User Guide

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ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS 5.0
User Guide
2 Press Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac OS) as you drag one of the direction handles.
This changes the interpolation to Bezier. Each direction handle now moves independently.
Adjusting direction handles to create curves and corners
By default, Bezier interpolation creates a curved transition at a keyframe. Clicking the
keyframe with the Convert Control Point tool ( ) creates a corner at the keyframe. On
a Value graph, a corner results in an abrupt transition. On a motion path, the keyframe
becomes a corner in the path.
You can also change a Bezier keyframe so that the two handles move together, forming a
curve through the keyframe.
To change a Bezier keyframe from a curve to a corner:
1 Select the pen tool ( ) or Convert Control Point tool ( ) from the toolbox.
2 In the Composition window, drag a keyframe’s direction handle in any direction.
Continuous Bezier direction handles (left) become two separate Bezier
direction handles (right).
Retracting and extending Bezier direction handles
You can retract or extend the direction handles that appear by default. When the direction
handles are extended, the keyframe represents Continuous Bezier interpolation (see
“Continuous Bezier interpolation” on page 203). When both direction handles are retracted,
the interpolation method is Linear, which creates a corner point instead of a curve (see
“Linear interpolation” on page 202).
To retract one direction handle:
Using the selection tool, on a Value graph in the Timeline window or motion path in
the Composition or Layer window, drag the direction handle to the center of its keyframe.
UG.book Page 207 Wednesday, February 21, 2001 12:05 PM