After Effects 2023: "Center Anchor Point in Layer Content" Issue

[Felipe Q.]

Hi there,

I've been using After Effects 2020 for a while and recently upgraded to 2023. I'm encountering a significant difference in how the "Center Anchor Point in Layer Content" function now operates.

Previously (2020): This function exclusively moved the anchor point without impacting the layer's position, regardless of animations or parental connections to other layers.

Currently (2023): However, in 2023, when this function is used on animated 3D layers parented to other layers, the anchor point itself remains stationary, but the layer's position unexpectedly shifts. This change unfortunately poses a major challenge for my existing projects.

Query: Is there a solution to restore the previous behavior or a workaround to achieve the same outcome in the new version? Any assistance or information regarding this matter would be greatly appreciated.

[Rick Gerard]

I do not see any change in behavior. Using the Layer/Transform/Centr Anchor Point in Layer Content or Alt/Option + Ctrl/Cmnd + Home still moves the anchor point on complex shape layers, nulls, text layers, and anything else I have tried to the center of the content without moving the layer.  If you select a layer with an animated path and the CTI (current time indicator) is on a keyframe, the layer position in the frame will not change, but because you moved the anchor point, the relative position at the other keyframes will change. It has to move because the position is relative to the anchor point. This is also not a change in the previous behavior. Exactly the same thing happens if you use the Pan Behind tool to move the anchor point when you are over a keyframe. The relative position at that time and the path will not change, but the relative position at the other keyframes will change.  Using the Transform command or the Pan Behind Tool (y) to adjust the anchor point between keyframes will change the motion path. Again, that is the way it has behaved since you could move the anchor point.

[Felipe Q.]

Thanks so much for your response! Based on your insights, it seems the "Center Anchor Point in Layer Content" behavior might not be a change in After Effects 2023 itself, but potentially a glitch specific to my project. It's possible the import from the 2020 version brought over unexpected data.

I'll do some further testing to investigate this possibility and share my findings. Appreciate your help in pointing me in the right direction!

[Felipe Q.]

Hi there,

Thank you again for your previous feedback. Unfortunately, I have noticed that this is not just a glitch in the project. This behavior also appears in a project created from scratch. Therefore, it is replicable.

I will attach a project that shows the issue in both versions, but it can only be verified using the 2020 version of After Effects.

Again, in the previous version of After Effects, the position of the layer did not change when "Center Anchor Point in Layer Content" is executed.

Thank you again for any new insights on the issue.