robert Penner's Easing Functions. You can access these curves by clicking on the Presets button in the plugin window. You will see a list of categories, such as Basic, Bounce, Elastic, Back, etc. Each category contains several variations of the same type of motion, such as In, Out, InOut, etc.
You can apply any of these curves to your selection by clicking on them or by dragging and dropping them onto your keyframes or expressions. You will see how they affect your graph interface and your animation. You can also preview them by hovering over them with your mouse cursor.
These pre-defined motion curves are very useful for creating dynamic and expressive animations that add character and personality to your motion graphics. You can also combine them with other features of AEsweets Flow to create more complex and unique animations.
How to create your own library of custom presets and import or export them
One of the best features of AEsweets Flow is that it allows you to create your own library of custom presets. This means that you can save any animation curve that you create or modify with the plugin, and use it again later for other projects or purposes.
To create a custom preset, you need to click on the Save button in the plugin window. This will open a dialog box where you can name your preset and choose a category for it. You can either use one of the existing categories or create a new one. Then, click on OK to save your preset.
To access your custom presets, you need to click on the Presets button in the plugin window and select the category that you chose for your preset. You will see your preset among the list of curves in that category. You can apply it to your selection by clicking on it or by dragging and dropping it onto your keyframes or expressions.
To manage your custom presets, you need to click on the Manage button in the plugin window. This will open a dialog box where you can rename, delete, duplicate, or reorder your presets. You can also import or export your presets as JSON files by clicking on the Import or Export buttons. This way, you can share your presets with other users or use them on different computers.
Creating and managing your own library of custom presets is very convenient and efficient for creating consistent and professional animations. You can also use it to build your own style and brand as an animator or motion designer.
How to use keyboard shortcuts for quick and easy adjustments
Another great feature of AEsweets Flow is that it supports keyboard shortcuts for quick and easy adjustments. This means that you can modify your animation curves without using your mouse or opening the plugin window.
To use keyboard shortcuts with AEsweets Flow, you need to select some keyframes or expressions in your timeline and press F9 (or the shortcut that you assigned to the plugin). This will apply the last used animation curve to your selection. You can also press Shift + F9 to apply a random animation curve from the presets library.
Then, you can use the following keyboard shortcuts to adjust your animation curve:
Up arrow: Increase the value of the out handle
Down arrow: Decrease the value of the out handle
Left arrow: Decrease the time of the out handle
Right arrow: Increase the time of the out handle
Shift + Up arrow: Increase the value of the in handle
Shift + Down arrow: Decrease the value of the in handle
Shift + Left arrow: Decrease the time of the in handle
Shift + Right arrow: Increase the time of the in handle
Alt + Up arrow: Increase both values of both handles
Alt + Down arrow : Decrease both values of both handles
Alt + Left arrow: Decrease both times of both handles
Alt + Right arrow: Increase both times of both handles
Ctrl + Up arrow: Flip the curve vertically
Ctrl + Down arrow: Flip the curve horizontally
Ctrl + Left arrow: Rotate the curve counterclockwise
Ctrl + Right arrow: Rotate the curve clockwise
Ctrl + Shift + Up arrow: Scale the curve up
Ctrl + Shift + Down arrow: Scale the curve down
Ctrl + Shift + Left arrow: Move the curve left
Ctrl + Shift + Right arrow: Move the curve right
Enter: Save the current curve as a custom preset
Esc: Reset the current curve to linear
Using keyboard shortcuts with AEsweets Flow is very fast and convenient for making small or large changes to your animation curves. You can also use them to experiment with different variations and combinations of curves.
How to enhance your animations with AEsweets Flow
Examples of animations created with AEsweets Flow
To give you some inspiration and ideas of what you can do with AEsweets Flow, here are some examples of animations created with the plugin. You can also watch more examples on the plugin website or on the plugin YouTube channel.
A logo animation using bounce and elastic curves.A text animation using back and ease curves.
A shape animation using sine and circular curves.A character animation using quintic and exponential curves.
Tips and tricks for using AEsweets Flow effectively
To help you get the most out of AEsweets Flow, here are some tips and tricks for using the plugin effectively:
Use AEsweets Flow for any property that can be animated, not just position, scale, rotation, and opacity. You can also use it for color, stroke, mask, effect, expression, and any other property that has keyframes or expressions.
