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Kumabra
Participant
May 26, 2020
Answered

How can I reverse the order of vertices in a shape?

  • May 26, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 3733 views

I would like to make a morph from a shape (circle) to a letter ("S"), but vertices are made counterclockwise when the shape is created from a text, while clockwise in normal shape, so the morph looks weired. How can I solve this problem?

 

 

Correct answer Rick Gerard

For morphing animations like that I would use Illustrator to set up the morph. You have a lot more control, it takes only a few minutes, and you can do things using AI that would take days to animate if you tried setting keyframes for a path. Here are two tutorials I did years ago. I've been using this technique since you could set up blends in Illustrator and expand them to layers.

 

If you don't want to do that try changing the first vertex, pick a portion that has a straight line and open, then close the path. You might even just select the path then cut it and paste it right back. 

2 replies

B
Community Expert
Byron CortezCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 26, 2020
 
I would try changing the First Vertex at the other end or trying one by one to see how the morphosis is going. Select the vertex you want to put as the First Vertex and go to the menu Layer / Mask & Shape Paths / Set First Vertex. Try in both, circle and S.
 

Byron.
R
Community Expert
Rick GerardCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 26, 2020

Setting the first vertex on an open path completely changes the path.

The only way I know of to set the first vertex of an open path to the other end of the line is to copy the path and paste it to a motion path, then time reverse the keyframes using the Keyframe Assistant, then copy the motion path and paste it to the vector path. You will get a position shift when you do but the shape will be the same except it will be out of position.

    R
    Community Expert
    Rick GerardCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    May 26, 2020

    For morphing animations like that I would use Illustrator to set up the morph. You have a lot more control, it takes only a few minutes, and you can do things using AI that would take days to animate if you tried setting keyframes for a path. Here are two tutorials I did years ago. I've been using this technique since you could set up blends in Illustrator and expand them to layers.

     

    If you don't want to do that try changing the first vertex, pick a portion that has a straight line and open, then close the path. You might even just select the path then cut it and paste it right back. 

    K
    KumabraAuthor
    Participant
    May 27, 2020

    Thank you for your advice. Your method with illustrator is impressive, but it takes a little too much for me since I modify the duration or something again and again after I make images of morph.

     

    And, the second way, which cuts ane reconnects the path, doesn't work. The first vertex is automatically moved to the counterclockwise side of the path I cut, and when I change the first vertex, the counterclockwise side of the path is automatically reconnected.

     

    Eventually, when I was trying your AI method, I found that the direction was turned correct after copying the path from AE to AI and copying it again from AI to AE. This way seems to me most simple and quick for now. Anyway, again I appreciate your idea and help.

      M
      Mari_haifiani
      Participant
      May 1, 2024
      quote

      copying the path from AE to AI and copying it again from AI to AE. This way seems to me most simple and quick for now. Anyway, again I appreciate your idea and help.


      It helped. Thank you so much.

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