How to Create an Orbital Animation in After Effects
Introduction – Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Rotating Orbital Animation in After Effects
In this tutorial, you will learn how to create an orbital animation in After Effects. This animation involves making an object revolve around a central point, which can be great for simulating planets or rotating objects in 3D space. Follow these easy steps to set up the animation.
Step 1: Create the Large Orbiting Circle
Open your After Effects project and select the Ellipse Tool (Q). Hold Ctrl/Cmd + Shift to create a perfect circle. Choose a dark blue fill color for the circle. Once the shape is created, enable 3D Layer by clicking the 3D box next to the layer. This will allow the circle to interact in 3D space.
Step 2: Create the Smaller Orbiting Circle
Next, create a smaller white circle that will rotate around the larger circle. Select the Ellipse Tool (Q) again to draw the smaller circle. Also, make sure this layer is set as 3D by enabling the 3D box in the layer settings. This ensures it can move in 3D space just like the larger circle.
