ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS 7.0
User Guide
216
When you apply The Smoother to properties that change spatially (such as position), you can smooth only the spatial
curve (the curve defined by the motion). When you apply The Smoother to properties that change only in time (such
as opacity), you can smooth only the value and velocity curves (the curve defined by the value or the velocity).
In addition to adding keyframes or eliminating unnecessary keyframes, The Smoother also applies Bezier interpo-
lation at each keyframe when smoothing the temporal curve.
To smooth a spatial or temporal curve
1
In the Timeline panel, either select all the keyframes for a property to smooth the entire curve, or select at least
three keyframes to smooth only a portion of a curve.
2
Choose Window > The Smoother. In the Apply To menu, The Smoother automatically selects Spatial Path or
Temporal Graph, depending on the type of property for which you selected keyframes in step 1.
3
Set a value for Tolerance. The units of Tolerance match those of the property you are smoothing. New keyframe
values will vary no more than the specified value from the original curve. Higher values produce smoother curves,
but too high a value may not preserve the original shape of the curve.
4
Click Apply and preview the results.
5
If necessary, choose Edit > Undo The Smoother to reset the keyframes, adjust the value for Tolerance, and then
reapply The Smoother.
About randomness and The Wiggler
You can add randomness to any property as it varies over time by using The Wiggler. You can also use the
w i g g l e
expression to accomplish this. (See “Property attributes and methods” on page 584.) Depending on the property and
the options you specify, The Wiggler adds a certain number of deviations to a property by adding keyframes and
randomizing interpolations coming into or out of existing keyframes. You need at least two keyframes to use The
Wiggler.
Using The Wiggler, you can more closely simulate natural movement within specified limits. For example, add
randomness to an animated butterfly to produce fluttering. Add it to brightness or opacity to simulate the flicker of
an old projector.
To add randomness to a property
1
Select a range of keyframes for the property.
2
Choose Window > The Wiggler.
3
For Apply To, select the type of curve you want The Wiggler to change. If you selected keyframes for a property
that varies spatially, you can select Spatial Path to add deviations to the motion, or Temporal Graph to add deviations
to the velocity. If you selected keyframes for a property that does not vary spatially, you can select only Temporal
Graph.
4
Select a Noise Type option to specify the type of deviation due to randomly distributed pixel values (noise):
Smooth Noise
Produces deviations that occur more gradually, without sudden changes.
Jagged Noise
Produces sudden changes.
5
Select the dimensions of the property you want to affect:
One Dimension
Adds deviations to only one dimension of the selected property. Choose the dimension from the
menu.
All Dimensions
Independently adds a different set of deviations to each dimension.
