Create an Arrow in AE

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
July 19, 2018
4 replies
47053 views

Hello everyone,

I am trying to create an arrow in AE that does not animate. I just want a still arrow that I can bend etc. Its basically a 20 second little video with text and I need to create an arrow. When I search online I just see animated arrows and I do not see anything in presets for arrows. Any ideas or suggestions?

How to

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Correct answer Rick Gerard

There is no arrowhead function in AE. The easiest thing to do is to create the arrow in Illustrator and import it. You can also draw one using the grid with snap to grid turned on. There are also lots of vector-based arrows on Adobe Stock. You can probably also find some free ones if you search for images.

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Achronix5C1C

New Participant

Seriously, I can't believe that arrow heads are not a builtin function. What should be a 5 sec task, is going to take me a 15 to 20 min to workaround this shortcoming.

It often feels like the teams at Adobe never, ever talk to each other (and may actually punish inter-team communication). Super basic functionality. C'mon, Adobe!

ShiveringCactus

Community Expert

I completely agree that it should be included. In the short term fix, I've got a preset for an arrow you're welcome to use.

https://youtu.be/nDPKrl-aABo

The tutorial shows you how to build your own, but the preset is also included in the description. The present is as simple as it could be, double click on it to add it to the comp.

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Warren Heaton10841144

Community Expert

Have you tried using a font?

Webdings 1 as a few arrows while Webdings 3 has a bunch.

Mike_Abbott

Brainiac

Another simple option for a basic arrow:

1. toolbox > polygon tool : drag to create shape. While still holding down the mouse button tap the down arrow key to get a triangle, then hold down the shift key to keep it upright. Release the mouse button.

2. In the timeline you now have a shape layer. Find the 'Add' menu. Add > Rectangle.

3. Use the properties in the 'Rectangle Path 1' section to size the rectangle to be you arrow body.

Now you've got your arrow you could use something like the "CC Bend It" Effect for some simple bending.

Roland Kahlenberg

Brainiac

Mikey Borup has a $1 (minimum contribution) AE Preset that creates arrows quickly and easily. It's highly customizable and provides for tapered arrows too. Path Arrow - Cinema Spice | Idaho Falls Video Production And Advertising AgencyCinema Spice | Idaho Falls Video Producti…

Very Advanced After Effects Training | Adaptive & Responsive Toolkits | Intelligent Design Assets (IDAs) | MoGraph Design System DEV

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Rick GerardCorrect answer

Community Expert

There is no arrowhead function in AE. The easiest thing to do is to create the arrow in Illustrator and import it. You can also draw one using the grid with snap to grid turned on. There are also lots of vector-based arrows on Adobe Stock. You can probably also find some free ones if you search for images.

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blando89Author

Known Participant

Ok yeah never really used Illustrator but I am giving it a go. I created the curved arrow but i want the arrow white because the background is black in AE. Trying to find that then I will need to figure how to save it so that i can use it in AE. Also the background is white in Illustrator not sure if that will affect it when saving it.