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AdamLoughnane
AdamLoughnane
Participating Frequently
March 25, 2022
Answered

Null Object start and stop

  • March 25, 2022
  • 1 reply
  • 1731 views

I have what I think is a very simple question about Null Objects that I just can't seem to figure out. 

 

I've got three null objects as parent to several child objects moving nicely across the screen. Simple motion from one side to the other. But, I'd like all three Null Objects and all their children to pause for a few seconds and then start moving again.

 

I've tried to create keyframes to pause the motion in the Null Object but that doesn't seem to work. The objects don't stay still but jump back and forth between two keyframes with the exact same position. 

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Correct answer Warren Heaton10841144

@AdamLoughnane 

 

At the Temporal Keyframe Interpolation default (Linear) and Spatial Keyframe Interpolation default (Auto Bezier), you'll get drift between keyframes two and three.

 

Select the second keyframe and then choose Animation > Toggle Hold Keyframe to change the second keyframe's Temporal Interpolation to Hold.

 

 

 

 

 

When I have a pair of keyframes that have the same value and I want no change between the two, I find it helpful to always set the first in that pair to Hold.

 

More on Keyframe Interpolation:

https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/keyframe-interpolation.html

 

 

 

- Warren

 

 

1 reply

R
RobShultz
Adobe Expert
March 25, 2022

Maybe highlight the the first position keyframe and copy it and then move the timeline indicator to where you would like for the null to start moving again and paste the keyframe?

AdamLoughnane
AdamLoughnaneAuthor
Participating Frequently
March 25, 2022

Thanks very much for the reply, Rob. 

 

What you suggested is exactly what I did. Which would be the basic way to start-stop-start movement with any other object. I'll attach a video to illustrate. 

 

The odd thing is that both the original keyframe and the copy-pasted keyframe have the exact same Position coordinates, but the null frame object position jumps back and forth within the space between those two position-identical keyframes.

 

You can see that the Graph Editor has that weird zigzag between those two keyframes. I tried everything, and couldn't smooth out the path between those two. 

    W
    Warren Heaton10841144Correct answer
    Brainiac
    March 25, 2022

    @AdamLoughnane 

     

    At the Temporal Keyframe Interpolation default (Linear) and Spatial Keyframe Interpolation default (Auto Bezier), you'll get drift between keyframes two and three.

     

    Select the second keyframe and then choose Animation > Toggle Hold Keyframe to change the second keyframe's Temporal Interpolation to Hold.

     

     

     

     

     

    When I have a pair of keyframes that have the same value and I want no change between the two, I find it helpful to always set the first in that pair to Hold.

     

    More on Keyframe Interpolation:

    https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/keyframe-interpolation.html

     

     

     

    - Warren

     

     

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