Skip to content

Tutorial: Animating the Basketball Bounce

In this tutorial, we will animate a basketball to make it bounce on the ground. Follow the steps below to effectively animate your layer.

Set the Basketball Size and Visibility

  • Select the Basketball

    • Ensure the basketball is appropriately sized for your composition.
  • Move the Ball Upwards

    • Use the transformation widget to move the ball upwards, positioning it outside the format boundaries.

    • Visibility Setting By default, elements outside the format are not visible. To view them:

      • Uncheck the scissors icon at the bottom left of the viewer. This will allow you to see elements that extend beyond the format limits.
  • Observe Position Values

    • As you move the ball, check the Properties Panel on the right side, specifically in the Transform section, to see the changing position values.

Animate the Ball's Position

  • Set the Initial Position Keyframe:

    • Return to the beginning of the animation and position the ball upward.

    • Expand the "Transform" section of the basketball layer to reveal the "Position" parameter.

    • Click on the empty square button to add an ###animation key###, also known as a keyframe. Click the diamond icon to set the keyframe.

Create a Second Keyframe

-   Advance two seconds later in the timeline and move the ball downward using the transformation widget.

-   A new keyframe will automatically be created in the *Dopesheet* due to the previous keyframe.

View Interpolation

-   Reactivate the option to hide layers outside the format boundaries.

-   Scrub through the timeline to observe the interpolation between the two keyframes.

-   Hide the net layer to avoid distractions.

Play and Adjust the Animation

  • Play the Animation:

    • Press the play button or the ++spacebar++ to start the animation and see the interpolation created by the software.
  • Adjust Keyframe Timing:

    • To make the basketball move faster, bring the keyframes closer together.
  • Zoom In and Out:

    • Use the controller at the bottom of the timeline to zoom in with its two handles.

    • You can also move the block left or right.

    • Alternative Zooming Method: Hold the Alt key while scrolling the mouse wheel to zoom in or out.

-Precise Zooming:

-   For more precise adjustments, press ++alt++ and ++ctrl++/++cmd++ while clicking the left mouse button.

-   During zooming, the playhead will serve as a reference point, similar to the mouse when zooming in the viewer.

Familiarize Yourself with Keyframe Snapping

  • Understand how to use keyframes to slow down or speed up your animation.

  • To position the second keyframe at 2 seconds:

    • Move the playhead to 2 seconds.

    • Hold the Shift key while moving the keyframe. It will snap into place as you get close to the playhead.

Benefits of Snapping

  • The Shift key helps elements snap to each other, which is useful for aligning playheads with keyframes or the start and end of layers.

  • Familiarizing yourself with this snapping concept will save you time when moving various elements in your project.


Summary

We've covered the following key points:

  • How to add keyframes to animate parameters.

  • How to view a layer outside the format boundaries.

  • How to navigate the timeline for effective animation adjustments.