Exercise 3 · Trim, Repeat, Morph

Project 1 · Branded Vector Explainer · Week 3 · Advanced Shape Animation · ~60 min

Practice goal: Use trim paths, repeaters, offset/merge paths and gradients — plus two shape-based transitions.

Set up: New project. The converted icon set from Ex 2 (or new shapes).

Steps

1. New comp Main; add a stroked shape/icon.
2. Add Trim Paths; keyframe Start/End (or Offset) to draw the stroke on; Easy Ease.
3. On a second shape add a Repeater; set Copies + Transform for a radial or grid array.
4. Animate the Repeater's Transform (or a Trim) so the array builds in.
5. On a filled shape add Offset Paths and animate Amount for a grow/shrink; add Round Corners.
6. Use Merge Paths (Add / Subtract) to boolean two paths into one graphic.
7. Apply a Gradient Fill/Stroke; adjust the ramp and animate its position for a sheen.
8. Build a shape morph: two paths with matching point counts; keyframe the Path property to interpolate.
9. Chain two shape-based transitions (e.g., a Trim wipe + a morph) for a scene change.
10. Ease everything in the Graph Editor for snappy, weighted motion.
11. Precompose the animated icon set for reuse in the explainer.
12. Save & render.

Free tutorials & references

• Animate Shape Layers with Trim Paths — YouTube
• How to Animate Trim Paths — Envato Tuts+
• Animated Shape Transitions (repeaters) — Motion Array

Done when

An icon set animates with trim paths, a repeater array, offset/merge paths and gradients, plus two eased shape-based transitions.

Files

Pittman_Ex03_TrimRepeatMorph.aep → render Pittman_Ex03_TrimRepeatMorph.mov · versions Pittman_Ex03_TrimRepeatMorph_001.aep

This drill is your in-class activity for the week (worth 2 points) and ladders directly into the project.