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karmart93
Participating Frequently
June 29, 2025
Open for Voting

Add a Default Arrow Shape in After Effects

  • June 29, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 893 views

I’d like to request the addition of a default arrow shape as a built-in option in the Shape Tool menu (alongside rectangle, ellipse, polygon, and star). Arrows are one of the most commonly used graphic elements in motion design, UI animations, infographics, tutorials, and explainer videos.

Why this matters:

  • Currently, creating an arrow requires either manually drawing it using the pen tool, combining shapes, or importing from Illustrator. This adds unnecessary steps to a very frequent workflow.

  • A default arrow would save time and streamline projects that rely on directional graphics or flow-based visuals.

  • The feature could be enhanced with simple customization options such as:

    • Head type (triangle, barbed, hollow, etc.)

    • Tail style (line, dashed, none)

    • Line thickness, arrowhead size, and direction

    • Symmetry or custom proportions

This small addition would improve efficiency and usability for many users across various industries. It would also align After Effects more closely with tools like Figma or PowerPoint, which already provide quick access to arrow shapes.

Thank you for considering this request!

2 replies

Roland Kahlenberg
Legend
July 9, 2025

AE ships with an Animation Preset, Write On Arrow (in the Elements Folder), that does what you just described -  plus|minus minor tweaks but it's a regular Shape Layer, so you get all of its options.

HTH


Very Advanced After Effects Training | Adaptive & Responsive Toolkits | Intelligent Design Assets (IDAs) | MoGraph Design System DEV
nishu_kush
Community Manager
Community Manager
July 2, 2025

Thanks for writing in. That sounds like a great suggestion. I am moving your post to the Ideas section of the forums so that others can vote. 


Thanks,
Nishu