Setting and animating an anchor pointAfter Effects rotates and scales from a layer's anchor point. By default, the anchor point is at the center of a layer. You can move the anchor point to change rotation into revolution, making the layer rotate from one end or the other. For example, if you want to animate a maraca so it appears to be shaking, you first need to move the anchor point from the center of the maraca to the end of the handle. ![]() With anchor point in center of layer (left), layer rotates around the center. With anchor point moved to end of handle (right), layer rotates from one end. Move an anchor point in the Layer window. As you do so, the selected layer moves in the Composition window, so you can view its position in relation to other layers. You can also use the pan behind tool to move a layer's anchor point without moving the layer's relative position in the Composition window. When you select a layer in either the Composition or Timeline window and then select the pan behind tool, that layer's anchor point becomes active and adjustable. Again the pan behind tool saves you steps, because moving the layer's anchor point with the selection tool would shift its resulting position in the Composition window; using the pan behind tool changes the layer's position in order to compensate for your anchor point adjustment. As a result, you can move the anchor point without disturbing the Composition window. ![]() When you use the Pan Behind tool to move the anchor point in the Composition window (left), After Effects automatically compensates for the move so that the layer maintains its position relative to the Composition window (right). Note: Because a layer's Anchor Point and Position properties change when you drag the anchor point using the pan behind tool, using the pan behind tool to change the anchor point of a moving layer alters the motion path. If your layer contains a motion path, move the anchor point in the Layer window, and then select the motion path and adjust it accordingly. To move the anchor point by dragging in the Layer window:
To move a layer anchor point by nudging it 1 pixel at the current magnification:
To move a layer anchor point by nudging it 10 pixels at the current magnification:
To move a layer's anchor point using the pan behind tool:
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