Working with the expression pick whip

If you are not familiar with JavaScript or the After Effects expressions language, you can still take advantage of the power of expressions by using the pick whip. The pick whip  is a tool that automatically copies values from one layer to another. With the pick whip, there's no need to create keyframes, which can take hours; you simply drag the pick whip from one layer to another, and the animation that you set in the first layer is copied into the second layer.

Use the pick whip to create expressions that link the values of one property or effect to another. For example, link the Rotation property of Layer A to the Rotation property of Layer B to make Layer A's rotation values the same as Layer B's; or link a camera's Point of Interest property to the Position property of another 3D layer to make the camera follow the layer as it moves through space.


Drag the pick whip to a property to create a live link to the values.

To create an expression by using the pick whip:

1. Select a property in the Timeline window and choose Animation > Add Expression.
2. Drag the pick whip  to another property in the Timeline or Effect Controls window.
3. If you want, modify the pick-whip results.

For more information on modifying pick-whip results, see Modifying and enhancing pick-whip expressions.

For information on shortcuts for expressions, see the Shortcuts Appendix.

Related Subtopics:

Selecting values with the pick whip
Modifying and enhancing pick-whip expressions
Using the compact English language preference