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robertsdigitald81389881
robertsdigitald81389881
Known Participant
December 28, 2020
Answered

Guys I need to elongate a circle to a rectangle with rounded ends

  • December 28, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 1565 views

Guys I have this photo of a circle in AE below

https://i.ibb.co/pWw4DQz/ae6.jpg

I’d like to stretch it downwards so that both sidepoints (left & right) can become parallel lines.

A vertical rectangle with curved ends.

So guys can you carefully explain how I can do this pls?

thx

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Rick Gerard

Here's the workflow:

  • Add a new rectangle
  • Press the U key twice to reveal all modified properties
  • Duplicate the rectangle
  • Spin down Rectangle 2/Rectangle Path 1/ to show Size, Position, and Roundness
  • Adjust the position value to offset the second rectangle
  • Adjust the Roundness value of Rectangle 2
  • Select both Rectangle 1 and Rectangle 2 then use the add menu to add Merge Paths
  • You no longer need the fill and stroke for Rectangle 1 and 2 so you can delete them
  • Animate the size and roundness of both rectangles to keep them lined up. Tying the size together with a simple expression makes this easier
  • Select Rectangle 1, 2, Merge Paths and the new stroke and fill, right-click and select Group or press Ctrl/Cmnd + G to group the layers so you have a single object you can re-position.

3 replies

R
Community Expert
Rick GerardCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
December 29, 2020

Here's the workflow:

  • Add a new rectangle
  • Press the U key twice to reveal all modified properties
  • Duplicate the rectangle
  • Spin down Rectangle 2/Rectangle Path 1/ to show Size, Position, and Roundness
  • Adjust the position value to offset the second rectangle
  • Adjust the Roundness value of Rectangle 2
  • Select both Rectangle 1 and Rectangle 2 then use the add menu to add Merge Paths
  • You no longer need the fill and stroke for Rectangle 1 and 2 so you can delete them
  • Animate the size and roundness of both rectangles to keep them lined up. Tying the size together with a simple expression makes this easier
  • Select Rectangle 1, 2, Merge Paths and the new stroke and fill, right-click and select Group or press Ctrl/Cmnd + G to group the layers so you have a single object you can re-position.
    robertsdigitald81389881
    robertsdigitald81389881Author
    Known Participant
    December 30, 2020

    Thanks Rick

    That was easy to follow

    I apreciate it.

    R
    Community Expert
    Rick GerardCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    December 28, 2020

    You will need to dive a little deeper into the shape layer animators and use Merge Paths. You need a square and a rounded rectangle merged so you have a round end on one end. The stroke will be applied after the merge. Then it's just a matter of animating the sizes as in my first screenshots. This is step 1 with two rectangles ready to add merge paths:

    Then after Merge Paths, and finally the animation.

    You don't need the original stroke or fill created with the original rectangles so you can delete them. Merge Paths adds it's own stroke and fill. You can tie the size of the rectangles together with a simple expression so you only have to animate one of them. The screenshots show you everything required to create your A to B transition.

    I don't know what you are trying to do with the other shapes but that explanation will get you to the A to B animation. By the way, your stroke at 1.5 pixels, is way too thin for video. For a stroke that thin to maintain any color fidelity it must be precisely lined up with the pixel grid and even then, horizontal and vertical lines will not be the same color as the stroke value because the line will be antialiased. I suggest a minimum stroke width of 2 pixels for all animated horizontal and vertical lines and careful placement aligned with the pixel grid when they are at rest. With 2 pixels you at least have the hope of the lines being the same color as the design unless the user scales the media player and the video is not at 100% scale.

    robertsdigitald81389881
    robertsdigitald81389881Author
    Known Participant
    December 28, 2020

    Rick lets forget about the stroke being 1.5 pixels and all that. That's not an issue

    My problem is this...

     

    1. I want to leave A and B in the project I'm working on and draw the rectange within this same project...would that be an issue?

    2. How do you make points 1 and 2 of D more rounder?

    3. I have tried to draw the normal and curved rectangle (D) and put them together but how did you select them together as shown in your 3rd picture and what exactly did you click to get the bar beneath that shows merge paths? Dont know what you clicked in the bottom left panel to bring that box.

    4. After I merge the rectangles at D how can I delete the middle lines inside them or will they just disappear??

    5. After I merge the rectangles at D, how can I rename it and tranfer it to the position of group 4 within the bottom left panel while I delete the original group 4 ( shape c)?

    These are all my issues above.

     

    My other issue is that you are telling "what to" do without telling me "how to" so I'm at a complete dead end with ceratin AE terms you use. So forgive my ignorance. AE is still new to me....

     

    From this point I can drag the new shape to its appropriate position to continue the animation

    R
    Community Expert
    Rick GerardCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    December 28, 2020

    Create a shape layer with a rectangle. Animate the rectangle size and roundness. If you are still completely lost let us know.

     

    I'd start with a rectangle about the size you want the final rectangle to be. When you have that done press 'uu' to reveal all of the properties of the rectangle. Spin down Rectangle 1 so you can see the roundness setting. Adjust the roundness and if necessary the size by unlinking X and Y until you have your final rectangle size and shape. Set a keyframe in the timeline when you want the rectangle to end up. Move back to the start of the timeline and edit the size of the rectangle turning it into a square and then the roundness until it is a circle. If you need an oval edit and animate the Transform Rectangle 1/Scale property. 

    The screenshots show you everything that I did to animate the circle to the rounded rectangle.

     

    In the future, please use the toolbar to embed your screenshots. It's easier than any other method.

    robertsdigitald81389881
    robertsdigitald81389881Author
    Known Participant
    December 28, 2020

    Hi Rick

    It looks lke i may bother you a bit on this....hope not

    Let me be specific

    Here is a pic of the file I'm working on below:

    The selected shape is what I'm working on. I want to stretch it upwards so that it becomes like shape B from the second image below:

     

    You suggested that I start with shape B first

    So please can you technically explain with steps to follow on how I can create shape b rectangle "on that same layer or path?"  With curved right edges. Do you have a screen recorder for a video example that I can follow. That's the easiest way I can follow or an explanation on what to select step by step to create this. Forgive my ignorance but I'm determined to complete this work

     

    By the way below is a link of the AE file I'm working on.

    https://files.fm/u/j3tg7pve4

     

    Thx

     

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