Use AEsweets Flow for both spatial and temporal interpolation. You can use it to control how your property moves in space (spatial interpolation) and how it changes over time (temporal interpolation).
Use AEsweets Flow for both single and multiple keyframes or expressions. You can use it to apply the same animation curve to one or more keyframes or expressions at once.
Use AEsweets Flow for both simple and complex animations. You can use it to create simple animations with one or two keyframes or expressions, or complex animations with multiple keyframes or expressions and different properties.
Use AEsweets Flow for both 2D and 3D animations. You can use it to create animations in two dimensions (x and y) or three dimensions (x, y, and z).
Use AEsweets Flow for both linear and nonlinear animations. You can use it to create animations that follow a straight line (linear) or a curved path (nonlinear).
Use AEsweets Flow for both symmetrical and asymmetrical animations. You can use it to create animations that have the same shape on both sides of the start and end points (symmetrical) or different shapes on each side (asymmetrical).
Use AEsweets Flow for both uniform and non-uniform animations. You can use it to create animations that have the same speed throughout (uniform) or different speeds at different points (non-uniform).
Use AEsweets Flow for both natural and unnatural animations. You can use it to create animations that mimic the behavior of physical objects (natural) or defy the laws of physics (unnatural).
Use AEsweets Flow for both realistic and stylized animations. You can use it to create animations that look realistic (realistic) or exaggerated (stylized).
Benefits and advantages of using AEsweets Flow over the graph editor
To summarize, here are some of the benefits and advantages of using AEsweets Flow over the graph editor:
AEsweets Flow is easy to use and understand. It has a simple and intuitive interface that lets you create and apply animation curves with just a few clicks. You don't need to deal with the complexity and confusion of the graph editor.
AEsweets Flow is fast and convenient. It allows you to modify your animation curves without using your mouse or opening the plugin window. You can use keyboard shortcuts for quick and easy adjustments.
AEsweets Flow is flexible and versatile. It supports any property that can be animated, any type of interpolation, any number of keyframes or expressions, any dimension, any shape, any speed, any style, and any motion.
AEsweets Flow is compatible and consistent. It uses familiar concepts like CSS animation-timing-functions and cubic-bezier values, which are widely used in web design and other platforms. It also includes pre-defined motion curves based on Robert Penner's Easing Functions, which are widely used in animation and motion graphics.
AEsweets Flow is creative and expressive. It allows you to create your own library of custom presets, and import or export them as JSON files. You can also use random or experimental curves to create unique and original animations.
Conclusion and FAQs
In conclusion, AEsweets Flow v1.4.1 is a plugin for After Effects that allows you to customize animation curves without touching the graph editor. It is a powerful and useful tool that can help you create smooth and natural animations with ease and flow.
If you want to try AEsweets Flow for yourself, you can download it from aescripts.com/flow, where you can also find more information, tutorials, and reviews. You can either buy a full license for $30 or try a free trial version for 7 days.
We hope that this article has helped you understand how to use AEsweets Flow and how to enhance your animations with it. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact us or leave a comment below.
Here are some FAQs that you may find helpful:
Q: What are the system requirements for AEsweets Flow?
A: AEsweets Flow works with After Effects CC 2015 or later, on Windows or Mac OS. It also requires an internet connection for activation and updates.
Q: How can I update AEsweets Flow to the latest version?
A: You can update AEsweets Flow by downloading the latest version from aescripts.com/flow and replacing the old folder in your After Effects Scripts folder. You don't need to reactivate the plugin after updating.
Q: How can I get support or report a bug for AEsweets Flow?
A: You can get support or report a bug by contacting us through the plugin website or by emailing us at support@aesweets.com. We will try to respond as soon as possible.
Q: How can I learn more about animation curves and easing functions?
A: You can learn more about animation curves and easing functions by reading this article by Robert Penner, this article by Val Head, this article by Sarah Drasner, or this article by Rachel Nabors. You can also use this tool by Lea Verou to visualize and test different cubic-bezier values.
Q: How can I share my animations created with AEsweets Flow?
A: You can share your animations created with AEsweets Flow by exporting them as video files, GIF files, or code snippets. You can also uploa