after effects · HeyBraza shows you
how to add wiggle expression in after effects
HeyBraza points at the alt-click stopwatch that opens the expression field and shows exactly where wiggle() goes.
the wiggle expression adds natural random movement - handheld camera shake, jittery text, floating elements - without a single keyframe. the catch is knowing where to type it and getting the syntax right. here's both.
short answer
alt-click (option-click) the property's stopwatch to open an expression field and type wiggle(2,30) - the first number is wiggles per second, the second is how far it moves. to wiggle one axis only, use [transform.position[0], wiggle(2,30)[1]].
or do it yourself
- 1open the layer property you want to wiggle (e.g. position) in the timeline.
- 2hold alt (option on mac) and click the property's stopwatch icon - a red expression field opens to the right.
- 3type wiggle(2,30) - the first number is how many wiggles per second, the second is how far it moves.
- 4click anywhere off the field (or press enter on the number pad) to commit it, then press spacebar to preview.
- 5to wiggle only one axis (e.g. just up/down), wrap it like [transform.position[0], wiggle(2,30)[1]] so the x value stays put.
steps last checked
let HeyBraza do this with you
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downloadcommon questions
why does my wiggle expression show a yellow error?
usually a typo or a wrong dimension - wiggle on a 2d position returns two values, so wiggling a single axis needs the array form shown above.
how do i make the wiggle slower or smaller?
lower the first number for slower wiggles and the second for smaller movement - e.g. wiggle(1,10) is a slow, subtle drift.
what do the two wiggle expression numbers mean?
wiggle(2,30) means two wiggles per second, moving up to 30 pixels. the first number is frequency, the second is amplitude - raise the first for jitter, the second for distance.