How to Animate a Line Logo in After Effects

Learn how to create a clean line-drawing logo animation in After Effects using Auto-Trace and the Stroke effect.

Introduction

Line logo animations are a popular and elegant way to reveal a brand mark. Using Auto-Trace and the Stroke effect, you can easily animate a logo being drawn on screen without using any external plugins.

Step 1: Import Your Logo

Go to File > Import > File and import your logo. Drag the logo onto the timeline. Step 2: Remove the Background (Optional)

Make sure your logo has a transparent background. If needed, apply Linear Color Key from the Effects & Presets panel and use the Eyedropper to remove the background color.

Step 3: Auto-Trace the Logo

Select the logo layer and go to Layer > Auto-Trace. In the Auto-Trace window, set:

Tolerance: 3 px

Click OK to generate masks based on the logo shape.

Step 4: Apply the Stroke Effect

From the Effects & Presets panel, apply the Stroke effect to the logo layer. In the Effect Controls panel, set:

All Masks: On
Color: As desired
Brush Size: 3.5
Brush Hardness: 100
Paint Style: On Transparent

This ensures the stroke draws cleanly over transparency.

Step 5: Animate the Stroke

Animate the End parameter:

At the start of the composition: End = 0%
At the middle of the composition: End = 100%

This creates the line-drawing animation.

Step 6: Smooth the Animation

Select the keyframes and press F9 to apply Easy Ease. Use the Graph Editor to fine-tune the speed for a more polished reveal.

Step 7: Preview and Refine

Press Spacebar to preview your animation. Adjust stroke thickness, color, or timing until the logo animation feels smooth and professional.

Conclusion

By combining Auto-Trace with the Stroke effect, you can quickly create a clean and stylish line logo animation in After Effects. This technique works perfectly for logo reveals, intros, and minimal brand animations.