It would be wonderful to have "smart bake"-type options (a la Maya) in converting expressions to keyframes, where instead of creating a keyframe for every frame, it only bakes the expressions to existing keyframes (i.e. a "wiggled" property would only bake in the wiggled values on frames where keyframes currently exist). Further options would be welcome, as well, such as the ability to create new/baked keyframes every x frames (for example, if the expression to be baked is posterize time, set at 6 fps, you could convert the expression to keyframes, but only create a new keyframe every 6 frames in a 24 fps comp--and these keyframes could easily be converted to hold keyframes).

What if each font had an extra invisible center spline and creation point order? This helps anyone who has to do "write on" text (not just "type on" text appearing) in after effects, premier, photoshop etc.
I cant tell you how many requests or job tasks are "animate this text", and I always start with a plan old font that needs lots of hand drawn work for masks on each character to animate. If a font format actually had deep information to make text animation less laborious, ESPECIALLY write on effects, it would be a huge time saver to the motion graphics/design industry.
Center Spline
Creation order (or font sequence, timing mask slider, etc)
Anything else that would make the font contain deeper data

Heres some examples that highlight the benefits of an animtion font format.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el_BoErY4H8

the font will not be much bigger in file size than the regular font to download. if the format was opened by a program that does not access the extra data, it still can be used normally.

thanks for reading!

Often when working with a layer one will want to control the layer's Transform properties themselves, but then also have additional transform control for that layer independent of the layer controls. Typically one would create a new Null and parent the layer to the Null, thus giving one another set of Transform property controls higher up in the hierarchy.

This can be useful in many situations, such as having a particular anchor point of the layer itself, but then another anchor point for more fine tuned controls (e.g., a squash and stretch for a bounce).

The current method of parenting to a Null is fine, but it tends to create unnecessary layers in many instances, which clutters up the timeline.

I'd propose the ability to have mutliple Transfrom controls in a hierarchy on a single layer. Each level of hierarchy could be added for the precise amount required.

Conceptually this would function like the relation of Shapes within a Shape Layer. Each shape has its own transform properties, but then the Shape Layer has its own independent Transform controls, allowing for universal transform controls for every shape within the Shape Layer.

To be sure, this can currently be accomplished with the Transform Effect, but there are some disadvantages:

1. For vector artwork it will rasterize the artwork, which results in pixelization on the scale

2. The Transform effect controls aren't as easy to control as the Layer Transform controls.

3. The Transform Effect is based on the Comp dimensions, rather than layer.

In my proposal adding a new level of Transform properties would automatically switch to those properties. Any changes made to the layer in the Composition window would be changed on that level of hierarchy. There could be a keyboard command to switch between hierarchies, and once selected that hierarchy would become the default for any changes made until another hierarch of controls is selected. Perhaps a colored outline corresponding to the current hierarchy would help distinguish.

i am unable to edit curves on my keyframes after only a 15 second mark. this is my first attempt in learning animation via after effects. this has seriously disrupted my workflow as i am unable to finish the animation without making it look inconsistent and like a mess past that point. please help, ive tried restarting the application and even my computer and this error is continuously brought up.

to clarify: i am able to edit the graphs of easy eased keyframes before the 15 second mark. but any new keyframes i create, i am unable to edit the graphs. it is quite saddening. this is on cc 2020.

Currently you have to animate the mask "Path" in order to achieve any translation. However when doing roto/tracking it would be extremely handy to be able to separately keyframe translation from the mask path. For example when applying tracking data to a mask you could track just the position and keyframe the mask path separately. Similarly when using the "mask tracker" the results are virtually unusable for any detailed roto work because you end up with a keyframe on every frame, therefore any manual edits cause popping in the animation. With the addition of position, rotation and scale it would be much easier to use tracking data in conjunction with manual roto work, and the mask tracking feature would be FAR more usable. An existing example is shape layers which have the path property separate from transform.